This work deals with a concise but comprehensive study of Ilmenite distribution in the beach sands of east Rosetta. This area extends for 28 krn east of Rosetta Nile branch-estuary. The sands c o m e out of the estuary are subjected to north-westerly winds and a eurrent parallel to the beach line from west to east. The significant data about this heavy mineral distribution are shown in Fig. 1 and 2, and sumrnerized in Tables I-5. The Ilmenite properties especially the trace elements are also cornprehended. Systematic withdrawal of 258 auger samples were distributed in a grid with 400 rn parallel, and 200 m perpendicular to the beach line and 1 m depth. The main Ilmenite concentrations are present in three areas A, B and C. The Ilrnenite content varies generally between 2.2%o as rninirnurn and 18.12% as m a x i m u m .
The top meter (upper 1 m) contains 2.91 million dry tons in an area covering 21 k m 2. The Ilmenite forms the major mineral in the beach sands nearly north of Rosetta (Fig. 1 and2). The prineipal richness of Ilrnenite is contained in the area "B" which is close to Abu-Khashaba. The average value of Ilmenite all over the beach c o m e s to 8. 128%. The mineral is found in normal distribution (Fig. 3) and this confirmed the deposition parallel to the beaeh line and irregular deposition perpendicular to the beach line. This is in accordance with the dominant eurrent from the west to the east.