Composition and Origin of the Sand at Macao Beach (2015–17): Evaluation within the World's Best Beaches Ranking.
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| Title: | Composition and Origin of the Sand at Macao Beach (2015–17): Evaluation within the World's Best Beaches Ranking. |
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| Authors: | Suero, Sarina1 (AUTHOR) sarinasuero@gmail.com, Rosado-Jiménez, Gladys A.1 (AUTHOR), Martínez, Wilson R. Ramírez2 (AUTHOR) |
| Source: | Journal of Coastal Research. 2026, Vol. 2 Issue 3, p603-609. 7p. |
| Subjects: | Beaches, Sediment analysis, Coastal sediments, Biogenic sedimentary rocks, Siliciclastic rocks, Coastal zone management |
| Geographic Terms: | Dominican Republic |
| Abstract: | Suero, S.; Rosado-Jiménez, G.A. and Ramírez-Martínez, W.R., 2026. Composition and origin of the sand at Macao Beach (2015–17): Evaluation within the World's Best Beaches Ranking. Journal of Coastal Research, 42(3), 603–609. Charlotte (North Carolina), ISSN 0749-0208. Beaches are dynamic coastal systems whose sedimentary composition reflects the interaction between geological, biological, and oceanographic processes. This study analyzes the composition and origin of surface sediments at Macao Beach, Dominican Republic, during the 2015–17 period and integrates these results with a functional assessment using the World's Best Beaches Ranking. A total of 30 petrographic thin sections were analyzed using the point-counting method, yielding 15,000 data points across four sampling stations. The results reveal a strong dominance of calcareous sediments (97%), with siliciclastic components accounting for only 3% of the total composition. The most abundant calcareous components are calcareous lithoclasts (33%), echinoderm fragments (25%), and mollusk fragments (12%), followed by foraminifera (7%), red calcareous algae (6%), and bryozoans (6%). Siliciclastic components, mainly represented by light siliciclastic minerals, dark siliciclastic minerals, siliciclastic lithoclasts, and quartz grains, individually account for <2%, indicating minimal continental influence. The World's Best Beaches Ranking assessment assigned Macao Beach a beach quality value of 87 points, classifying it as an enclave beach with high environmental, recreational, and management performance. The integration of sedimentological analyses with indicator-based functional assessment provides a comprehensive understanding of the sedimentary dynamics, stability, and sustainability of Macao Beach, offering valuable insights for coastal management and long-term environmental planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
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| Database: | Engineering Source |
| Abstract: | Suero, S.; Rosado-Jiménez, G.A. and Ramírez-Martínez, W.R., 2026. Composition and origin of the sand at Macao Beach (2015–17): Evaluation within the World's Best Beaches Ranking. Journal of Coastal Research, 42(3), 603–609. Charlotte (North Carolina), ISSN 0749-0208. Beaches are dynamic coastal systems whose sedimentary composition reflects the interaction between geological, biological, and oceanographic processes. This study analyzes the composition and origin of surface sediments at Macao Beach, Dominican Republic, during the 2015–17 period and integrates these results with a functional assessment using the World's Best Beaches Ranking. A total of 30 petrographic thin sections were analyzed using the point-counting method, yielding 15,000 data points across four sampling stations. The results reveal a strong dominance of calcareous sediments (97%), with siliciclastic components accounting for only 3% of the total composition. The most abundant calcareous components are calcareous lithoclasts (33%), echinoderm fragments (25%), and mollusk fragments (12%), followed by foraminifera (7%), red calcareous algae (6%), and bryozoans (6%). Siliciclastic components, mainly represented by light siliciclastic minerals, dark siliciclastic minerals, siliciclastic lithoclasts, and quartz grains, individually account for <2%, indicating minimal continental influence. The World's Best Beaches Ranking assessment assigned Macao Beach a beach quality value of 87 points, classifying it as an enclave beach with high environmental, recreational, and management performance. The integration of sedimentological analyses with indicator-based functional assessment provides a comprehensive understanding of the sedimentary dynamics, stability, and sustainability of Macao Beach, offering valuable insights for coastal management and long-term environmental planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
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| ISSN: | 07490208 |
| DOI: | 10.2112/JCOASTRES-D-26TM5-00003.1 |
