Sediment texture and distribution
The bottom of the western harbour is mostly covered by mud and sandy-mud deposits, except some scattered
sand and grave! patches in the inner harbour (Fig. 3). The coarse sediments present the in situ bioclastics,
whereas fine deposits are mostly of terrigenous origin. The average mean size (Mz) of the harbour sediments
is 5.45 0, indicating the fineness of these sediments relative to the harbour surroundings whose average
mean size is 1.68 0. The inner harbour sediments are moderately to poorly sorted, while the outer harbour
is dominated by very poorly sorted sediments

Sediments and Heavy metals Concentration

Concentration of metal  in Sediments of Alexandria Western Harbour in different regions including internal and external region in figure (2).

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The western harbour of Alexandria receives high quantities of different contaminants derived from several land-based sources installed around it. The contamination of the harbour's sediments by heavy metals and nutrient components is primarily due to the uncontrolled discharge of untreated wastes into the harbour basin,as well as the influence of eolian particulates rich insorne hazardous metals and as a consequence of the shipping activites within the harbour. The contaminants are gradually diluted in the shelf sediments surrounding the harbour due to the relative proximity from the direct waste discharging outlets, and the mixing with marine sediments.

Factor analysis enable the definition of the types of contaminants and their association and interaction in
the sediments of the harbour and its surroundings. Organic carbon and silt/clay fractions control most of
the metal associations. Sediment · contamination will increase and further deteriorate the area with eventual onset of euxenic conditions, unless alternative methods of waste disposal are introduced

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El Mahmoudiya Canal The sediments near the runoff areas were mostly fine grained
clayey mud with <63 μm fraction consisting of >90% of the sediment. Both Al and Cd concentrations were high in these sediments deposited near the runoff and discharge area.