Formation Mechanism of Mud Bank Along the Southwest Coast of India

Mud bank formation during the southwest monsoon along the southwest coast of India remains an enigma to the researchers and coastal community in spite of several earlier studies. The present study attempts to unravel the mystery through a high-frequency, season-long time-series observation at Alappuzha, located at the southern part of the west coast of India, a region of frequent occurrence of mud bank. Using 7-month-long weekly time-series observation, we identified strong winds and high waves associated with onset of the southwest monsoon and subsequent three episodic atmospheric low-pressure events (LPEs).With the help of in situ time-series data, we show that the strong winds and high waves associated with southwest monsoon pre-conditions the near shore bottom sediment to bring it into suspension. The high amplitude waves associated with the southwest monsoon, while propagating from the deep water to shallow water region, interact with the bottom initiating bottom-sediment movement and its suspension due to wave refraction and shoaling. The sporadic occurrence of the atmospheric LPEs enhances the process of suspension of bottom sediment in the near shore region leading to the formation of fluid mud. Simulations with a cohesive sediment transport model yielded realistic estimates of sediment transport, in the presence of an onshore current, a pre-requisite for transporting the fluid mud toward the coast. The prevailing onshore upwelling current during the southwest monsoon provides the favorable pre-requisite conditions for transporting the fluid mud through depression channel network towards the coast. Once sufficient quantity and thickness of fluid mud is accumulated in the near shore region, it acts as a wave damper for subsequent high monsoon waves, as indicated by the time-series wave data, leading to the formation of tranquil mud bank region. Depression channel networks extending from the shelf to the coast off Alappuzha, Kochi, Ponnani, Beypore, and Ullal were found in the bathymetric charts, thus explaining why mud banks occur only at few locations in spite of the prevalence of similar monsoon conditions.     

Arundian (Dinantian) carbonate mudbanks in north-west Ireland

Arundian mudbank complexes at Pollower and Carrickbaun in north-west Ireland are described in detail. The two bank complexes developed on different fault blocks controlled and separated by the Curlew Mountain Fault system which was active during the Dinantian. The two mudbank complexes are composed predominantly of lime mudstone and wackestone textures with abundant peloids and intraclasts. Stromatactoid cavity systems in the banks are extensive and have multiple generations of geopetal internal sediment and radiaxial and bladed cryptofibrous calcite cements. These mudbanks are comparable with earlier Courceyan-Chadian deep water Waulsortian mudbanks which accumulated on carbonate ramps. Components in the Pollower bank most closely resemble those in subphotic Phase C Waulsortian banks, whereas the Carrickbaun mudbank, which possesses dasycladacean algae, intraclasts and micritized fragmented bioclasts, indicates a much shallower environment of in situ carbonate mud accumulation, comparable to the photic Phase D assemblages of Waulsortian banks. The difference in depositional setting is also reflected by their respective enclosing lithologies. The Pollower bank is surrounded by deep water black argillaceous wackestones and shales, whereas at Carrickbaun shallower water crinoidal packstones and grainstones are developed on the flanks and bank top. The Arundian mudbank complexes have many similarities with the Asbian mudbanks of north-west Ireland and as such appear to represent an important ‘stratigraphic’ link in the continuum of deep water mudbanks between the two main periods of development in the early Dinantian (Waulsortian) and late Dinantian (Asbian/Brigantian).     

Grain size and mineralogy of Al Batinah beach sediments,Sultanate of Oman

The nature of Al Batinah coast beach sediments in the Sultanate of Oman was investigated by the analysis of grain size and mineralogy. The beach sediments, mostly light-medium gray green, were predominantly fine sands, with the average grain size of all samples about 200 μm. Some of the particles were gravel (2–16 mm), and some were even larger pebble-size particles (16–256 mm). Some mud (sediment <63 μm) was present, mostly in the sub-tidal sediments. The majority of the samples were skewed to the coarse size with coarse tail partly due to the presence of shell fragments. Approximately 50 % of the beach sediments were quartz with different varieties based on shape and size. The second major component of beach sediment was calcium carbonate which varied from 10 to 65 %. The other components in decreasing order consisted of microbreccia, feldspar, pyroxene, igneous rock fragments, biotite flakes, and heavy minerals. The levels of carbonate were lower in NW Al Batinah coast from Harmul to Al Khaburah but were higher in the SE from Al Khaburah to Al Ghubrah. This could be attributed to either lower carbonate production or more sediment input by wadis along the north-western part of Al Batinah coast. The unique and complex nature of these sediments is largely due to the geology of the terrestrial source area in the Hajar Mountains which contains the famous Samail ophiolite complex and the weak sorting along the shoreline in these tide-modified beaches.     

Mudbank regime off the Kerala coast during monsoon and non-monsoon seasons

Field experiments conducted in the nearshore ocean to understand the dynamics of mudbank off Kerala, south-west coast of India, are highlighted. Real time monitoring of the nearshore ocean off Purakkad, Kerala was accomplished using pressure transducers for nearshore surface wave measurements, and current sensors for nearshore velocity measurements. Comprehensive information on the spatial structure of mudbank was obtained from aerial surveys. Extensive data collected on surface waves and currents in the nearshore ocean, indicate that the infra-gravity (IG) waves (leaky modes and trapped edge wave modes), and far infra-gravity (FIG) waves coupled with strong shoreline reflections and undertow play an important role in the dynamics associated with the mudbanks off Kerala during the monsoon season. During the non-monsoon season evidence for progressive edge waves in the infragravity frequency band, an energetic gravity wave band and a strong undertow with weak reflections was observed.     

北黄海西部与南黄海中部泥质区岩芯敏感粒级及其环境意义

用激光粒度仪对南黄海中部(YSZD01孔)与北黄海西部(B45孔)泥质区沉积物短柱样进行高分辨选样(0.5 cm)的粒度测试与分析,并对柱样进行210Pb测年分析.B45孔柱样沉积时间为1913~2010年,沉积物以粉砂为主,粒度参数垂向波动较大.YSZD01孔柱样沉积时间为1909~2012年,沉积物为泥与砂质泥,粒度参数垂向变化较小.两孔在1958年、1971年、1980年左右砂含量突增,很可能归因于强度大的寒潮,其增强了黄海两泥质区的水动力环境,导致两孔在这些年份左右的粗颗粒沉积物含量突增.用粒级-标准偏差法得到B45孔沉积物敏感粒级组分为15.6~71.8 μm,YSZD01孔沉积物敏感粒级组分为23.7~500.0 μm,用其作为东亚季风变化的指标,显示自1910年代以来东亚冬季风强度增强,两孔在1925~1935年、1955~1964年、1974~1977年、1982~1986年这四个时期敏感粒级含量出现增加趋势,对应冬季风强度增强较为明显.从岩芯粒度来看,季风强度的变化体现为敏感粒级组分含量变化,季风频率的变化体现为敏感粒级含量波动的程度.     

近期长江口-杭州湾邻近海域沉积物粒径的时空变化及其影响因素

为了研究长江口-杭州湾外近海沉积物粒径的现状和近期变化,于2008年4月在该区域用箱式取样器取得了33个表层样,用震动活塞采样器取得7个柱状样;在室内用激光粒度仪对沉积物样品进行了粒度分析并与历史时期的研究成果进行对比。结果表明,1）表层沉积物总体上呈东粗（砂）西细（泥）的特点,粒径总体上的空间格局与历史时期相似;但砂-泥区界线在研究区北部（长江口和杭州湾外）有向西迁移（蚀退）迹象（西移10~30 km）,而在南部（舟山群岛以南）则出现明显向东迁移（淤进）现象（最大超过50 km）。2）当前的表层沉积物形成一条南北连续的泥质带（粒径向南逐渐变细）,反映过去存在于舟山群岛以东的最细组分（“黏土”）带不连续现象在表层现已趋于消失。3）表层沉积物粒径趋势分析揭示长江入海泥沙的运移方向主要是向南-东南。4）泥质区柱状沉积物具有粉砂和黏土为主但在垂向上（反映在时间上）有粗细多变的特点（侵蚀区表层沉积物有粗化迹象）。研究认为,长江口-杭州湾邻近海域现代沉积物对流域和沿海重大人类活动有较敏感的响应。     

浙闽泥质区全新世物源和古气候演化研究进展

浙闽泥质区是全新世高海平面以来沉积物的汇。受东亚季风影响,浙闽沿岸流和台湾暖流具有季节性变化,长江口"夏储冬输"的沉积物输运模式对东海内陆架泥质区的形成有关键作用。浙闽泥质区的潜在物源主要有长江、浙闽河流以及台湾西部山地河流,以长江物质为主。黏土矿物、稀土元素、Sr-Nd同位素、环境磁学等方法是物源研究的重要手段。长江物质以伊利石为主,蒙脱石含量较少,高岭石和绿泥石含量中等;而台湾物质以伊利石和绿泥石为主,没有蒙脱石。磁黄铁矿是台湾河流沉积物特有的磁性矿物,可作为大陆河流与台湾河流物源识别的指标。泥质区位于东亚季风区,受低纬热带过程和高纬大气环流的影响,气候变化具有波动性。沉积物敏感粒级反演的东亚冬季风（EAWM）只记录了泥质区形成以来的气候变化,不能代表整个全新世。受台湾暖流和浙闽沿岸流的双重影响,敏感粒级作为EAWM演化的指标需进一步深入研究。     

河海交互作用沉积与平原地貌发育*

河流是搬运陆源泥沙的主要动力,对相邻的海岸海洋沉积动力有巨大影响。中国河流汇入海洋中的泥沙曾占全球入海泥沙的10 ％ ,现代中国边缘海大陆架在晚更新世时曾是海岸平原,河-海交互作用是形成海岸平原与浅海输积泥沙的主要因素。本文选择5个不同类型的河流展示其不同的泥沙运动与河口沉积的特性以及对相邻陆架之影响,包括: 1)强潮型动力的鸭绿江河口湾,形成从陆向海与从海向陆的双向水流交汇沉积,海岸形成潮流脊体系。 2)季风波浪为主导动力的滦河口,以泥沙的横向运动为主,形成沙坝环绕的双重海岸,沉积粒径自海向陆减小; 沿岸浪流携运泥沙向河口两侧分布,使沙坝具有沙咀状的复合特点。 3)弱潮型、多沙的黄河口,径流于两侧堆积指状沙咀,沙咀下风侧形成粉砂粘土淤泥湾,沿岸流携运泥沙向渤海湾延伸为淤泥舌。 4)径流与沿岸流组合作用的沉积模式,以长江口为代表,泥沙沿岸向南输运为主导,向海岸与向内陆架构成颗粒变细的带状沉积,外陆架出露残留砂。 5)充填河口湾的三角洲,以珠江为代表,河流分汊与会潮点泥沙堆积,悬移质扩散至湾外,被沿岸流携带沿海岸向SW运移,外陆架为残留砂沉积。20世纪80年代以来,上述河流均受到人为活动的改造影响,河流自然过程与河海交互作用效应均发生改变。本文主要以滦河三角洲为例阐述河-海交互作用与平原的地貌特征。     

海南高隆湾海滩生物碎屑分布及其对沉积物粒度特征的影响

在热带砂质海岸,生物碎屑是海滩沉积物的重要组成部分,其分布和变化影响海滩沉积物的粒度特征。采用添加过量盐酸和双氧水的方法对海南高隆湾海滩表层沉积物进行了去生物碎屑前后粒径分布的对比,并结合海滩高程测量分析,结果表明:（1）海滩剖面上沉积物中生物碎屑的含量主要受到海水动力的影响,且生物碎屑颗粒较粗、重量较大,在高潮时由波浪流推上海滩并滞留。（2）海滩沉积物中生物碎屑的分布主要受三方面影响:一是地形及常涌浪向;二是区域中养殖业产生的生物碎屑;三是岸外发育的珊瑚礁坪。（3）海滩沉积物中生物碎屑的含量随季节变化,冬季至春季由海水供给的生物碎屑减少、进一步分解,使得北部海滩生物碎屑含量减少;而珊瑚碎屑的稳定供给和春季较强的波浪动力条件又使研究区南部断面的生物碎屑含量增加。（4）海滩沉积物中粗颗粒所含生物碎屑多于细颗粒中的生物碎屑,生物碎屑粒径主要为-1~2,即粗砂至细砾。沉积物中生物碎屑含量愈大,对粒径参数的影响也愈大。     

Understanding heavy mineral dynamics using magnetic fingerprinting technique: a case study of North Maharashtra Coast,India

Environmental magnetic and grain size measurements were carried out on sand samples collected from nine sand pits along a 20-km coastal stretch of Arnala Beach, North Maharashtra, India. This study sets out to identify the potential heavy (magnetite) mineral-rich sites in a dynamic coastal system and decipher their enrichment processes. Combination of rock-magnetic and grain size data of the sand pits mirrors the differential heavy mineral fluxes along the coast. Two distinct and well-separated bands of magnetite enrichments were identified. The upper magnetite band (UMB) is more pronounced and shows uniform magnetite enrichment representing the present-day beach erosional state. A well-separated lower magnetite band (LMB) had highest magnetite concentration at Vaitarna River mouth and depicts a strong decrease in magnetite content and clastic (mean) grain size away from the river mouth. This suggests that the NW–SE-directed coast-parallel sediment transport in the past played a major role in the formation of magnetite-rich layers of LMB. A non-enriched zone (NEZ) between UMB and LMB is magnetically weak and showed large variations in clastic grain sizes and possibly represents a period of sediment accretion. A strong correlation between magnetite concentration and magnetic grain size was found for all the sand pit samples, with highest magnetic susceptibility values being dominated by coarser magnetic grains. This relationship needs to be further exploited as a potential fingerprint to identify the heavy mineral lag deposits in coastal environments. Our study explores the potential of using environmental magnetism and sedimentological methods to identify the potential areas enriched in heavy (magnetic) minerals and explains the mechanism of their formation.     

粗颗粒悬移质测验误差分析

本文根据流速与含沙量分布,研究了悬移质积点法对粗颗粒含沙量测验误差.首先指出无论从输沙率还是从悬浮高度看,粗颗粒悬移质集中于河底,致使水文测验中的一些测验方法(如一点法、二点法、三点法等)带有较大的误差.进而分析了各种测法对粗颗粒的相对误差,并且随着颗粒变粗,误差愈来愈大,以致不能接受.这种情况在水库下游河道冲刷过程中,会在一定程度上出现,必须重视研究和调整测验方法.最后通过与长江委水文局在沙市及监利两水文站试验结果对比,证明本文理论上的分析是可信的.     

渤海湾西部表层沉积物粒度特征与沉积混合

根据渤海湾西部135个表层沉积物样品的粒度分析结果,分析了表层沉积物的粒度特征与规律。整体上由研究区东北部沿海岸向南沉积物粒度变细,由砂和粉砂质砂变为砂质粉砂,再变为粘土质粉砂。沉积物粒度频率曲线显示,由研究区东北部至北部,沉积物粗组分含量减少,由单峰逐渐过渡为主峰或弱峰,到中部粗组分减少为粗尾形态,到南部粗组分几乎缺失;而沉积物细组分的变化趋势则与之相反。沉积物粗组分在粒度频率曲线上的表现由单峰逐渐过渡至主峰或次峰,粗峰含量减少,到中部粗组分减少为粗尾形态,到南部粗组分几乎消失;而沉积物细组分的变化趋势则与之相反。沉积物粒度参数的平面分布规律和粒度参数之间的相关性变化形态显示出粗细2种母质组分以不同比例的沉积混合的特征,即来自东北部的粗组分与来自南部的细组分发生混合,这可能主要与区内双向的沿岸环流输运有关。     

Textural trends in turbidites and slurry beds from the Oligocene flysch of the East Carpathians, Romania

Deep‐water sandstone beds of the Oligocene Fusaru Sandstone and Lower Dysodilic Shale, exposed in the Buz?u Valley area of the East Carpathian flysch belt, Romania, can be described in terms of the standard turbidite divisions. In addition, mud‐rich sand layers are common, both as parts of otherwise ‘normal’ sequences of turbidite divisions and as individual event beds. Eleven units, interpreted as the deposits of individual flows, were densely sampled, and 87 thin sections were point counted for grain size and mud content. S₃/T_a divisions, which form the bulk of most sedimentation units, have low internal textural variability but show subtle vertical trends in grain size. Most commonly, coarse‐tail normal grading is associated with fine‐tail inverse grading. The mean grain size can show inverse grading, normal grading or a lack of grading, but sorting tends to improve upward in most beds. Fine‐tail inverse grading is interpreted as resulting from a decreasing effectiveness of trapping of fines during rapid deposition from a turbidity current as the initially high suspended‐load fallout rate declines. If this effect is strong enough, the mean grain size can show subtle inverse grading as well. Thus, thick inversely graded intervals in deep‐water sands lacking traction structures do not necessarily imply waxing flow velocities. If the suspended‐load fallout rate drops to zero after the deposition of the coarse grain‐size populations, the remaining finer grained flow bypasses and may rework the top of the S₃ division, forming well‐sorted, coarser grained, current‐structured T_t units. Alternatively, the suspended‐load fallout rate may remain high enough to prevent segregation of fines, leading to the deposition of significant amounts of mud along with the sand. Mud content of the sandstones is bimodal: either 3–13% or more than 20%. Two types of mud‐rich sandstones were observed. Coarser grained mud‐rich sandstones occur towards the upper parts of S₃/T_a divisions. These units were deposited as a result of enhanced trapping of mud particles in the rapidly deposited sediment. Finer grained mud‐rich units are interbedded with ripple‐laminated very fine‐grained sandy T_c divisions. During deposition of these units, mud floccules were hydraulically equivalent to the very fine sand‐ and silt‐sized sediment. The mud‐rich sandstones were probably deposited by flows that became transitional between turbidity currents and debris flows during their late‐stage evolution.     

福建安海湾表层沉积物粒度特征及其现代沉积过程分析

通过对福建安海湾表层沉积物的粒度分析和对比,应用系统聚类分析、粒径趋势模型和切应力计算公式,探讨了研究区粒度的分布特征、沉积环境分区、表层沉积物输运趋势及其影响因素.研究结果表明,研究区包括6种表层沉积物类型,以黏土质粉砂和粉砂为主,沉积物大体呈现自海湾两侧潮滩向潮汐通道变粗的分布趋势.表层沉积物粒度的分布特征与水动力条件和物质来源密切相关,湾口附近及湾内深槽内,细颗粒的沉积物被再悬浮带走,粗颗粒的含量增大;在湾内潮滩上,悬浮物质因水动力作用逐渐减弱发生分选沉降,形成向岸变细的横向分异.海湾外泥沙随潮流不断地向海湾东侧岸滩运移,海湾周边陆源来沙由湾顶部往湾口方向下泄,两者是导致表层沉积物出现明显的顺时针方向汇聚趋势的原因之一;表层沉积物的输运趋势、悬浮泥沙的输运、潮滩植被与湾口沙嘴的遮蔽效应共同影响了研究区内浅滩地形的形成和变化.研究区可分为四类沉积环境区,以潮滩和潮汐通道环境为主,不同沉积区内的粒度参数、粒级频率和敏感粒级均有差异,动力条件差异和不同物源的影响程度是现代沉积环境格局的主要影响因素.     

Silt- and Bioclastic-Rich Flocs and Their Relationship to Sedimentary Structures: Modern Observations from the Petitcodiac River Estuary

Fine-grained sediment deposition is often conceived to happen in still water conditions and to represent slow sedimentation rates. However, it has been increasingly noted that mud sedimentation commonly occurs under high-energy conditions. The macrotidal Petitcodiac River estuary is used as an example to investigate the significance of flocculation as an important process in the rapid removal of large amounts of sediments from suspension under turbulent flow conditions. A range of physical sedimentary structures was observed at the Petitcodiac River estuary intertidal flats and bars, including low-angle and horizontal planar lamination, current and climbing ripples, surficial fluid mud, soft-sediment deformation, microfaults, and mud rip-up clasts. Fluid mud within the study area contains considerable proportions of clay (21–67%) and contributes to the formation of creeping fluid-mud sheets and streams. Detailed examination of the naturally occurring clay flocs shows that they contain up to 77% of the entangled silt- and sand-sized grains. SEM and microscopic imaging of fluid mud reveal a substantial amount of bioclastic material within the flocs and dispersed among the sediments. These observations show that physicochemical and biological processes influence silt, plankton, and clay aggregation. Water samples and observations from the Petitcodiac River estuary confirm that flocs form in the water column and then settle to the tidal-channel floor and flanking intertidal flats. Laboratory experiments, using Petitcodiac sediment, show how the clay flocs have the potential to sweep the water of silt-sized suspended grains. Additionally, diatoms and their associated extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) sheaths might play a role in mineral aggregation and increased sediment cohesiveness.     

北京市昌平区钻孔岩芯的磁化率与粒度组份变化的相关性研究

以昌平区钻孔岩芯为例,分析沉积物粒级组分与磁化率大小变化的相关性。从厚约150 m的剖面选取590多个样品,分别测试从0.5~500 μm各个粒度区间颗粒的百分含量和磁化率。通过计算它们之间的相关关系,认为湖相沉积物磁化率的变化与0.5~30 μm间细粒物质的含量,特别是与0.5~10 μm区间悬浮物质的含量反相关,而与65~500 μm间较粗粒物质的含量正相关。这种相关性与黄土沉积刚好相反,反映了二者之间磁化率不同的变化机制, 蕴涵着一定的古气候信息。     

浙闽沿岸泥质潮滩沉积磁性特征及其物源判别

潮滩沉积的物源一直是沉积学领域重要的研究内容。近30年长江入海泥沙量持续减少,致使长江入海泥沙对浙闽潮滩沉积的物质贡献降低。在此背景下,探究浙闽沿岸潮滩沉积的物源具有重要的现实意义。对杭州湾至福州湾沿岸的泥质潮滩表层沉积开展了详细地磁学研究,结果显示,研究区沉积物的磁性主要受磁铁矿主导,但磁性矿物含量、磁畴和矫顽力等磁性特征存在一定差异,这可能意味着沉积物受到多物源影响。皮尔森相关性分析进一步表明,沉积物磁性特征受粒度效应影响有限,主要与物源差异有关。物源判别结果指示,浙闽泥质潮滩沉积的物源包括长江、海岸基岩和浙闽河流。杭州湾至福宁湾,沉积物普遍受到长江和浙江诸河混合物质的影响,且浙江诸河的物质贡献较大;隘顽湾和象山港沉积物还受到其附近海岸基岩的影响;福宁湾沉积物可能还受到闽江源物质和其附近海岸基岩的影响;罗源湾和福州湾沉积物的潜在物源是闽江和其附近海岸基岩,长江和浙江诸河的物质贡献相当有限。     

Heavy metal contamination and their distribution in different size fractions of the surficial sediment of Haihe River, China

Heavy metal contamination and their distribution in different size fractions of the surficial sediment in Haihe River, China have been investigated. These results reveal that the heavy metal contamination of Haihe River is closely related to the contaminating sources along the river and has the order: Cd > Cu > Pb > Cr. The contents of these heavy metals in the sediment of Haihe River are at least two times higher than their background values and the highest contaminating metal, Cd, is 15.5 times higher than its background value and determined in the urban area of Tianjin city. The surficial sediments of Haihe River, with 70% particles smaller than 20 μm, belong to sandy clay containing about 28% clay and 42% silt. Electron micrographs and x-ray analysis show that the concentrations of heavy metals depend on the particle size of sediments. The highest concentrations for most metals exist in fine-grained sediments, which are mainly composed of silicates, oxides, and hydroxides of Si, Fe, and Al. In contrast, lower levels of heavy metals are usually found in the coarse sandy sediments, which are composed of quartz, feldspar, and other rocky substances. Based on the results in the present study of the surficial sediments of Haihe River, the contents of Cr, Cu, Pd, and Cd in finer sediments are 2.4, 3.9, 2.8, and 3.6 times higher than those in coarse sandy sediments, respectively. Obviously, because of rapid industrial development in this area during the last few decades, the surficial sediments of Haihe River, especially those finer fractions, have been seriously contaminated by heavy metals.     

Comparison of laser grain size analysis with pipette and sieve analysis: a solution for the underestimation of the clay fraction

Classically, the grain size of soil and sediment samples is determined by the sieve method for the coarse fractions and by the pipette method, based on the ‘Stokes’ sedimentation rates, for the fine fractions. Results from the two methods are compared with results from laser diffraction size analysis, which is based on the forward scattering of monochromatic coherent light. From a point of view of laboratory efficiency, the laser sizing technique is far superior. Accuracy and reproducibility are shown by measurements on certified materials. It appears that laser grain size measurements of certified materials correspond very well with the certificated measurements. Tests were also done on a set of randomly selected sediments of fluvial, aeolian and lacustrine origin. Except for the (<2 μm) clay fraction, there is a coarsening of the mean diameter of one to two size classes (0.25 ?), caused by the non-sphericity of the particles. The platy form of the clay particles induces considerable differences (eight size classes) between pipette and laser measurements: the <2 μm grain size, defined by the pipette method corresponds with a grain size of 8 μm defined by the Laser Particle Sizer for the studied sediments. Using a higher grain size level for the clay fraction, when laser analysis is applied, enables workers in the geological and environmental field to compare classical pipette analysis with a laser sizing technique.