Lithological Features and Titanium-Containing Minerals in Bottom Sediments of Small Rivers of Southern Ukraine

Abstract

This paper provides a lithological description for the bottom sediments of small rivers from southern Ukraine. This research is focused on the first-order small rivers of the Azov Sea region: Obytichna, Solona, Mokra Bilosaraika, and Komyshuvatka rivers. Grain size compound, bulk density, and specific salt content were measured. According to the Folk diagram, the bottom fluvial sediments vary from sandy-gravel to gravelly-sand. All the mentioned parameters are described through comparative analysis of samples from different rivers. The results of mineralogical analysis showed the presence of different pollutants in the sediments. Pollutants are represented by metal spheres (magnetic and non-magnetic), metal flakes of various degrees of oxidation, wires, plastic particles, and technogenic glass. The titanium-containing minerals found in riverine samples from the northern Azov region include ilmenite, rutile, titanite and leucoxene. All these minerals are present only in the Obytichna River, yet ilmenite is present in the sediments of all studied rivers. The highest amount of ilmenite is in the sediments of the Obytichna River – up to 3042 grams/ton, though this amount is too low for economically purposes.