Differential sedimentation versus coring artifacts: a comparison of two widely used piston-coring methods

In order to compare two widely used piston-coring techniques, parallel cores were taken with both a Kullenberg and a Livingstone corer in the deepest part of Soppensee (25 m), a small eutrophic Swiss lake containing varved sediments. The cores were taken within a horizontal distance of 3 m and yield comparable stratigraphic records. Differences in millimetre-scale microstructure are attributed to primary sedimentation processes at the water/sediment interface. Sediment thin-sections, as well as sediment x-radiograph investigations, reveal no difference in microstructure that could unequivocally be attributed to one of the coring methods used. The differences in deposition are therefore thought to reflect the inherent variability of lacustrine sedimentation in Soppensee.Major differences in overall core recovery do occur, however, in organic-rich, highly porous sediments. These variations are primarily attributed to differential gas expansion. Actual sediment-accumulation rates can therefore only be correctly estimated if the sedimentary record can be constrained within a high-resolution temporal framework, e.g. by annual laminations.     

Sub-sampling unconsolidated sediments: A solution for the preparation of undistrubed thin-sections from clay‐rich sediments

Using the principles of electroosmosis, a subsampling technique for clay-rich sediments is introduced that produces undisturbed thinsections from sediment cores. The fragile sample remains in the same disposable box throughout the process, preventing collapse of its structure during subsampling, manipulation and impregnation, as well as other potential problems.