Parachute-assisted gravity sediment corer (Algonquin Corer)

Details are outlined for the construction and use of an easily constructed and inexpensive parachute-assisted, gravity-driven, sediment coring device. This corer has been named the Algonquin corer since it was designed, tested and constructed at École Secondaire Algonquin, North Bay, Ontario. This corer utilizes an underwater parachute to effectively control and stabilize its descent, and a driving mechanism (hammer) to increase the penetration of the corer. Other innovative features are its corrective mercury and magnetic switches, which allow the user to precisely monitor both the position of the driving mechanism and the corer's angle of sediment penetration. These optional features may be constructed for use with this particular corer or constructed separately to enhance existing coring devices. Details of these features are provided and their functions outlined. The versatile features, cost-effectiveness and ease of construction of the Algonquin corer make it an effective and practical tool for conducting sediment analysis studies at all levels. It is also well suited for the instruction of coring techniques and paleolimnological methods at both the university and high school level.