Abstract:

This dataset contains sediment Texture & Composition data collected from the northern Gulf of Mexico coast aboard the R/V Weatherbird II from 2017-07-19 to 2017-07-20. Sediment texture and composition data are generated for selected core sub-samples at 2mm sampling intervals for “surficial unit” and 5mm sampling resolution intervals to base of cores. Sediment texture values are expressed as % Gravel, % Sand, % Silt and % Clay as calculated by dry weight (g). % Mud can be calculated by combining % Silt and % Clay. Sediment composition is expressed as % TOM (Total Organic Matter) measured by Loss on Ignition (LOI), % Carbonate content measured by acid leaching, and the % Insoluble Residue (IR), which is likely dominated by terrigenous clastic (land-derived) sediment sources. The dataset contains the date, latitudes and longitudes of the sampling locations.

Suggested Citation:

Brooks, Gregg R. and Rebekka A. Larson. 2021. Sediment texture and composition data collected aboard the R/V Weatherbird II cruise WB-0717 in the northern Gulf of Mexico from 2017-07-19 to 2017-07-20. Distributed by: GRIIDC, Harte Research Institute, Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi. doi:10.7266/n7-4w9a-nj03

Purpose:

Determine if and how sediment texture and composition varies in sediment cores as an indicator of sediment sources and depositional mechanisms.

Data Parameters and Units:

Latitude of core site Longitude of core site Water depth of core site in meters (m) Core collection Date Site Identification (ID) Core Identification (ID) Top Depth of Interval in millimeters (mm) Bottom Depth of Interval in millimeters (mm) Average Depth of Interval in millimeters (mm), average of Top and Bottom Depths % Gravel (by dry weight) % Sand (by dry weight) % Silt (by dry weight) % Clay (by dry weight) % Mud (by dry weight), calculated by adding % Silt and% Clay % Carbonate (by dry weight) % Total Organic Matter (TOM) by Loss on Ignition (LOI) (by dry weight) % Insoluble Residue (IR) non-organic (by dry weight) Laboratory/Facility The cruise documentation was provided for the R/V Weatherbird II (WB-0717). The cruise was led by chief scientists Dr. Steve Murawski and Dr. David Hollander.

Methods:

Sediment texture and composition analyses were conducted on extruded samples and included grain size, and calcium carbonate content (%CaCO3). Grain size was determined by wet sieving the sample through a 63µm screen. The fine-size (<63 µm) fraction was analyzed by pipette (Folk, 1965) to measure the relative percentage of silt (%silt) and clay (%clay). The sand-size (>63 µm) fraction was volumetrically too small to analyze further and is reported here as %sand. Carbonate content was determined by the acid leaching method according to Milliman (1974). Where there was not sufficient sediment from an interval for both sediment texture and composition, only sediment texture was performed.

Instruments:

Ocean Instrument MC-800 Multicore; Shipek Grab Sampler

Provenance and Historical References:

Folk, Robert L. Petrology of Sedimentary Rocks. Austin, Tex: Hemphill Pub. Co, 1980. Print. http://hdl.handle.net/2152/22930 Milliman, John D. 1974. Marine carbonates. Recent sedimentary carbonates part 1. Springer‐Verlag, New York, Heidelberg, & Berlin, xv + 375 p.

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