Radioactivity, granulometric and elemental analysis of river sediments samples from the coast of Calabria, south of Italy

River sediment samples from different sites of the coast of Calabria, south of Italy, were analyzed to determine the natural radioactivity concentration of the studied area and to investigate about their geological provenience. The radioactivity investigation was performed by using HPGe gamma spectrometry. Activity concentration data were reported and the influence of the particle size on the radionuclides concentration was investigated. X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRF) measurements were performed for the quantitative elemental analysis of the river sediments, revealing the major and minor elements present in the investigated samples. From XRF experimental results it was possible to estimate the geological provenience of the analyzed river sediments. Data obtained in this article provide useful information on the background radioactivity of the studied area and can be further used for radiological mapping of the coast of the Calabria rivers.