Feldspar content was determined by point counts of 12 representative samples stained by 

 standard technique. (Hayes and Klugman, 1959.) The procedure consistently yielded values 

 ranging from less than 1 to 2 percent feldspar; these results are similar to those reported by 

 Field and Pilkey (1969) for the central Florida shelf. 



Heavy mineral content of Type A sands is low, normally less than 1 percent; no distinct 

 concentrations common to modern beach sands were observed. Specific identification of 

 heavy minerals was not performed, but previous investigators Martens (1928), Tyler (1934), 

 Pilkey (1963), Giles and Pilkey (1965), have listed minerals and abundances for Florida 

 beach and offshore samples. 



Most samples contain a low percentage of phosphorite grains in the fine fraction of the 

 sand. Grains are black, blue-black, and amber; surfaces are well rounded and highly pohshed. 

 In a study of phosphorite in the Georgia Continental Shelf and beach deposits, Pevear and 

 Pilkey (1966), and Pilkey and Field (1972), described similar grains and interpreted their 

 presence in nearshore sediments as evidence of net landward transport of shelf deposits. 

 Gorsline (1963) reported minor percentages of phosphorite in sediments over much of the 

 southeastern Continental Shelf and ascribed their presence to reworking from formations 

 exposed during lower sea level. 



Carbonate fraction of Type A sediments consists primarily of pelecypod shells and 

 fragments with lesser amounts of gastropod fragments, barnacles, bryozoa, foraminifera 

 tests, echinoid spines and dermal plate fragments, algae, and oolitic grains. 



Table 2 lists the fauna in the Cape Canaveral grid, and their areal distribution, relative 

 abundance, and associated sediment type. 



The gravel size and very coarse sand-size particles are mainly pelecypod shells and 

 rounded shell fragments; in finer sized fractions it is difficult to establish the specific 

 contributors of the shell material. Most abundant of the pelecypods is Mulinia lateralis, a 

 small ubiquitous clam found on the surface and at depth both in an oxidized state (brown, 

 wliite) and in a reduced state (black, gray). 



Fragments from Mulinia lateralis are often polished and always rounded; no angular shells 

 were observed. Other major pelecypod contributors to the Type A carbonate fraction 

 include Chione cancellata and Aequipecten sp. Lesser contributors are Donax variabilis, 

 Anomia simplex, and Glycymeris undata. 



The general characteristics of multicoloration and lack of angularity appUed to Mulinia 

 lateralis and also common to the other species, with the following exceptions: Chione 

 cancellata is rarely blackened, and fragments oi Aequipecten sp. and Anomia simplex are 

 less rounded, perhaps due to the ease with which they fracture. AU of the shells are fresh in 

 appearance compared to the highly worn, bored and altered shells described from other 

 regions of the shelf. (Pilkey, et al., 1969.) 



The gastropod Crepidula fornicata is a common constituent of Type A sediments and is 

 present as whole shells and fragments ranging in color from light gray to black and light 

 brownish gray to dark brown. Frequently, admixtures of all colors are in a single sample. 

 Previous studies have emphasized environmental significance of shell coloring (Maiklem, 

 1967), and one study (Doyle, 1967) has shown that a relationship may exist between shell 

 color and former strand hne deposits. Significance of the color of Crepidula fornicata and 

 Type A fauna, either of individual species or as a group characteristic, is not determined. No 

 consistent pattern of Unear trends of shell coloring can be related to depth, sediment type, 

 or distance from the present coastline. 



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