Mapa Institute of Technology

Sedimentology and Provenance Analysis of the

Subic Bay Area Sediments, Zambales Province

Submitted by:

Alcazaren, Michael John D.

Submitted to:

Karlo L. Queao, Ph.d

June 2016
Table of Contents
1. INTRODUCTION .................................................................. 5
2. GEOGRAPHIC SETTING ...................................................... 6
3. GEOMORPHOLOGIC SETTING .......................................... 7
4. REGIONAL GEOLOGIC SETTING ...................................... 8
4.1 TECTONIC SETTING .................................................................. 8
4.2 ZAMBALES OPHIOLITE COMPLEX ............................................ 10
4.3 AKSITERO FORMATION .......................................................... 15
4.4 CABALUAN FORMATION ........................................................ 15
4.5 BATAAN VOLCANIC COMPLEX ................................................ 16
4.5.1 Pinatubo Volcanic Complex .............................................. 16
4.5.2 Mariveles Volcanic Complex ............................................. 17
5. METHODOLOGY .................................................................... 17
5.1 FIELD SAMPLING ................................................................... 17
5.2 SIEVE ANALYSIS .................................................................... 18
5.3 MICROSCOPE ANALYSIS ........................................................ 21
6. GRAIN SIZE ANALYSIS ........................................................ 23
7. DISCUSSION .......................................................................... 33
REFERENCES CITED ................................................................ 36

2
LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 1. Geographical location of Olongapo City, Subic Bay Area, and the adjacent
municipalities (sourced from OpenStreetMaps) ..................................................................... 6
Figure 2. Regional Tectonics of the Philippines (adaoted from Queano(2006)) ............................ 8
Figure 3. Generalized Geologic Map of the Zambales Ophiolite Complex (modified from Yumul
& Dimalanta(1997)) .............................................................................................................. 10
Figure 4. Pillow basalt member of the ZOC in Barangay Kalaklan along Olongapo-Bugallon
Road ...................................................................................................................................... 12
Figure 5. Sheeted dike member of the ZOC located 37 meters from the Kalaklan lighthouse .... 13
Figure 6. Diabase dike exposure in Crystal Beach Resort ............................................................ 14
Figure 7. Gabbro member of the San Antonio Massif located at Club Morocco ......................... 14
Figure 8B. The sediment samples gathered from the Kalaklan Beach ......................................... 17
Figure 8A. The 1 by 1 meter sampling space at the Kalaklan Beach ........................................... 17
Figure 10B. The sieve meshes used borrowed from the Soil Mechanics laboratory.................... 19
Figure 10A. The dried sediments samples .................................................................................... 19
Figure 12. The sediments being transferred to the sample bags from the sieve meshes. The photo
on the right shows the weighing of the sample bags with the sediments. ............................ 21
Figure 13A. The sediments (from the 100 mesh) under the Bausch and Lomb Microscope ....... 22
Figure 14. A is the histogram and the frequency curve of the first sampling site at the Kalaklan
Beach. B is the histogram and frequency curve for the foreshore from the Crystal Beach
Resort. C is the histogram and the frequency curve for the berm from the Crystal Beach
Resort .................................................................................................................................... 27
Figure 15. The Cumulative Probability curve for the second sampling site at the Kalaklan Beach
............................................................................................................................................... 28
Figure 16. Cumulative Probability Curve for the second sampling site at the foreshore of the
Crystal Beach Resort............................................................................................................. 29
Figure 17. Cumulative probability curve for the third sampling site at the berm of Crystal Beach
Resort .................................................................................................................................... 30

3
LIST OF TABLES

Table 1. The sieve analysis results for sample site 1 ............................................................. 24

Table 2. The sieve analysis results for sample site 2 ............................................................. 25
Table 3. The sieve analysis results for sample site 3 ............................................................. 26
Table 4. The phi percentile values computed from the cumulative probability curve of the first
sampling site (Figure 15) ...................................................................................................... 28
Table 5. The phi percentile values and the corresponding grain size calculated from the
cumulative probability curve (Figure 16). ............................................................................ 29
Table 6. The phi percentile values and the grain sizes from the cumulative probability curve for
the third sampling site (Figure 17) ........................................................................................ 30
Table 7. Statistical measures for the sediments from Kalaklan Beach (foreshore) ...................... 31
Table 8. Statistical measures for the sediments from Crystal Beach Resort (foreshore) .............. 31
Table 9.Statistical measures for the sediments from Crystal Beach Resort (berm)...................... 31

4
1. Introduction

An analysis of the beach sediments in the Subic Bay area was conducted to

determine the grain size, sorting, composition, and provenance. Olongapo city lies 127

km northwest of Manila and sits on the southern tip of the Zambales province and on the

northwestern portion of the Subic Bay area. Subic is located on the northern tip of the

Subic Bay area and it lies above Olongapo city.

Sampling of beach sediments was done in three locations in the Subic Bay area and

these are analyzed by means of sieving at the Mapa Institute of Technology Soil

Mechanics laboratory. Histograms, frequency curves, and cumulative probability curves

were constructed using the data from the sieve analysis. Microscopic examination of the

sediments was also conducted to determine the grain characteristics such as sphericity,

roundness, and composition.

Correlation of sediment grain characteristics and the regional geologic setting of

the area was undertaken to determine the provenance of the beach sediments in the Subic

Bay area.

5
2. Geographic Setting

Figure 1. Geographical location of Olongapo City, Subic Bay Area, and the adjacent municipalities (sourced from
OpenStreetMaps)

Olongapo City is located at the southern portion of the Zambales Range located at

Central Luzon or Region III of the Philippines. 127 kilometers north of Manila, Olongapo

City is bounded by the Municipality of Subic to the northeast, Dinalipuhan to the south,

Morong to the southeast, and Subic Bay to the southwest. Olongapo City comprises the

northwestern portion of the Subic Bay area.

The Municipality of Subic is situated along the West coast of the Philippines

Central Luzon Region in the Zambales province. 167 kilometers from Manila, Subic is

bounded by Olongapo City to the south, San Antonio to the west, Castillejos and San

6
Marcelino the north, and Pampanga to the east. Subic comprises both the eastern and

north portion of the Subic Bay area.

3. Geomorphologic Setting

The eastern and western portions of the Subic Bay area is characteristically

mountainous with a moderately steep topography. The presence of the southern section

of the Zambales Mountain Range, especially its most prominent section the Cabusilan

Mountain Range composed of multiple volcanic peaks and volcanic plugs of andesitic to

dacitic composition such as the Mt. Malasimbo and Mt. Pinatubo.

Multiple rivers feed Subic Bay such as the Kalaklan River, which is an estuarine-

type river that is tide-dominated. Other major rivers in the area are the Mabayuan River,

Jadjad River, Nagunao River and Tawirang Balite River.

Multiple clinopyroxenite and gabbronorite hills are present in the area along the

western edge of the Cabangan massif, but these hills are allochthonous and are not

related to the genesis of the Cabangan massif.

7
4. Regional Geologic Setting

4.1 Tectonic Setting

Figure 2. Regional Tectonics of the Philippines (adaoted from Queano(2006))

8
 Luzon is located 800 kilometers southwest from Mainland China, and at the

margin of the Philippine Sea Plate and the Eurasian plate. The Philippine Sea Plate

moves about 10 mm/yr at the southern tip and 5mm/yr near Taiwan relative to the

Eurasian plate in the WNW direction (Queao et. al., 2007).

The Manila Trench is an east-dipping subduction zone formed due to the

subduction of the South China Sea under the Luzon Arc, while the East Luzon Trough

is a west-dipping subduction zone (MGB, 2004). These two oppositely dipping

subduction zones delineate a deformation zone 400 kilometers wide called the

Philippine Mobile Belt (PMB) named by Gervasio (1966).

The Philippine Fault Zone (PFZ) is a major strike-slip fault, which cuts through

the entire island longitudinally (Barrier et. al, 1991). This fault divides the PMB from

Luzon and Eastern Mindanao and is confined by several subduction zones such as the

Manila-Negros-Sulu-Cotabato Trench on its western margin and the East Luzon Trough

Philippine Trench on its eastern margin. This 1200 kilometer sinistral fault has a slip

rate between 17 and 31 mm/yr (Aurelio, 2000).

A major structural feature called the Subic Bay Fault Zone (SFBZ) is recognized

in the southern portion of the Zambales Ophiolite Complex and influenced the tectonic

evolution of the complex. The SFBZ separates the southern portion of the San Antonio

Massif from the Cabangan Massif of the ZOC (Yumul & Dimalanta, 1997).

9
4.2 Zambales Ophiolite Complex

Figure 3. Generalized Geologic Map of the Zambales Ophiolite Complex (modified from Yumul &
Dimalanta(1997))

The Zambales Ophiolite Complex (ZOC) forms the basement of the Zambales

range and is a complete ophiolite sequence with its residual harzburgites and

10
lherzolites, ultramic to mafic cumulate, diabase dike-sills, and pillow basalts (Yumul &

Dimalanta, 1997; Dimalanta, et al., 2015)

The ZOC is composed of three massifs: The Masinloc to the north, the Cabangan

and San Antonio to the south. The Masinloc massif is subdivided into two blocks

namely the Acoje and Coto block. The Acoje block is dated to be of Middle Jurassic to

Early Cretaceous age using radiolarian assemblage obtained from chert blocks in this

area (Queao et al.,2014) and is characterize to have an island-arc (IA) geochemical

signature (G.P. Yumul et. al, 2000). The Coto block is dated to be of Eocene age based on

the overlying pelagic limestones in the Aksitero Formation (Villones, 1980), while this is

characterized to have a transitional mid-ocean-ridge basalt to island-arc tholeiite

(MORB-IAT) geochemical signature (Yumul, Dimalanta, & Jumawan, 2000). The

Cabangan and San Antonio massifs are exposed in the Subic Olongapo area. The San

Antonio massif, which is geochemically similar to the Acoje block and the Cabangan

massif, which is geochemically similar to the Coto block, is divided by the left-lateral

strike-slip fault, the Subic Bay Fault Zone (Yumul, Dimalanta, & Jumawan, 2000).

Exposures of the pillow basalt of the ZOC of the Cabangan massif are found

along the Olongapo Bugallon road in Barangay Kalaklan (Figure 2). The pillows are

slightly weathered to limonite. The pillows are jointed in many areas of the exposure.

11
 The sheeted dikes of the ZOC are exposed in Barangay Kalaklan. They are

dolerite dikes with pyroxene and secondary quartz, chlorite, and limonite.

Figure 4. Pillow basalt member of the ZOC in Barangay Kalaklan along Olongapo-
Bugallon Road

12
 Two dikes are exposed near the Kalaklan lighthouse. One is exposed 37 meters

from the Kalaklan lighthouse (Figure 3).

Figure 5. Sheeted dike member of the ZOC located 37 meters from the Kalaklan lighthouse

A second dike is exposed along the beach 125 meters away from the Kalaklan

lighthouse. Another dike exposure can be found on the border of the Crystal Beach

Resort and the 101 Beach Resort (Figure 4). This dike exposure is heavily jointed with

greenschist at the lower portion of the exposure. The chilled margin and baked contact

are distinctively observed in the outcrop.

13
 Figure 6. Diabase dike exposure in Crystal Beach Resort

The gabbro member is exposed at the Club Morocco Beach Resort and Country Club

located in Subic. The isotropic gabbro contains pyroxene, olivine, and plagioclase. The

gabbro contains patches of dunite.

Figure 7. Gabbro member of the San Antonio Massif located at Club Morocco

14
4.3 Aksitero Formation
The overlying sedimentary cover of the ZOC, named by Amato (1965), the

Aksitero Formation has pelagic limestone and clastic rock exposures along the upper

portion of the Aksitero river in Bigabiga in the western portion of the Zambales Range.

The limestone is cream to dirty white in color, tuffaceous, and thin to thickly bedded. It

is interbedded with thin calcareous and tuffaceous sandy shale. Rounded to ellipsoidal

lenses of reddish calcareous chert that is generally discontinuous (MGB, 2004).

4.4 Cabaluan Formation

The Cabaluan Formation directly overlies the ZOC. Narrowly distributed along a

trending belt from north to south, this sedimentary unit is divided into a lower clastic

member and an upper limestone member (MGB, 2004). A 130-m thick sequence of

conglomerate, sandstone, and siltstone forms the lower clastic member with the base

lying unconformably over serpentinized harzburgite. The conglomerate at the base is

mostly composed of pebbles and cobbles of serpentinized harzburgite. Sandstones are

examined to have mostly lithic fragments of serpentinized peridotite clasts, chloritized

mafic clasts, and serpentinites in a marix of mud and micrite (Dimalanta et. al, 2015).

The upper limestone member is composed dominantly of reefal limestone. A 20-30m

thick sequence of buff-colored, poorly bedded, bioclastic limestone forms the lower

portion of the limestone member. It grades into medium bedded bioturbated calcareous

15
sandstone and then into silty marl. This is then overlain by 100m of the reefal limestone

(MGB, 2004).

Exposures of the Cabaluan Formation are best found along the Cabaluan River

and Acoje Road where one can find rhythmic interbeds of fine- to medium-grained

calcareous sandstone and non-calcareous siltstone and mudstone. There are

deformations and faulting present in some areas (Dimalanta et. al., 2015).

4.5 Bataan Volcanic Complex

The Central Luzon segment of the Luzon volcanic arc. The northwest trending

Umingan-Lingayen branch of the Philippine Fault separates the Northern Luzon

segment from the Central Luzon segment, while the Macolod Corridor separates this

segment from the Southern Luzon segment (MGB, 2004).

The western belt includes Mt. Pinatubo, Mt. Balakibok, Mt. Natib, Mt. Mariveles,

and many others. The western belt is extruded through the Zambales ophiolite terrane.

The subducting slab has a depth of ~ 100km and an alkalinity of low to medium K. The

magma series is tholeiitic to calc-alkaline and the lithology ranges from basaltic to

dacitic (MGB, 2004).

4.5.1 Pinatubo Volcanic Complex

The northernmost volcano of the western belt and is characterized to be an

andesitic stratovolcano, which produces voluminous ejecta with an estimated volume of

7-11 km3 of dacitic tephra.

16
 4.5.2 Mariveles Volcanic Complex
The Mariveles Volcanic Complex is comprised of pyroclastic flows, lava flows,

ash fall deposits and their epiclastic derivatives. Rock composition ranges from basalt to

basaltic andesite to andesite. Mt. Natib has rocks ranging from basalt to dacite.

5. Methodology
5.1 Field Sampling
Sediments were sampled in the field. The first sample is located in the Kalaklan

area 90 meters and 31.26 degrees NW from the Kalaklan lighthouse. Sampling was

conducted in the foreshore of the Kalaklan beach. The backshore was not sampled due

to pollution and anthropogenic disturbance making it unsuitable for sedimentary

analysis.

Sampling was done by getting an approximately 1-meter by 1-meter area in the

foreshore and the sediments were gathered at the center to form a pile.

Figure 8B. The sediment samples gathered

Figure 9A. The 1 by 1 meter sampling space at the Kalaklan Beach from the Kalaklan Beach

17
 The pile would be then divided into four and one fourth of the pile would be

collected. This is done to remove bias in the sediment analysis.

The second sample is located in the beach of the Crystal Beach resort. The same

sampling method was done, but there were two sampling locations. The first sample

location was at the foreshore of the beach. The second sampling location is located at

the berm and is approximately 6 meters away from the foreshore.

Figure 9. The berm 6 meters away from the foreshore

5.2 Sieve Analysis

After sampling in the field, grain size analysis was conducted at the Soil

Mechanics Laboratory (S102) at the Mapa Institute of Technology. Prior to grain size

analysis the samples were first washed in one liter of de-ionized water to remove the

salts and other small quantities of muddy coatings. Three washings were made to clean

the sediments. Careful washing is practiced to ensure no particle loss.

18
 After washing, the sediments were dried in the oven at 55oC for about one day.

Temperatures are ensured to be less than 60oC to avoid any destruction of sediments

and mineral components.

Figure 11A. The dried sediments samples Figure 10B. The sieve meshes used borrowed from the Soil
Mechanics laboratory

Once the sediments have dried; sieve analysis may commence. Sieve pans and a

sieve shaker are utilized for the sieve analysis. Numerous sieve pans were borrowed

with mesh numbers of 4, 8, 16, 32, 50, 100, and 200. The sample bag was weighed first;

three trials were conducted for the weighing. The sediments are then placed into the

bag and this is weighed as well. The set of sieves were placed on the sieve shaker and

the sediments were poured into it. The set of sieves was then locked in and once it has

19
been sufficiently held together with the shaker; shaking can commence. The sieve

shaking took 5 minutes to complete.

Figure 11. The set of sieves in the sieve shaker and the process of sieve shaking.

Once shaking is complete, the set of sieves were laid on the table, and the

contents of each sieve mesh were poured into labelled sample bags, that was weighed

prior to sieving. Careful transfer of sediments from pan to their respective bags was

done to avoid loss of any sediment particles. The sample bags with their corresponding

sediments are weighed. The weight of the sediments would correspond to the

difference between the weight of the sample bag containing sediments and the weight

of the sample bag.

20
Figure 12. The sediments being transferred to the sample bags from the sieve meshes. The photo on the right shows the weighing of the sample bags
with the sediments.

5.3 Microscope Analysis

Sediments samples were analyzed using the microscope from the Microscopy

Laboratory (Room N210) at the Mapa Institute of Technology. The microscopes used

were Bausch and Lomb binocular stereo microscopes. The initial samples used were

samples of mixed sediment grain sizes and then each sediment grain sizes were viewed

under the microscope.

The microscope analysis yielded that the sediments were composed of mafic clasts such

as gabbro and serpentinized peridotite, quartz crystals, and chemically weathered rocks

into limonite. The sediments were also seen to be of low sphericity and roundness.

21
Figure 13A. The sediments (from the 100 mesh) under the Figure 13B. The sediments (mixed grain sizes). The quartz grains,
Bausch and Lomb Microscope mafic clasts, and weathered lithic clasts are observed.

Figure 13C. The sediment samples from the 200 mesh. Figure 13D. Sediment samples from the 50 mesh.

22
6. Grain Size Analysis
The beach area of Subic bay presents a modal homogeneous distribution, in

harmony with the depositional environment in the area as well as the different

hydrodynamic processes that affect sedimentation. Medium and fine sand are the

primary constituents of the sample with medium sand being the more dominant grain

size.

Table 1 refers to sediments samples from the foreshore at the beach 90 meters away

from the Kalaklan lighthouse. The mean yields an average of 1.31 (Table 7) that details

the predominance of the medium sand grain size (81.37%)(Table 1)(Figure 14A). There

is also a substantial amount of fine sand (13.19%) (Table 1) and minor amounts of coarse

sand (4.69%) (Table 1). Sediments that are coarser than coarse sand is very scant as well

as the sediments finer than fine sand.

Sorting is 0.40 (Table 7) that corresponds to well sorted sediments. The

distribution shows a high degree of homogeneity due to transport processes and the

energy of the environment.

The skewness presents an average value of 0.12 (fine skewed) (Table 7) thus there

is an excess of fine particles in the sample. Together with the mean and sorting indicates

selective deposition to have occurred with the sediments.

23
Table 1

Grain size percentage weight from the first sampling site (Foreshore)

Sample No: ZAM-AM-1S

Weight of dried sediments before sieving: 756.06 grams

Dish No Sieve Size Weight of Sediments Weight% Cumulative Weight%

3/8 9.51 0.00 0.00 0

4 4.76 0.33 0.03 0.03

8 2.38 0.52 0.04 0.06

16 1.19 1.20 0.09 0.16

30 0.595 61.68 4.69 4.84

50 0.297 1071.33 81.37 86.21

100 0.149 173.72 13.19 99.41

200 0.074 6.88 0.52 99.93

PAN 0.93 0.07 100.00

Table 1

24
Table 2

Grain size percentage weight from the second sampling site (Foreshore)

Sample No: ZAM-AM-2S

Weight of dried sediments before sieving: 1316.59 grams

Dish No Sieve Size Weight of Sediments Weight% Cumulative Weight%

3/8 9.51 0.00 0.00 0

4 4.76 0.25 0.03 0.03

8 2.38 0.30 0.04 0.07

16 1.19 0.42 0.06 0.13

30 0.595 66.51 8.80 8.93

50 0.297 496.60 65.68 74.61

100 0.149 181.53 24.01 98.62

200 0.074 8.79 1.16 99.78

PAN 1.64 0.22 100.00

Table 2

25
Table 3

Grain size percentage weight from the second sampling site (Berm

Sample No: ZAM-AM-3S

Weight of dried sediments before sieving: 976.69 grams

Dish No Sieve Size Weight of Sediments Weight% Cumulative Weight%

3/8 9.51 0.00 0.00 0

4 4.76 0.27 0.03 0.03

8 2.38 0.43 0.04 0.07

16 1.19 1.42 0.15 0.22

30 0.595 14.12 1.45 1.66

50 0.297 453.22 46.40 48.07

100 0.149 463.44 47.45 95.52

200 0.074 42.51 4.35 99.87

PAN 1.29 0.13 100.00

Table 3

26
A GRAIN SIZE HISTORGRAM AND
FREQUENCY CURVE OF SAM PLING SITE 1
1200 90

Individual Weight (grams)

80
1000
70

Individual Weight %
800 60
50
600
40
400 30
20
200
10
0 0
-3.25 -2.25 -1.25 -0.25 0.75 1.75 2.75 3.75
0 2 4
Grain 6
size () 8 10

B
GRAIN SIZE HISTORGRAM AND
FREQUENCY CURVE OF SAM PLING SITE 2
550 72
Individual Weight (grams)

500

Individual Weight %
450 60
400
350 48
300 36
250
200 24
150
100 12
50
0 0
-3.25 -2.25 -1.25 -0.25 0.75 1.75 2.75 3.75
0 2 4 6 8 10
Grain size ()

C
GRAIN SIZE HISTORGRAM AND
FREQUENCY CURVE OF SAM PLING SITE 3

500 50
Individual Weight %
Individual Weight (grams)

400 40
300 30
200 20
100 10
0 0
-3.25 -2.25 -1.25 -0.25 0.75 1.75 2.75 3.75
4 6 0 82 10
Grain size ()
Figure 14. A is the histogram and the frequency curve of the first sampling site at the Kalaklan
Beach. B is the histogram and frequency curve for the foreshore from the Crystal Beach Resort.
C is the histogram and the frequency curve for the berm from the Crystal Beach Resort

27
 Cumulative Probability Curve for Sampling Site 1
100

90

80
Cumulative Weight (%)

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0
-3.25 -2.25 -1.25 -0.25 0.75 1.75 2.75 3.75
Grain size ()
Figure 15. The Cumulative Probability curve for the second sampling site at the Kalaklan Beach

GRAPHICAL METHOD

Phi Value Grain Size

5 0.75

16 0.917

25 1.042

50 1.292

75 1.58

84 1.708

95 2.083

Table 4. The phi percentile values computed from the cumulative probability curve of the first sampling site (Figure 15)

28
 Cumulative Probability Curve for Sampling Site 2
100

90

80
Cumulative Weight %

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0
-3.25 -2.25 -1.25 -0.25 0.75 1.75 2.75 3.75
Grain size ()

Figure 16. Cumulative Probability Curve for the second sampling site at the foreshore of the Crystal Beach Resort

GRAPHICAL METHOD

Phi Value Grain Size

5 0.625

16 0.9

25 1.042

50 1.374

75 1.75

84 2

95 2.5

Table 5. The phi percentile values and the corresponding grain size calculated from the cumulative probability curve (Figure
16).

29
 Cumulative Probability Curve for Sampling Site 3
100

90

80
Cumulative Weight %

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0
-3.25 -2.25 -1.25 -0.25 0.75 1.75 2.75 3.75
Grain size ()

Figure 17. Cumulative probability curve for the third sampling site at the berm of Crystal Beach Resort

GRAPHICAL METHOD

Phi Value Grain Size

5 0.87

16 1.125

25 1.292

50 1.791

75 2.25

84 2.44

95 2.75

Table 6. The phi percentile values and the grain sizes from the cumulative probability curve for the third sampling site (Figure
17)

30
Table 7. Statistical measures for the sediments from Kalaklan Beach (foreshore)

Statistical Measure Value Interpretation

Mean 1.31 Medium Sand

Median 1.29

Standard Deviation 0.40 Well sorted

Skewness 0.12 Fine skewed

Kurtosis 1.02 Leptokurtic

Table 8. Statistical measures for the sediments from Crystal Beach Resort (foreshore)

Statistical Measure Value Interpretation

Mean 1.42 Medium Sand

Median 1.37

Standard Deviation 0.56 Moderately well sorted

Skewness 0.17 Fine skewed

Kurtosis 1.09 Leptokurtic

Table 9.Statistical measures for the sediments from Crystal Beach Resort (berm)

Statistical Measure Value Interpretation

Mean 1.785 Medium Sand

Median 1.791

Standard Deviation 0.614 Moderately well sorted

Skewness 0.0036 Near symmetrical

Kurtosis 0.804 Platykurtic

31
 The kurtosis yields an average value of 1.02 (Table 7) thus there is a Leptokurtic

distribution, demonstrating further the homogeneity of the sediments as the grain sizes

do not have a wide range (Figure 14A).

Table 2 refers to the sediments sampled from the foreshore of the Crystal Beach

Resort. The mean exhibits an average of 0.87 thus the sediments are composed

primarily of medium sand (65.68%) (Table 2) (Figure 14B), but there are substantial

amounts of fine sand (24.01%) (Table 2). It is observed that the amount of fine sand

(1.16%) (Table 2) is lower, and the amount of coarse sand (8.80%) (Table 2) is higher in

contrast with the sediment samples from the beach near the Kalaklan lighthouse.

The sediments are ascribed to be moderately well sorted due to the value of the

standard deviation being 0.56 (Table 8). This indicates that the distribution in this

location has a moderate amount of homogeneity.

The distribution exhibits a positive skewness with an average value of 0.17

(Table 8) as such there are excess fine particles. The kurtosis is found to have a value of

1.09 (Table 8) and the distribution is described to be Leptokurtic.

Table 3 are sediments from the berm of the Crystal Beach Resort approximately 6

meters from the foreshore. The mean has an average value of 1.785 (Table 9) that

indicates a predominance of medium-grained sand (46.40%) (Table 3) (Figure 14C). It

should be noted that there are slightly larger amounts of fine-grained sand (47.45%)

(Table 3). There are relatively high amounts of very fine sand (4.35%) (Table 3). Coarser

32
sediments are present in scant amounts. This drastically differs from the other sampling

sites as the fine sand sediments predominate.

This distribution is moderately well sorted as the value for sorting is 0.614

(Table 9) . There is moderate homogeneity in the sediments at the berm of the Crystal

Beach Resort. The skewness exhibits an average value of 0.0036 (Table 9) that indicates

it is nearly symmetrical, thus the distribution is almost a normal distribution.

The kurtosis yields a value of 0.804 (Table 9) thus the distribution is ascribed to be

Platykurtic. The distribution is moderately well sorted, but has less sorting compared to

the foreshore that has a Leptokurtic distribution.

7. Discussion

The grain size parameters are indicative of a low energy to medium energy

environment as the sorting ranges from moderately well sorted to well sorted, and it

also indicates low to medium erosive capacity of the environment as the medium grain

sand predominates in the samples with substantial amounts of fine sand.

The first beach sample located 90 meters from the Kalaklan lighthouse displays

the relatively coarser sediments for the distribution. The deltaic environment present

causes coarser sediments to accumulate in the area.

Samples at the Crystal Beach Resort are relatively finer, with the foreshore being

coarser than the berm. The foreshore highlights the low to medium energy waves

33
present in the area as indicated by the sorting of the sediments. The sediments from the

berm are indicative of low energy waves due to the sediments are predominantly fine

sand and medium sand.

Microscope analysis of the sediments yield that the grains are characterized by

low sphericity and roundness. This is indicative of a local source wherein the sediments

did not experience long periods of transport. This highlighted by the shape of the

quartz grains that indicates low textural maturity.

The composition of the sizes throughout the different grain sizes are

homogeneous. The grains of 1.75 size are observed to be compositionally similar to the

sediments from of 2.75 size. Close examination of the sediments reveal that the smaller

grain sizes have higher content of sediments that are chemically weathered to clay

minerals such as limonite. This is due to the nature of the depositional environment and

the Philippine climate leading to more chemically active fluids for hydrolysis and

hydration leading to more chemical sediments being formed. Sediments formed due to

chemical weathering are mostly smaller than the silliciclastic sediments due to the clay

minerals being easily broken down and they are of smaller sizes than most minerals.

The grains are likely to be of diverse origin. The mafic clasts present in the

sample indicate that the grains are sourced from the ZOC. A sheeted dolerite dike

member exposed at the Crystal Beach Resort forms the headlands thus the erosive

contact allows sediments to accumulate in the nearby beaches.

34
Mafic and ultramafic clasts can also be derived from the clinopyroxenite and

gabbronorite hills where rivers form headwaters of high erosive action enabling clasts

to be transported and deposited in Subic Bay.

The quartz content of the grains is from the andesitic-dacitic eruptions of the

volcanoes of the Bataan Volcanic Complex. According to Cabato, Rodolfo, and Siringan

(2005) an eruption of Mt. Natib led to a collapse at the side of the caldera facing the

Subic Bay. This generated flows that led to pyroclastic material being deposited in Subic

Bay. Eruptions of Mt. Pinatubo from 1991 led to a 3 to 6 centimeters thick deposit of

medium- to coarse-grained sand of volcanic material (Gonzales & Villasenor, 1991).

35
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