Geomorphic Features of Saint Martin Island Beach

A Presentation On
Geomorphic Feature Identification at Saint
Martin Island’s Beach, Cox’s Bazar
Course No : GEE 440
Course Title : Environmental Analysis Lab
(soil, water air quality and pollution analysis

Presented By
Minhaz Hasan Sujan
Reg. No: 2011135004
Student of 4th Year, 2nd Semester
Department of Geography and Environment
Shahjalal University of Science and Technology
Contact: Minhaz.hasan46@gmail.com
minhazhasan@student.sust.edu

Introduction
• The unique island of St. Martin is the only place in Bangladesh where
coral colonies are found.
• It is a natural treasure of Bangladesh that attracts thousands of
tourists.
• This island is locally known as Narikel Jinjira (Coconut Island).
• This island is very much resourceful with enormous biological
diversity i.e. mollusk-300 species, fish -150 species, amphibian-5
species, coral-66 species, turtle-5 species, snail-5 species, bird-200
species, mammals-20 species.

Objectives:
1. To identify the geomorphological features of saint
martin island through observation survey.
2. To represent their present condition and the
surroundings through photography.
The Main Objectives of the Survey are:

Conceptual Background of the Study:
Corals thrive in tropical waters—between 30°N and 30°S latitudes.
The ideal depths for coral growth are 45 m to 55 m below sea surface,
where there is abundant sunlight available
The temperature of water should be around 20°C.
Clear salt water is suitable for coral growth, while both fresh water
and highly saline water are harmful for polyp growth.
Adequate supply of oxygen and microscopic marine food, called
plankton, is essential for growth and existence. As the food supply is
more abundant on the seaward side, corals grow more rapidly on the
seaward side
Corals forms on rock formation

Structure of the Island
Image Source: Internet

Geomorphic Features of an Island
Image Source: Internet

Pre-geomorphic Feature of Saint Martin

Geologic Age Landform types Thickness Lithological Description
Late-Holocene Coastal dunes up to 6m Fine to medium sand coated with broken shale
Spit bar up to 2.5m Medium to coarse sand rich in mica
Sandy and shale beach exposed Fine to medium sand with frequent broken shale
Tidal plain and marsh up to 1.5m Fine sand under cementation. marshy peat
Mid-Holocene Alluvial plain and
lowland
up to 2m Grey silty clay with clay clasts and broken shale
Sandy islets up to 3m Coarse sand rich in foraminifera
Lagoon up to 1.5m Dark gray silt with frequent broken shale
Sandy corals and
fossiliferous rocks
exposed Pebbles of shale. coral fragments and foraminifera
Early-Holocene Patches of stony corals
and boulders
submerged to
exposed
Boulder conglomerate of dead corals. Shale and
calcareous sandstone
Pleistocene Pleistocene outcrop up to 6m Medium to coarse grained hard and compact
fossiliferous sandstone. rich in foraminifera
Late Miocene to
Pliocene
Basement of the island
of Dakshinpara
formation
base not seen Fossiliferous sandstone. calcareous sandstone and
fossiliferous conglomerate interbedded with non-
calcareous silty shale
source: Islam, et al. 2001

Study Area
1. A small island in the northeast
of the Bay of Bengal.
2. Lies between 92°18' and
92°21'E longitudes and 20°34'
and 20°39'N latitudes.
3. Almost 3.6m above the mean
sea level.
4. 9.66 km wide channel between
the mainland and the island
5. There are reefs from 10-15 km
to the west-northwest

Methodologies:
 Observation was made through the beach of the island.
 Features had been identified through group discussion with the
members and supervised teacher.
 Photographs had been taken of each features at different angle view.
 Characteristics of each feature along with the surroundings also had
been noted.
 Specific geographic location also had been taken through GPS device.
The total work had been conducted by observation Survey. The
main focus points of the survey were:

Group
Discussion
Feature
Identification
Image Source: Field Survey, December-2017

Photographs
and GPS
value
GPS value
note-down
Photographs
number note-
down

Geomorphic Feature Identification
Different types of beach

1. Sandy
beach with
coral**
2. Sandy
beach *
3. Long sandy
beach with
scattered coral
Sandy
Beach*
4.
Coarse
shale
Beach
with
coral
5. Sandy
Coral
Beach
(fragmented
6. Shallow sandy
beach with
scattered coral
* **

Geomorphic Feature Identification
Specific geomorphic features

1. Sandy Coral Beach with long corals
Corals

2. Ripple Mark
Corals

Sandy Beach

Sandy Beach with Shallow Land

3. Stratified Claystone

4. Stony Hillock

5. Coarse Shale and Coral Debris

6. Unestablished Sand Dunes

Coral Type 1 Coral Type 2

Coral Type 8Coral Type 7

Main Vegetation Type
Shimul: Bombax ceibaScrew Pine Bamboo

Coconut Watermelon

1. Temporal Infrastructure on the Beach
Photo: Temporal infrastructure on the beach

Photo: Jetty at the West side of the island
2. Permanent transport media through beach

Photo: Embankment at the edge of the beach
3. Permanent Infrastructure on the Beach

4. Fragmentation of land for future use
Photo: Land sellingPhoto: land diving

4.1 Use of plastic bags

4.2 Use of plastic bottles and cork sheet

4.3 Use of glass bottle

4.4 Use of metallic materials

4.5 Use of net

Photo: Cycle riding
4.6 Use of transport media

• Sediments are carried out through the
Nuff river and then it gets deposit
through the coast of Saint Martin Island
during the rainy season (June-Sep)
• The fresh water carried out by Nuff river
mixed with ocean saline water. Then it
decreases the salinity of the coastal area
of the island.
• The corals (death or alive) started to get
exposed after the rainy season
(November-May)
Sediment Load Impact on Corals

Findings of the Study
1. The island’s beach is dominated by corals.
2. The geomorphic features scattered around the beach.
3. The main geomorphic feature is sandy beach with corals.
4. Only developed sandy beach is found at North-East side of the
island.
5. The evidence of Sand Dunes are found at the beach. But it is
greatly impacted by human.
6. Corals are in different in color with layered by different
chemical particles.
7. Weathering (chemical, physical and biological) processes are
active at Golacipa and Dakhsinpara of the island.
8. The corals that are found on the beach are death.
9. Human impact on beach is too much at Uttarpara.

Bibliography
1. BOBLME (2015) Socio-economic monitoring report for St. Martin's island,
Bangladesh. BOBLME-2015-Socioec-06 (as directed by the publisher)
2. Islam, M.S., Hoque, A. and Uzzal, M.R., 2001, Quaternary Geomorphic
Evolution of the St. Martin Island in Bangladesh, Indian Journal of
Geography and Environment, Vo. 6, p. 8
3. Hossain, S. M. and Nabi, RU. Md., (2007), Resource Mapping of Saint
Martin’s Island Using Satellite Image and Ground Observations, Journal of
Forestry and environment 5: 23-36
4. Thompson, P.M. and Islam, M.A. (Eds.). 2010. Environmental Profile of St.
Martin’s Island, United Nations Development Programme, Dhaka.

Geomorphic Features of Saint Martin Island Beach

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