The stabilisation of wet sediment cores by means of a polyethylene glycol/freeze-drying treatment for display and permanent storage

A reversible method is presented to transform waterlogged sediment cores into dry and stable specimens which can go on exhibition or into permanent storage, needing no special precautions. Wet sediment core segments are bath-impregnated with polyethylene glycol of molecular weight 3,350 (PEG 3,350) dissolved in water. The samples are then subjected to a freeze-drying process, during which the PEG forms a stabilising and bonding porous network structure in the capillary system of the sediment. Standard sediment cores at least 1 m long become strong enough to stand upright. Sediment types ranging from muddy deep-sea sediments to very coarse littoral Halimeda sand were successfully stabilised. For standard cores of 10-cm diameters split length-wise, impregnation times vary from 2 weeks for coarse sand to 6–10 weeks for more compacted sediments. With regard to the stability of the samples and the visual clarity of detail, best results were obtained by impregnation with 25 to 60% solutions of PEG 3,350, coarse sediments needing more PEG than finer ones. Colour changes are systematic – the processed samples are lighter in appearance and the contrasts are enhanced, but there is no serious shift in colour tones. The PEG can easily be re-dissolved and washed out of the sediments. Display specimens can thus be made available for research again.     

长江河口近底层悬沙和沉积物的交换过程研究

大河河口的动力沉积过程一直是陆海相互作用研究的核心内容,其中水体泥沙的垂向交换是河口动力-沉积机制分析中的关键环节。基于2011年12月对长江河口及其邻近海湾采集的大范围、高密度的近底层悬沙、海床表层1~2cm(表层沉积物)和垂向向下约2~10cm的沉积物(次表层沉积物)同步3组303个样品,利用经验正交函数方法,对河口地区的悬沙和沉积物交换过程进行研究。结果表明:近底层水体悬沙的空间分布模式主要以粉砂粒级为主,空间分布差异性不大;表层及次表层沉积物的空间分布模式相似,但较近底层水体悬沙的分布复杂,存在明显的区域性特征,其中南汇边滩水域中部辐散区的沉积物表现为粗粉砂-细砂模式,其他区域由粉砂组分模式组成。近底层水体悬沙、表层和次表层沉积物的第一模态主要反映了粒径较细的泥沙运动,第二模态主要反映了粒径较粗的泥沙运动。在近底层水体悬沙与表层沉积物的垂向交换中,主要交换粒级为粉砂组分粒级。在表层沉积物与次表层沉积物的垂向交换中,南汇边滩中部辐散区的主要交换粒级为粗粉砂-细砂组分粒级,其他区域主要为粉砂组分粒级。     

Undisturbed Strata Succession Sampling Technology and the Engineering Geological Characteristics of an Atoll in the Southern South China Sea

Coral reef calcareous sediment, a special category of rock-soil material, has representative geological structure and environmental characteristics. It is widely distributed in shallow areas of the tropical ocean; therefore the exploration instruments and technologies for engineering geology studies of coral reef calcareous sediments are very different from those used in land or deep-sea. Obtaining undisturbed cores from the Holocene unconsolidated stratum of coral reefs has been a key problem in the field of marine geology and environment surveying. The authors have designed a novel floating drilling platform equipped with a drilling machine, and successfully achieved undisturbed cores from both reef flats (with water depth 0.5 to 2 m) and a enclosed lagoon (with water depth 2–12 m) of Yongshu Reef (9°32–9°42 N, 112°52–113°04 E), southern South China Sea. Based on the detailed observation on the cores and the analysis from engineering geology, Yongshu Reef was split into reef three engineering geological zones: leading edge, reef flat (including outer reef flat, middle reef flat and inner reef flat) and lagoon. The sediments are classified in the stratum as fine sand, medium sand, coarse sand, gravel and weak-cemented reef limestone.     

Characteristics of resuspended sediment from Georges Bank collected with a sediment trap

A sediment trap was deployed 3 m from the bottom at a water depth of 62 m on the southern flank of Georges Bank (41°02·2′N, 67°33·5′W) from 30 September 1978 to 10 March 1979 to qualitatively determine the size of sediments resuspended from the bottom by winter storms and to determine if seasonal changes in the phytoplankton could be observed in the trapped sediment.Bulk X-ray analyses of the trapped sediment showed layers of distinctly different textures preserved in the collection vessel. The median grain size of sampled layers ranged from 2·7 to 6·5 φ (fine sand to silt), but all layers contained a pronounced mode in the 3 φ (fine sand) range. Nine layers containing relatively large amounts of sand were present. The sand content was 75% in the coarest layers and about 32% in the fine layers. The median grain size of bottom sediments at the deployment site was considerably coarser than the trap samples, although the dominant grain size was also 3 φ.Average bottom-current speeds during the deployment period were about 30 cm s^?1 with a range of 10 to 50 cm s^?1. Bottom stress, computed from the observed currents and waves, suggest that 11 storms caused sufficient stress to resuspend 3 φ-sized sediments, in good agreement with the nine layers of relatively coarse sediments collected in the trap. Surface waves had to be included in the calculation of bottom stress because the bottom currents alone were insufficient to cause the resuspension of 3 φ-sized sediment.The trapped sediments contain numerous diatoms and coccoliths that are typical of late fall and winter assemblages. No clear seasonal difference in the flora was noted among sampled layers, probably due to the large influx of resuspended material and a reduced primary flux during this period. An undescribed species of Thalassiosira (G. Fryxell, personal communication), and siliceous scales of unknown systematic position were observed at all levels.     

Stability studies of surficial sediments in the Wilmington-Lindenkohl Canyons area,eastern U.S. margin

Stability analysis, based on infinite slope analysis and geotechnical data from a suite of 34 cores collected from the continental slope between Wilmington and Lindenkohl Canyons, indicates that the Quaternary surficial silty clay sediments on gentle slopes are stable; that sediment stability on steeper slopes (14°–19°) is marginal; and that on precipitous slopes (>50°) only a thin veneer of unconsolidated sediments can exist. Small earthquake-induced accelerations or the effects of internal waves can result in slope sediment instabilities.     

越南红河水下三角洲北区表层沉积物类型及分布特征初探

对2007年采自越南红河水下三角洲北区24个表层沉积物样品进行了粒度分析和粒度参数计算,初步探讨了该区沉积物的主要类型及分布特征。结果表明,越南红河水下三角洲北区的表层沉积物主要由粉砂组成(体积平均含量为54.35%),平均粒径为6φ。按Link沉积物命名法,该区沉积物主要类型有砂、砂质粉砂和黏土质粉砂。水平分布上,由西部的砂向东逐渐变为黏土质粉砂,呈现出由近岸三角洲前缘相的粗粒级沉积物逐渐向前三角洲-浅海相的细粒级沉积物变化的趋势。与前人研究成果对比发现,红河水下三角洲北区沉积物黏土的比例较1996年的比例明显增大,可能与海岸线近10a来总体上呈向陆迁移、水下三角洲沉积向岸蚀退以及纵向上水动力逐渐变弱有关。     

青岛海岸带及邻近海域地形和沉积物类型研究

研究了青岛海岸带及邻近海域的地形特征、沉积物类型及分布特征。总体看来,沿海岸粒度较粗,为砂、粉砂质砂等,向海深处粒度有逐渐变细的趋势,海深处的沉积物主要为砂—粉砂—黏土,局部为粉砂质黏土、黏土质粉砂和黏土质砂。灵山岛周围,沉积物粒度较粗。胶州湾口内外为一海底深槽,水深流急,冲刷强烈,沉积物粒度非常粗,主要为粗砂、中砂,局部有基岩出露。深槽南北两侧各有一条突出海底的砂脊,平行于深槽延伸方向砂脊由中砂组成,混有少量黏土,北侧砂脊表面呈不规则起伏,南侧砂脊表面则较为平整。胶州湾内沉积物粒度总体较细,主要为粉砂质黏土、黏土质粉砂及砂—粉砂—黏土等。根据沉积物类型及分布特征,可把青岛海岸带及邻近海域的沉积划分为4个沉积区:胶州湾口及滨岸现代沉积区、北部浅海沉积区、南部浅海沉积区和残留—残余沉积区。     

Gas accumulations and their association with particle size distribution patterns in the Ría de Arousa seabed (Galicia, NW Spain): an application of discriminant analysis

Gassy sediments in the Ría de Arousa are preferentially distributed in areas of muddy seabed sediments. The close relationship between seabed sediment parameters and gas distribution is here studied in detail to establish better constraints on the presence of gas. Discriminant analysis was applied to the textural and compositional characteristics of 303 seabed sediment samples to classify gas-related and gas-free areas in the Ría de Arousa. The parameters considered in the classification were: particle size data (percentages of clay, silt, sand and gravel), the total inorganic carbon and the total organic carbon contents of the samples. The samples were initially classified in two groups according to the presence or absence of acoustic turbidity in the seismic profiles, shallower than 150 cm below seabed. Of the total known cases, 85.5% were correctly classified using these variables. Applying the Wilks’ lambda criterion, the most influential textural discriminating variables were the percentage of clay and the percentage of coarse fraction (gravel and sand) in the sediment sample. Discriminant analysis has achieved good differentiation between gas-related and gas-free sediments using near-seabed sediment information. The application of the discriminant method has enabled the estimation of the total area covered by gassy sediments in the Ría de Arousa. The area calculated based on the seismic data (30 km²) is a minimum estimate that is constrained by the limits of the existing seismic data. Based on the sediment information obtained from seabed samples, the statistical method estimates a total area of gassy sediments of 39 km². The new gassy areas recognized are located around the gas field at the inner ría, and the gas field west of Arousa Island, which increase in area by 8.3 and 0.4 km² respectively.     

威海典型海滩沉积地貌及质量评价

选择威海双岛湾附近海滩、国际海水浴场海滩、金海滩、青叽岛以西海滩、青叽岛以东海滩、天鹅湖海滩、桑沟湾海滩、楮岛海滩、南海新区海滩和乳山银滩十处代表性岸滩进行了海滩地貌和底质调查,结合沙滩表层样品分析测试数据,对研究区海滩地貌、沉积物粒度分布特征及海滩质量进行了综合评价。结果表明:威海海滩沉积物主要包括砾砂、粗砂、中砂、细砂四种类型,其中中砂分布最广,约占所有点位的35.6%,细砂、粗砂、砾砂分别占34.4%,26.7%和3.3%。岸滩坡度一般较缓,宽度中等以上,岸滩质量整体较好,部分岸滩受沉积物粒度影响,质量稍差。     

登州浅滩海域表层沉积物分布特征

依据2010年在登州浅滩海域采集的沉积物样品资料,划分了研究区表层沉积物的分布类型,分析了登州浅滩海域沉积物的分布特征和粒度参数变化规律,在此基础上初步探讨了沉积物分布的影响因素.研究结果表明,登州浅滩海域表层沉积物主要包括砾石、砾砂、粗砂、中粗砂、中砂、细砂、粉砂质砂、砂质粉砂、粉砂、黏土质粉砂、粉砂质黏土等11种类...     

北仑河口柱状沉积物粒度特征

根据北仑河口3个钻孔柱状沉积物的粒度分析结果,结合14C测年和210Pb测年资料,分析了钻孔沉积物的粒度特征,结果表明：KL1柱样沉积物主要为粉砂质砂、砂质粉砂、中细砂、细中砂,沉积物由下到上由细到粗再变细,经历了2个沉积变化;KL2柱样沉积物单一,为细中砂;KL3柱样沉积物由下到上依次为砾石、砂砾、粗中砂、细中砂、砾砂、粉砂质砂、粘土质粉砂、砂-粉砂-粘土,沉积物粒度由下到上逐步细化,该孔早期离物源较近.3个孔的沉积物分选大多很差,反映当时水动力作用较强或者离物源较近.这些沉积物类型为晚更新世末次冰期以来的沉积,记录了晚更新世以来2个沉积变化.     

海南博鳌海域的沉积物输运趋势与沉积速率

2001年与2009年分别在博鳌海域进行表层沉积物和柱状沉积物取样,通过粒度分析和计算获取沉积物粒度参数,借助放射性同位素测年估算沉积速率.结果表明,与2001年相比,目前万泉河口、沙美内海有细化趋势(由粗砂变为细砂),玉带滩北部沉积物变粗,而玉带滩南部变化不大.此外,目前沙美内海北部沉积物输运趋势和2001年正好相反,南部则基本一致.万泉河口北侧沙嘴由淤积变为侵蚀,与实地调查一致.玉带滩北部沉积物沿岸向南、向外海输运,原处于侵蚀状态的南部岸段现已处于稳定阶段,这与2001年和2009年两个时段的岸线对比结果吻合.210Pb测年结果发现,潟湖内的沉积速率约为2mm·a-1,和2001年的测年结果基本一致.     

黄河三角洲埕岛海域底质特征与泥沙净输运研究

本文通过对黄河三角洲埕岛海域146个表层样的粒度分析,表明该区有5种沉积物类型,以砂质粉砂为主体,呈斑块状分布,极细砂与粗粉砂是沉积物的主要粒级,普遍分选差。运用"粒径趋势"分析的方法,分析探讨了埕岛海域表层沉积物净输运趋势。研究区的沉积物的净输运趋势大致以12 m水深为界,深水区沉积物的净输运趋势向岸,12 m以浅海域的沉积物具有离岸的净输运趋势,说明深水区沉积物受冬季风浪作用向岸运移作用显著,12 m以浅海域的沉积物受夏季风浪作用离岸运移作用显著,沉积物运移的季节变化已成为研究区海域沉积物净运移的主要控制因素。     

Meiobenthos in Nha trang bay of the south China sea (Vietnam)

The distribution of the taxonomical composition and the density of meiobenthos depending on the sediment type has been studied in bottom sediments of Nha Trang Bay. The maximal population density and the taxonomical diversity were observed in the silted coarse and heterogeneous sand (1031.4μ419.7 ind. 10 cm^-2), whereas the minimal level of density and diversity (588.1μ152.5 ind. 10 cm^-2) was in the coarse and heterogeneous sand with shell debris and corals. The correlation between the median diameter of sediment particles and population density of meiobenthos has been revealed (r=0.82, p<0.05). In bottom sediments of Nha Trang Bay, twenty six taxonomic groups of meiobenthos were observed. Nematodes dominated in all sediment types. Representatives of four orders, twenty eight families and ninety seven genera of marine nematodes were identified. The vertical distribution of meiobenthos in different sediment types was considered. A sediment column (10 cm height) was sectioned by five 2 cm portions. In the last layer (8-10 cm) the most number of meiobenthic groups was found in sandy sediments. In the lower layers of silt sediments, only nematodes were found.     

日照市海滩沉积物地球化学元素特征及物源研究

海滩是大自然赋予人类宝贵的自然资源,作为著名的海滨旅游城市,日照市拥有丰富的海滩资源。目前,国内对日照市海滩沉积物地球化学特征和物源的研究相对薄弱,掌握海滩沉积物特征对后续海滩保护、海洋管理和滨海旅游业的发展具有重要意义。本文对日照市自北向南4 个海滩5 个探槽所采集的73 个海滩样品,进行了沉积物粒度、常微量和稀土元素测试分析,系统地研究了日照市海滩沉积物的地球化学元素在平面上的变化特征与其物质来源。结果显示,日照市海滩沉积物普遍较粗,以粗砂和中砂为主,自北向南沉积物呈现细-粗-细的变化特征。常量元素以二氧化硅（SiO2） 为主,其次为三氧化二铝（Al2O3） 和氧化钾（K2O）、氧化钠（Na2O）、氧化钙（CaO） 等;微量元素以钡（Ba）、锶（Sr）、锆（Zr） 为主;稀土元素呈现明显的轻稀土元素富集、重稀土元素亏损,球粒陨石标准化曲线呈现左高右低的“V”形曲线,铕（Eu） 异常变化范围较大,从正异常-负异常,无明显铈（Ce） 异常。通过与长江、黄河及周边中小型入海河流沉积物的稀土元素对比分析,发现研究区内沉积物物质来源较复杂,主要为陆源物质,受到黄河及周边中小河流的影响程度较高。     

渤海湾西岸潮间带沉积物粒度分布特征

根据2003年12月在渤海湾西岸海河口南缘至歧口间岸段采集的4个柱状沉积物样品和6个表层样品的粒度分析结果,探讨了渤海湾西岸潮间带的粒度分布特征和沉积作用。结果表明,由北向南,表层沉积物逐渐变细,分选性变差。海河口南缘至独流减河之间的表层沉积物为分选良好的细砂,至歧口附近变为粉砂质粘土。在垂直方向上,表层以下一定深度内沉积物的平均粒径都存在一均匀层,层内沉积物为分选良好的细砂,此深度以下沉积物中的粘土含量增加。说明由于60年代之后的自然变化和人类活动,入海泥沙量减少,改变了潮间带沉积物原有的输沙与海滩发育模式,导致独流减河以北的砂质沉积物出现粗化现象。     

天津塘沽驴驹河-独流减河潮间带沉积物特征研究

通过对研究区潮间带36个表层沉积物的定位采样,采用综合法对样品进行粒度分析。结果表明,研究区潮间带表层沉积物由-粉砂质极细砂、极细砂-粉砂-粘土、粉砂-粘土-极细砂、极细砂质粉砂、极细砂-粉砂、粉砂和极细砂组成,从岸边向潮下带方向表层沉积物由细变粗;由于修建海滨浴场,改变了岸线的轮廓使水流发生变化,从驴驹河-独流减河潮间带表层沉积物粒度由粗变细;垂向上,由于修建海防公路造成岸线后退,沉积物表现为下粗上细,这些特征与本地区的人类活动和水动力条件变化密切相关。     

Cyclone and bioturbation effects on sediments from coral reef lagoons

Despite the severity of tropical cyclone ‘Winifred’, which crossed the Great Barrier Reef on 1 February 1986, there were little long-term effects on lagoon surface sediments from reefs in its path. Short-term effects were apparent only at one particularly exposed area. These were: an increase in proportion of the coarse fraction, the establishment of sand ripples, and the destruction of the mounds produced by callianassid shrimps (normally the dominant topographic feature). Within six weeks this area was indistinguishable from a typical reef lagoon. This is probably the result of sediment reworking by callianassid shrimp, involving selective burial of the coarse fragments and transport to the surface of finer particles. Sediment turnover rates by callianassids are commensurate with change to the sediment within the relatively short period observed. The sediment fauna responded quickly to the changes in sediment type. Immediately after the cyclone the disturbed area supported a fauna typical of the coarse sediments on the shallow reef flat, as the sediment reverted to a more normal type so the fauna changed back to that typical of a reef lagoon.     

文登近岸海域表层沉积物分布特征及影响因素

根据2013年文登近岸海域130个表层沉积物样品资料,分析了研究区表层沉积物分布特征,结合表层沉积物起动流速、波浪破碎水深和潮流数值模拟等资料,初步探讨了表层沉积物分布格局的影响因素。结果表明,研究区表层沉积物主要包括砂、粉砂、黏土质粉砂等8种类型,由岸向海粒径变细、分选变差。母猪河、昌阳河主要影响研究区东部沉积物的分布,黄垒河主要影响研究区西部沉积物的分布,河流的存在控制着研究区沉积物分布的基本格局。"波浪掀沙,潮流输沙"控制了表层沉积物的分异,形成了研究区中部颗粒较粗,东西两侧颗粒较细的沉积物分布规律。     

Sedimentological processes in the southern margin of the Cretan Sea (NE Mediterranean)

The Cretan Basin can be characterized as a back-arc basin of the Hellenic Trench System, that is related to the subduction zone of the African Plate under the Eurasia Plate. The study area includes the narrow and relatively steep (gradient 1.5°) continental shelf of the island of Crete followed by the steep slope (2°–4°) and the rather flat deeper part of the Cretan basin (water depths >1700 m).Surficial sediments of the coastal zone are coarser and of terrigenous origin, while in deeper waters finer sediments, of biogenic origin, are more abundant. Sand-sized calcareous sediment accumulations, identified in middle-lower slope, may be attributed to the aggregation of seabed biogenic material related to the near bed current activity.High resolution profiles (3.5 kHz) taken from the inner shelf shows a typical sigmoid-oblique progradational configuration, implying prodelta sediment accumulation during the Holocene. In the upper-middle slope, sub-bottom reflectors indicate continuous sedimentation of alternating fine and/or coarse grained material. Small-scale gravity induced synsedimentary faults appeared, locally. In contrast, a series of gravity induced faults, identified in the lower slope, are associated with sediment instabilities due to seismotectonic activity. Sediment cores taken from the shelf-break consists of calcareous muddy sand with small amounts of terrigenous silt and fine sand, while the cores recovered from the middle slope has revealed a more homogeneous fine sediment texture of hemipelagic deposition.The prevailing accumulation processes in the southern margin of the Cretan basin are: (i) prodelta deposition in the inner-middle shelf; (ii) settling from bottom nepheloid layers in the shelf and upper slope; (iii) calcareous sediment formation due to settling from suspension and post accumulation aggregation (middle-lower slope); (iv) long-term episodic sediment gravity processes in the lower slope; and (v) to a lesser extent, redeposition from resuspension due to gravity processes and bottom currents.