Investigation of the provenance of Okinose sand using ESR signals of quartz in granite and granodiorite around Osaka Bay.

This article focuses on determining the provenance of coarse quartz sand composing a submarine dune in the Okinose area of Osaka Bay, Japan, using electron spin resonance (ESR) analysis. Quartz extracted from granite and granodiorite samples near Osaka Bay, including Rokko area, Awaji Island, and Kakogawa area, was examined for ESR signals—specifically the Ti-Li and Al centres—to classify potential source rocks. The study found that the intensity ratio of the Ti-Li centre to the Al centre in quartz from Awaji Island and Rokko granite closely matched that of the Okinose sand, suggesting these as the most likely sources, while contributions from Nunobiki granodiorite and Kakogawa granite were considered unlikely. The heat-treated E1′ centre was deemed ineffective for provenance determination in this context. The findings have implications for understanding sediment transport in Osaka Bay and for preserving the submarine dune and its associated fishing grounds.