Mystery debris that closed two Sydney beaches confirmed as black 'tar balls'
The Guardian|October 17, 2024
Thousands of black golf-ball-sized pieces of debris that forced the closure of two beaches in Sydney this week have been confirmed as "tar balls".
Rafqa Touma Natasha May
Mystery debris that closed two Sydney beaches confirmed as black 'tar balls'

Coogee beach was closed on Tuesday and Gordons Bay beach was closed yesterday, with beachgoers warned not to go near the “mysterious black, ball-shaped debris”.

The local council, Randwick, said yesterday: "Preliminary test results show the material is a hydrocarbon-based pollutant which is consistent with the makeup of tar balls". Hydrocarbons are the chief components of petroleum-based products.

Tar balls form when oil comes into contact with debris and water - usually as a result of oil spills or seepage.

This story is from the October 17, 2024 edition of The Guardian.

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This story is from the October 17, 2024 edition of The Guardian.

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