Ordination of sediments from the Cape Hatteras continental margin

Ordination is a multivariate technique developed by plant ecologists which has proven effective in the interpretation of paleoenvironments. It allows gradational relationships among samples to be depicted in contrast to other quantitative techniques which classify samples into discrete groups. In this study, ordination is used to interpret textural data for 62 bottom samples taken from the Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, continental margin. The ordination suggests the existence of six sedimentary facies that are similar to those obtained by cluster analysis using a dendrograph display. The facies represented are: littoral sands and outer-shelf shelly sands; inner-shelf sands; outer-shelf sands and silts; outer-shelf slope silts; and two highly biogenic, deep-water silt and clayey silt facies with similar characteristics. The facies are related in a qualitative manner to the environmental processes operating off Cape Hatteras. Chicago Bridge Technical Paper No. 5139.