Heavy mineral assemblage and geochemistry of ilmenite from the Honnavar beach, Karnataka, central west coast of India have been studied to understand their provenance. The heavy mineral assemblage of ilmenite, magnetite, zircon, hornblende, epidote, sphene, kyanite, garnet and staurolite indicates its derivation from mixed sources of gneissic/granitic, basic and high-grade metamorphic rocks. Trace element content of ilmenite like Co, Cr, V and Ni suggests gneissic to basic provenance. The study indicated that the heavy mineral suite, characterizing the Precambrian gneissic, granitic and basic rocks, has been derived from the hinterland and the river Sharavati brings these minerals. The heavy minerals, characterizing high-grade metamorphic sources like garnet, kyanite and staurolite appear to be reworked and derived from the offshore/palaeo-beach and brought out by combined action of alongshore current from south and waves to the present beach
