A note on an occurrence of pseudo-pumice along the beaches of Goa and Karnataka

Abstract

<span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family: " times="" new="" roman";mso-fareast-font-family:"ms="" mincho";mso-bidi-font-family:="" "times="" roman";mso-ansi-language:en-us;mso-fareast-language:ja;mso-bidi-language:="" ar-sa"="" lang="EN-US">Clasts showing typical physical features of pumice were found scattered along the beaches of Goa and Karnataka. Their chemical composition suggests a large variation in SiO₂ content (69% to 93%), with an unusual strong positive Ce-anomaly. These light weight fragments do not correspond with natural pumice, but rather appear to be similar to the chemical composition of foam glass / artificial pumice available in the market. Therefore, it is concluded that these pumice clasts are a waste product of silica based industries (most probably originating from the ship breaking yards in Gujarat), that found its way towards the beaches of Goa and Karnataka by the action of waves and southerly littoral currents.</span>