Grain-Size Analysis of Marine Sediments

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htm
U.S. Deparment of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey
U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OPENFILE REPORT 00358
CHAPTER 1: GRAINSIZE ANALYSIS OF MARINE
SEDIMENTS: METHODOLOGY AND DATA PROCESSING
Poppe, L.J.1, Eliason, A.H.2, Fredericks, J.J.3 , Rendigs, R.R.1,
Blackwood D.1 and Polloni, C.F.1
1Coastal and Marine Geology Program, USGS, Woods Hole, MA 02543
2 Eliason Data Services, 230 Meetinghouse Road, Mashpee, MA 02649
3Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA 02543
INTRODUCTION

Grain size is the most fundamental physical property of sediment. Geologists and sedimentologists
use information on sediment grain size to study trends in surface processes related to the dynamic conditions
of transportation and deposition; engineers use grain size to study sample permeability and stability under
load; geochemists use grain size to study kinetic reactions and the affinities of finegrained particles and
contaminants; and hydrologists use it when studying the movement of subsurface fluids (Blatt and others,
1972; McCave and Syvitski, 1991). Therefore, with these reasons in mind, the objectives of a grainsize
analysis are to accurately measure individual particle sizes or hydraulic equivalents, to determine their
frequency distribution, and to calculate a statistical description that adequately characterizes the sample.
The techniques and equipment used for particlesize analysis must be fast, accurate, and yield highly
reproducible results. The accuracy of these measurements is limited by sampling techniques, storage
conditions, analytical methods, equipment, and, especially, the capability of the operator. Care and attention
to detail must be exercised to achieve the best possible results. As with most types of sedimentological
analyses there is no ultimate technique or procedure that will produce the most desirable grain size data for
all cases. Several types of analyses have been developed over the years to accommodate the different types
and sizes of samples and the reasons for conducting the analysis.
For many years, the size and distribution of the sand and gravel fractions were determined solely by
sieve analyses, and silt and clay fractions were determined by pipette or hydrometer methods. Later, rapid
sediment analyzers (RSA; Fig. 1; Ziegler and others, 1960; and Schlee, 1966) and electroresistance
multichannel particlesize analyzers (EMPSA; Fig. 2), such as the Coulter Counter, automated the analysis
and removed much of the tedium from grainsize analyses. About this same time Formula Translation
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(FORTRAN) programs for the calculation of statistical parameters on geologic data also
were developed (Kane and Hubert, 1962; Schlee and Webster, 1967). Other particlesize
statistical programs have since been written in Algorithmic Language (ALGOL; Jones
and Simpkin, 1970), Beginners AllPurpose Symbolic Instruction Code (BASIC; Sawyer,
1977), and even for use with handheld calculators (Benson, 1981). Early attempts to
integrate computers with particlesize analysis equipment began with the settling tube
(Ziegler and others, 1964; Rigler and others, 1981), and hardware and software packages
are now available for EMPSA units (Muerdter and others, 1981; Poppe and others, 1985;
Coulter Electronics, 1989).
The commercial availability of inexpensive personal
computers allows sedimentologists to construct complete
computerized particlesize analysis systems (Poppe and others, 1985). The
major advantage of using these systems is the time, labor, and costsaving
functions they afford. Most of the laboratory equipment and procedures, and all
of the data processing described herein may be adapted to IBMcompatible
personal computers.
The purpose of this chapter is to describe some of the laboratory
methods, equipment, computer hardware, and dataacquisition and data
processing software employed in the sedimentation laboratory at the Woods
Hole Field Center of the Coastal and Marine Geology Program of the U.S. Geological Survey. The
recommendations and laboratory procedures given below are detailed, but are by no means complete. Serious
users are strongly encouraged to consult the original references and product manuals.

FIELD METHODS

Sampling Recommendations

The results of grainsize analyses are sensitive to the manner in which the original samples are
collected, handled and stored. For example, it is clear that the introduction of foreign particulate
matter into the sample through improper care or cleaning of equipment, or through improper
processing, can alter the texture. The growth of authigenic minerals because of improper storage can
have a similar effect and, although physical disturbance may not generally have a direct effect on
subsequent analyses, the trends of those data may be altered if sediment layering has been disrupted.
In sum, analyses that follow improper field work may be meaningless.
To keep sampling artifacts and variation in data to a minimum, certain precautions should be
taken in the field during sampling and subsequent storage:

* Records on sampling, including field measurements, should be painstakingly maintained. The
appropriate field measurements and any information peculiar to the sample should be supplied
to the laboratory along with the sample.

* Particularly in the case where the top of the sediment section is of interest, care must be exercised
during sampling. Over penetration by sampling device and jarring or bumping during retrieval
should be avoided. Surficial samples for grain size analyses are typically defined as having
been collected from 02 cm below the sediment/water interface.

* If the samples are in cores with liners that need to be split, the device chosen for cutting should not
add plastic shards to the samples since contamination from these shards affects the textural
analysis. Core halves should be stored in wellsealed Dtubes with a piece of moist Oasis or
sponge to retard evaporation. If the cores are split, it is recommended that one half should be
held in reserve as an archive until all analyses are complete and data quality can be assured.

* The subsamples should be stored in containers that are appropriate to the individual analyses. Inert
airtight containers such as plastic jars, boxes, or bags are preferable to metal cans that could
rust and contaminate the sample, or cloth bags that allow evaporation and the loss of fines.

* All sampling utensils and containers must be clean and free of contamination. If splits of the
samples are to be used for geochemical analyses (e.g. trace metals), the sampling gear should
be plastic or Teflon coated and the containers acid washed.

* Care must be taken to obtain a representative split when sampling in the field. Be aware of lateral
and vertical variability in grab samples. Collect larger samples from poorly sorted sediment;
smaller samples from well sorted sediment.

* Careful labeling is critical. Labels must be legible and permanent. Test the permanency of markers
prior to fieldwork.

* To prevent geochemical reactions, the growth of organics, or evaporation from occurring within a
sample, refrigeration or freezing is necessary. Such reactions may change the mineralogy and
grainsize distributions, complicate laboratory analyses, and increase costs. For example,
authigenic minerals such as gypsum may form with individual gypsum crystals growing up to
sand and even gravelsized particles. Similarly, excessive evaporation must also be avoided,
especially if the samples are marine and it is necessary to correct for salt content.

* All analyses should be performed within a reasonable (<2 months) amount of time. The longer a
sample is stored, the greater the opportunity for storagerelated alteration.

Gallery of Common Sediment Sampling Devices

Grab Samplers

Cambell Grab Emery and Schlee, 1963
Clamshell Grab Lay, 1969
Orange Peel Grab Lay, 1969
Petersen Grab Pettersson, 1928
SEABOSS Grab Blackwood and Parolski, 2000
SmithMcIntyre Grab Smith and McIntyre, 1954
Shipek Grab North Carolina State University, 1999
Van Veen Grab Lay, 1969

Corers

Alpine Vibracorer Sea Surveyor Inc, 2000
Electric Vibracorer PVL Technologies Inc, 2000
Gravity Corer Lee and Clausner, 1979
HydraulicallyDampened Corer Bothner and others, 1997
Lamont Box Corer Lee and Clausner, 1979
Phleger Corer ` Phleger, 1951
Piston Corer Lee and Clausner, 1979
Spade Box Corer Rosfelder and Marshall, 1967

Sediment Traps

Cylindrical Sediment Trap Honjo and others, 1992
TimeSeries Sediment Trap McLane Research Laboratories, 2000
Dredges

Rock Dredge Shepard, 1963
Pipe Dredge Shepard, 1963

Bedload Samplers

HelleySmith Bedload Sampler Emmitt, 1980
USGS Bedload Sampler Rickly Hydrological Company, 2000

LABORATORY PROCEDURES

Records and Metadata
.
Figure 3 outlines the laboratory techniques and software sequence of operation in a
generalized flow diagram for those procedures used in the sedimentation laboratory at the
Woods Hole Field Center. Because the size data become part of a data base and as it is
necessary to archive the raw unprocessed data, there must be a formal system for recording
sample identifiers. Appropriate identifiers include: requestor, cruise identification (id),
project id, work requested, purpose of investigation, sample id, latitude, longitude, water
depth, topdepth, bottomdepth, sample device, sampling area, and what analyses have
been completed on each sample. To this end, the use of standardized “request for
analysis” and “sample identification” forms (Figs. 4 and 5) are recommended as
organizational aids. The completed forms should be included when samples are submitted
for analysis. At this time a unique lab number should be assigned to each sample. At the
Woods Hole Field Center, this number consists of two letters followed by three numbers (e.g. AA795).
These identifiers are manually entered into a computer using the program GSANV (Appendices A and C).

Preparatory Analysis

If the whole sample is not to be used, the sample is typically split using one of three methods: a
microsplitter, cone and quartering, or random bulk (Krumbein and Pettijohn, 1938). Size of sample, its
homogeneity, and the degree of accuracy that is required govern which method is selected for a given size
analysis. Generally, the larger the analyzed sample the more accurate the grain size analysis. However,
unless a sample contains gravel, a 50g split is usually sufficient. Larger samples are more time consuming
to analyze and do not provide significantly more reliable results. If gravel is present, the sample must contain
enough material to give adequate representation of the largest sizes present. For example, approximately 250
g would be needed to texturally analyze a sample containing 2 phi material.
Place the split wet sample in a preweighed 100ml beaker, weigh, and
record the weight on a “grainsize analysis” form (Fig. 6). The beakers should
be scribed with a unique number and, therefore, should require no additional
labels, which would alter the weight of the beaker. Gross wetsample weight
minus the weight of the beaker gives the net wetsample weight. Dry these
samples in a convection oven at, or slightly below, 100 C (Fig. 7). This
temperature will only drive off unbound water and should not affect the grain
size. When the samples are dry (overnight is usually sufficient), place them in
a desiccator (Fig. 7) to cool. Weigh the samples as they are removed from the
desiccator or the sample will absorb water from the air and their weights will
be less accurate. Gross drysample weight minus the weight of the beaker gives the net dry sample weight;
net wet sample weight minus the net dry sample weight gives the water weight. The weight of salt can be
calculated from the salinity and the weight water. The net drysample weight minus the weight salt gives the
corrected sample weight. Inasmuch as the weight of fines are typically determined by subtracting the coarse
weight from the net sample weight, the salt in marine samples must be determined to prevent an
overestimation in the amount of fines present.
Whole or fragmented calcite secreting micro and macroorganisms can bias the grain size
distribution if they occur in significantly high concentrations. Because biogenic carbonates commonly form
in situ, they usually are not considered to be hydraulically representative of the depositional environment
from a textural standpoint (Reineck and Singh, 1980). Their presence alters the textural data and complicates
interpretation. If pervasive throughout the sand fraction, biogenic calcite or aragonite may be selectively
dissolved from the bulk sample using cold, dilute (10%) hydrochloric acid (HC1) or a 5pH Na0Ac buffer
(Jackson, 1956; see section on insoluble residues below). After the carbonate has been dissolved, the HC1 or
Na0Ac can be removed with multiple decantations or centrifugations using distilled water to remove the salts
and acid and (or) buffer. If limited to the gravel fraction, it is often easier to manually remove the fragments
of bivalve shells and other biogenic carbonate debris (see below) rather than treating the whole sample. Care
must be taken to use dissolution techniques only when detrital carbonate is absent.
The removal of organic matter may be necessary to achieve complete dispersion of the clay and, in
sediments with an elevated organic content (>3%), to prevent the organics from being counted as part of the
sample, which would bias the grainsize distribution. The sample is placed in a 600ml beaker and a small
volume (~10 ml) of 30% hydrogen peroxide is added. The sample is stirred and, if necessary, water is added
to slow the reaction down and prevent bubbling over. More hydrogen peroxide is added until the dark color
of the organic matter has largely disappeared; then the sample is washed three times with a NaOAc buffer of
pH 5 and once with methanol to remove the remaining released cations (Jackson, 1956).
If the samples have been treated with acid or hydrogen peroxide, they should be redried and re
weighed to recalculate the posttreatment net sample weight. Subtracting this value from the original sample
weight will determine the weight of the removed constituent.
Soluble salts and exchangable polyvalent cations can be removed by decantation or centrifugation
with distilled water to prevent flocculation of the sediment and to give effective dispersion during pipette
analysis. However, this decantation may result in partial loss of the colloidalclay fraction.
Wet sieve (Fig. 8) the sample through a 62micron (American Society for Testing and Materials
(A.S.T.M). Number 230) sieve to separate the sample into coarse (sand and gravel which are retained on the
sieve) and fine (clay and silt) fractions (Fig. 9; Tab. 1). Distilled water (Fig. 10) is used
during wet sieving if the fine fraction comprises greater than 5% of the sample. Samples
will disaggregate more easily if allowed to soak in a small amount of distilled water or
electrolyte solution prior to wet sieving. An approximately 35% solution of sodium
hexametaphosphate (800 g of purified (NaPO3)6, 80 ml of formaldehyde to retard biogenic
growth, and 20 liters of distilled water) is recommended for wet sieving if an EMPSA (e.g.
Coulter Counter or Elzone) will be used in the finefraction analysis and only small
amounts of fines are present. This solution acts as an electrolyte, which is necessary when
EMPSAs are used. Seawater may also be used for sample
soaking and sieving purposes and as an electrolyte for the
Coulter Counter as dictated by the objectives of the specific
project. A 0.5% sodium hexametaphosphate solution should be used if the fine
fraction is to be analyzed by pipette; at this concentration, the sodium
hexametaphosphate acts as a dispersant. In any case, the solution must be filtered
to 0.2 microns; a sequential submicron filtration system combining 5, 0.45, and
0.2 micron filters works well (Fig. 11). A rubber policeman and a squeeze bottle
of distilled water or the solution provide the best sieving results. The coarser sand
and gravel fractions are retained on the screen while the finer silt and clay fractions are collected in a catch
pan or mason jar. Wash the coarse fraction into a preweighed 100ml beaker and seal the fine fraction in the
mason jar. Wet sieve using only enough liquid to fit in a single 32ounce mason jar to prevent any possible
fractional biasing of the fine fraction.

Coarse Fraction Analysis (Gravel Plus Sand)

Dry the coarse fractions in a convection oven at, or slightly under 100 C. When the samples are dry
(overnight is usually sufficient), place them in a desiccator to cool before weighing them. Gross coarse
weight minus the weight of the beaker gives net coarse weight.
Much of the biogenic calcite found in a sample is commonly in the form of coarse pelecypod or
gastropod shell fragments. Rather than treating the bulk sample with acid, it is often easier and less time
consuming to manually remove this carbonate from the washed coarse fraction and to reweigh the
decalcified portion to determine the new net coarse weight. The weight of the carbonate must be subtracted
from the net sample weight before entering the data into the computer.
The grainsize distribution within the coarse fraction can be determined by use of a settling tube
(Figs. 1, 12; Schlee, 1966). However, if this fraction weighs less than 10 g or if it contains greater than about
2% foraminifera, which will not settle properly in a sedimentation column, then wiremesh sieves must be
employed. If the coarsefraction grainsize distribution is to be determined by sieving, assemble a bank of
sieves, which generally consists of a cover, the 1, 0, 1, 2, and 3 phi sieves, and a catch pan (Table 1; Figs. 9,
13). The bank of sieves is agitated in a shaker (Fig. 13) for a minimum of at least 15 minutes. Although
Mizutani (1963) and McManus (1963, 1965) recommend a sieving time of 35 minutes for 8inch diameter
sieves, Royse (1970) suggests 10 minutes as an adequate sieving time. After sieving, weigh the individual
sand and gravel phi fractions and record the weights from each phi class. Net coarse weight minus the gravel
weight gives the sand weight. If material coarser than 2 mm is present, assemble a bank of gravelfraction
sieves (the cover, the 5 thru 2 phi sieves, and a catch pan); sieve to separate, weigh each
phi class, and record the weights. Calculate the relative percentages of the sandfraction
phi classes and the relative percentages of the gravelfraction phi classes. The sieve data are
normally entered directly into a computer using the program RSAM (Appendices A, and C)
to obtain a complete grainsize distribution.
Sieving efficiency increases with reduction in load (i.e. smaller sample size) and the
maximum sieve load diminishes with mesh size, but it is the quantity of finer nearmesh
size particles that actually determines sieving efficiency (Royse, 1970). Twenhofel and
Tyler (1941) recommended 40 g of sandy sediment as the maximum load for 8inch
diameter sieves. When selecting a procedure, it is important to remember that sieves sort
material not only according to size, but also according to the shape and roundness of the particles (Sahu,
1965; Kennedy and others, 1985).
The settling tube, also called a rapid sediment analyzer (RSA, Figs. 1, 12; Zeigler and others, 1960;
Zeigler and others, 1964; Schlee, 1966, Syvitski and others, 1991) provides a means for efficient analysis of
sandsized material by settling the grains through a column of water. One common settling tube design is
based on using the pressure differential between two columns of water that have a common head. The
pressure change caused by the introduction of sediment within one of the columns is measured by a Validyne
DP103 variablereluctance wetwet pressure transducer and amplified by a Validyne Model CD23
frequency demodulator. Results are relayed to a Dell Dimension personal computer equipped with an ADAC
Corporation 5500HR1 analogtodigital data acquisition board and associated ADLIBWIN and ADLIBPC
data acquisition software drivers. As the sediment settles past the pressure transducer port, the pressure
differential decreases with time. Because the sedimentation rate, in accordance with Stoke's Law (Fig. 9), is
a function of grain size, one can interpret the sandfraction grain size distribution from the variation in
pressure differential. In addition to the settling tubes that use pressure transducers, other devices incorporate
a balance, and measure changing weight with time as the sediment settles.
If the sandfraction grainsize distribution is to be determined by settling tube and the program
RSA2000 (Appendices A and C), the gravelfraction distribution, if present, must still be determined by
sieve analysis. To use a settling tube with a pressure transducer, a warmup and stabilization time of about an
hour is required for the transducer and associated electronics. During warmup the operator should check the
system pressure lines for air bubbles and the settling column water level and turn on the computer and
initialize the program RSA2000. Remove all air bubbles from the lines; raise the water level to 35 mm
above the actual settling tube (Figs. 1, 12). The operator has the option of selecting either of two modes of
sample introduction: an automated flipper or manually with a tablespoon (this is generally true for most
automated settling tubes). Both methods require practice to achieve reproducibility, but the results of both
methods are equally accurate and comparable.
A microsplitter or coneandquartering is used to obtain a sample of about 10 g. Smaller samples
generate too weak a signal from the pressure transducer; a weak signal may be diluted by electrical and
mechanical noise causing greater error in the reproducibility of the data. Samples larger than 10 g are more
apt to form density currents down the sides of the settling tube or, upon introduction, to form clumps of finer
sediment which act as much larger particles.
Whether the automated flipper or manual spoon technique is employed, the sample must be dampened
with just enough water to afford enough intergrain cohesion to insure simultaneous introduction of the
sample, and to prevent air from becoming trapped in the sample, which may slow the settling rate of the
particles.
If the automatic flipper technique is selected, place the sample on the flipper using a tablespoon,
flatten the top of the sample to <1 cm in height, and dampen the sample with an eyedropper. When the
switch that controls the flipper is shifted, the sample will be introduced into the settling tube. When the
flipper is halfway between the vertical and contact with the settling tube, move the switch back to its original
position. This will prevent the flipper from crashing into the settling tube and introducing noise into the
system.
The manual spoon technique simply involves placing the sample split into a tablespoon, dampening
the sample with an eyedropper, and dumping the sample in one smooth, rapid motion from a height of about
3 cm down the center of the settling tube. If the operator misses the center and introduces the sample near
the wall of the tube, a density current that flows down the side of the tube will form and the sample will
appear to be coarser than its true distribution. The operator is encouraged to run a few standards to check for
equipment problems and practice sample introduction. This exercise will help the operator to produce more
accurate and reproducible analytical results. After the sample has settled to the bottom of the tube and the
pressure differential returns to approximately zero, a hard copy of the sandfraction grainsize distribution
can be generated (Fig. 14), and the data can be saved to disk.

Fine Fraction Analysis (Silt plus Clay)

The finegrained fraction of a sediment is defined as silt (particles with diameters less than 62
microns down to 4 microns; Fig. 9) plus clay (particles with diameters less than 4 microns, with colloidal
clay being less than 0.1 microns). Because of their small size, finefraction particles are difficult to measure
by sieving. Therefore, the classical techniques to analyze the finegrained portion of grainsize distributions
are dominated by sedimentation methods like the hydrometer and pipette methods (Krumbein and Pettijohn,
1938; Milner, 1962; Folk, 1974). These methods involve preparing a dispersed, homogeneous suspension of
the fine fraction, dilution with a dispersant solution (usually 0.5% sodium hexametaphosphate) to 1000 ml,
and allowing the particles to settle in a graduated cylinder. As the settling of sediment particles continues
according to Stoke’s Law, samples are either withdrawn (pipette) or measurements made (hydrometer) of the
suspension at preset time intervals. However, many sedimentation laboratories have discontinued or limited
the use of pipette and hydrometer techniques because of inherent problems with settling (e.g. Brownian
motion), thermal convection, irregular particle shape, mass settling in density currents, rounding errors due to
large multiplication factors, and, especially, the time necessary to extend an analysis down into the clay
range. For example, over 24 hours are required to extend a pipette analysis down to 11 phi at 20oC, room
temperature (Krumbein and Pettijohn, 1938; Milner, 1962).
Although originally designed to count and size blood cells (Coulter,
1957; Berg, 1958), EMPSAs have found other applications because of the
short time and small amount of material required for analysis (Figs. 2, 15).
These devices, which are currently manufactured by Coulter/Beckman
(Coulter Counter) and Particle Data (Elzone, now affiliated with
Micrometrics), are also used in industry, in the biological sciences (Sheldon
and Parsons, 1967), and in geology, where they are used to measure the grain
size of sediments by measuring differences in electrical resistivity produced
by sediment particles (McCave and Jarvis, 1973; Shideler, 1976; Kranck and
Milligan, 1979; Muerdter and others, 1981; Milligan and Kranck, 1991).
Because the aperture tubes used by EMPSAs can size particles of only 240% of the aperture diameter, at
least two aperture tubes with overlapping ranges are required to determine the size distribution within the
fine fraction of a marine sediment. For example, during a standard multiaperture analysis using a Coulter
Counter, a 200micron aperture tube would be used to resolve the size distribution between 64 to 8 microns,
and a 30micron aperture tube would be needed to resolve the size distribution between 12 microns down to
approximately 0.50.7 microns. These individual analyses or passes through the respective aperture tubes are
then mathematically combined to produce the finefraction (silt plus clay) distribution. The fine fraction is,
in turn, combined with the coarse fraction data to generate a complete grain size distribution.
An obvious limitation of this method is that an EMPSA, even if calibrated to resolve down to about
0.6 microns (10.75 phi), can only resolve a portion of the clay size distribution. The fine clay in the 0.6 to
0.1 micron range (some of the 11 phi and all of the 12 phi and 13 phi fractions that extend down to the
colloidal clay boundary) is not detected. Although an analysis performed down to 0.6 microns is adequate
for most freshwater, estuarine, and shelf environments, the sediments from many deeper water marine
environments (e.g. rise and abyssal plain) may contain significant material in the fine clay fraction. By
combining a doublepoint pipette analysis with the data from an EMPSA analysis details of the finefraction
can be extended through the fine clay range, but this solution is less desirable because of the problems with
pipette analyses cited above and because the resultant data are no longer at wholephi intervals.
Earlier efforts to extrapolate grain size data beyond the limits of the analysis used graphical methods
(Schlee and Webster, 1967; Schlee, 1973). For example, if Schlee determined that more than 5% of the fine
grained sediment from a sample was less than 1 micron, additional data points were estimated for the finer
sizes at wholephi intervals by projecting the grainsize curve as plotted on probability paper and following
the slope of the line. While this is a practical solution, it is much more labor intensive than the computer
program CLAYES2K utilized as part of this system and provided herein.
The fine fraction, which has been stored in mason jars with distilled water or sodium
hexametaphosphate solution, may be analyzed by pipette or EMPSA. The EMPSA determines particle
volume; the pipette method measures settling rates. The reason for performing the analyses should determine
which method is used (see Comments section).
The pipette method consists of preparing a dispersed (by sonic probe), homogeneous (by vigorous
stirring) suspension of the fine fraction, dilution with a 0.5% sodium hexametaphosphate solution to 1000
ml, and allowing the particles to settle in a graduated cylinder (Royse, 1970; Folk, 1974). The optimum
sample is approximately 20 cm3 (about 15 g dry weight). With more sample, the grains interfere with each
other during settling; with less sample, the effects of weighing errors on the analysis increase. Subsamples
of 20 ml are withdrawn from the suspension at levels at 5, 10, or 20 cm below the water surface at standard
intervals of time (Table 2A). Because all particles of' a given equivalent diameter (based on calculations
using Stoke's Law; Fig. 9) will have settled below that level after a standard interval of time, the samples
should contain only finer particles. These aliquots are either suctionmounted on preweighed filters and
rinsed in distilled water or placed in preweighed 100ml beakers. If preweighed beakers are used, the
operator must remember to account for the weight of the dispersant when calculating the phifraction
weights. The pipette is rinsed with distilled water after each extraction and the rinse water is also passed
through the filter or drained into the preweighed beaker with the aliquot. To begin the analysis, start the
timer as soon as the stirring rod emerges for the last time. At the end of 20 seconds, insert the pipette to a
depth of 20 cm and withdraw the precise subsample (exactly 20 ml). Inasmuch as the subsequent analysis is
based on this subsample, this is the most important single step. If excess liquid is accidently drawn into the
pipette, do not attempt to return it to the cylinder. Remove the pipette and discard the excess.
Continue the withdrawals at the specified time intervals and depths. The aliquots are dried and
weighed, the weights are recorded on an analysis form (Fig. 16), and the size distribution is calculated from
the weight of sediment. The principle behind the computation is this: if the fine sediment is uniformly
distributed throughout the entire 1000ml column by stirring, and exactly 20 ml is drawn at each of the stated
times, then the amount of mud in each withdrawal is equal to 1/50 of the total amount of mud remaining
suspended in the column at that given time and at that given depth (i.e., the amount of mud finer than the
given diameter; all particles coarser than the given diameter will have settled past the point of withdrawal).
The first withdrawal is made so quickly after stirring and at such a depth that particles of all sizes are present
in suspension. Therefore, if we multiply the weight of the first withdrawal by 50, we will obtain the weight
of the entire amount of mud in the cylinder. Then if we withdraw a sample at a settling time corresponding
to a diameter of 6 phi, and multiply by 50, then we know that the product represents the number of grams of
mud still in suspension at this new time, therefore the weight of mud finer than 6 phi. Similarly, we can
compute the weight percent at any size and obtain an entire distribution.
Because of the length of time required to complete a wholephi interval analysis (16 hours, 24
minutes to 10 phi at 20oC; Table 2A) and because Brownian motion interferes with the settling of particles
less than 10 phi, the pipette method is now used 1) to determine the silt/clay boundary in percent gravel
sandsiltclay analyses and 2) when a sample contains a significant amount of material smaller than 0.6
microns in diameter. This latter condition is important to consider because an EMPSA determines a size
distribution based solely on the grainsize range it has been calibrated to analyze (e.g. 0.062 mm >x>0.6
microns) and many lowenergy and deepwater environments contain significant amounts of very fine clay
and colloidal claysized material that are undetected by EMPSAs. The time needed to perform a pipette
analysis may be reduced by placing the settling cylinders in a constant temperature bath and lowering the
viscosity of the settling, medium by increasing its temperature (Table 2B, C).
The data from a pipette analysis can be converted into frequency or cumulative frequency
percentages. These percentages can subsequently be combined with the coarsefraction data using the
programs ENTRY to generate a complete grainsize distribution, statistics, and database files with the
program GSTATM (Appendices B and C).
To perform this silt/clay boundary analysis, aliquots are collected at 20 cm depth after 20 seconds
elapsed time to determine the concentration of sample in suspension, and at a depth of 10 cm after exactly 2
hours and 3 minutes to determine the concentration of clay in solution. Because only two aliquots are
collected, the size of these aliquots are usually enlarged to 50 ml to minimize analytical error. The
percentages of silt and clay can be determined from the weight of sediment in the aliquots.
The Coulter Counter, a widely used EMPSA (Figs. 2, 15), permits easy, fast, and accurate analysis of
finefraction size distributions. The instrument's optimum precision, as with all the above analyses, is
realized only if the operator is conscientious in attention to detail and consistently follows established
procedures. The following procedure is by no means complete and is intended solely as a set of guide lines.
All operators are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the complete instrument manual to achieve the
best results.
The Coulter Counter Multisizer IIe EMPSA is activated and operated according to the following
steps:
1) The main Coulter Counter unit, sample stand, computer, and printer are turned on and
allowed to warm up for 15 minutes. Initialize the computer program CLTRMS2K
(Appendices A and C).
2) Using the menu select arrows and the numeric key pad enter the proper information. The
main setup menu should read: ORIFICE DIAMETER 200 microns, SETUP
manual, ANALYSIS Sample, CALIBRATION Recall, and SIZE UNITS microns.
The ORIFICE LENGTH, Kd, and SIZE are set by the Multisizer.
3) Step through the other setup screens, ensuring that the proper settings are selected. The
ANALYSIS SETUP1 menu selections should read: CURRENT AND GAIN
Automatic, APERTURE CURRENT 1600 microAmps, GAIN 1 or 2, POLARITY
Alternate +/, INSTRUMENT CONTROL Manual, and TIME seconds. The
ANALYSIS SETUP2 menu should read: CHANNELS 256, AUTOSCALING On,
EDIT Off, COINCIDENCE CORRECTION Off, ANALYTICAL VOLUME 0
microliters, PARTICLE RELATIVE DENSITY 1.00, DIFFERENTIAL VALUES
%, and END TONE On. The COMMUNICATIONS SETUP screen should read
BAUD RATE 9600, DEVICE Computer, AUTO OUTPUT No, CHANNEL
DATA No, ANALOG PLOT No, SCREEN DUMP Yes, OVERLAY MODE No,
FORMAT Standard, SEND STX/ETX Yes, END FIELD CHARACTER 59, END
LINE CHARACTER 0 CR+LF, and LEADING ZEROS Yes.
4) When the menu check is complete, ensure that the outside of the aperture tube has been
rinsed and immersed in a beaker of clean electrolyte, and that the sample stand door is
closed. The Xaxis should be set to linear diameter; the Yaxis should be set to number
differential. Turn the Reset/Count Control clockwise to Reset, applying a vacuum to
the aperture tube system, and, when the light in the sample stand turn on, press the
FULL key on the Multisizer to display the selected range of particle analysis.
5) Perform a noise check using blank electrolyte. Acceptable cumulative background counts
for both the 200 and 30micron tubes are less than 500 counts per 10 seconds.
6) Shake the finefraction portion of the sample in the mason jar vigorously, sonify the bulk
sample for about 24 minutes (probes typically work much better than baths; Fig. 10),
and use a stirrer to completely suspend the sample. While the sample is stirring,
transfer a subsample, drawn in a sweeping motion from the top, middle, and bottom
of the mason jar, to the clean beaker of filtered electrolyte in the sample stand using a
disposable pipette. Never allow the tip of the pipette to touch the side or bottom of the
mason jar while subsampling because it may break. Set stirring motor to adequately
mix the sample without producing bubbles, close the door to the sampling stand, turn
the Reset/Count Control to reset, and press Full.
7) Ensure that the concentration index meter reads 510%. If the concentration is above 10%,
add more electrolyte to dilute. If the concentration is below this, add more sample to
the beaker until 510% is reached. Press the Reset button, wait 5 seconds, and then
Start Control buttons to check that the concentration is less than the maximum for
coincidence (<10,000 cts/10 s). Coincidence is the occurrence of two or more particles
in the sensing zone at one time (Fig. 2). Exceeding coincidence limits will cause data
loss in the smaller size classes, thereby causing the observed grainsize distribution to
be coarser (Milligan and Kranck, 1991).
8) When the concentration is within the correct limits, continue to accumulate data for about
100 s, then press the Stop button. If using the program CLTRMS2K (Appendices A
and C) to acquire the data, press the OUTPUT/PRINTER button at the program’s
“Please Send Raw Data” prompt. Data will be sent to the computer and a hardcopy
will be generated (Fig. 17).
9) Check the output and, if acceptable, save the data to disk. To proceed to the next sample
remove the beaker from the sample stand, cover it with cellophane to avoid
contamination, and reserve the sample for the 30micron aperture tube analysis. It is
advisable to perform all of the 200micron analyses before proceeding to the 30
micron analyses. Complete only enough 200micron aperture tube analyses, however,
that will allow adequate time to perform the corresponding 30micron aperture tube
analyses on the same day.
10) When the 200micron aperture tube analyses are complete, the computer program and the
Multisizer needs to be reset for the 30micron aperture tube analyses. Change the
aperture tube, change the Setup menu to the proper settings, place a clean beaker of
electrolyte on the sample stand, and check for acceptable cumulative background
count. Do not use the stirrer motor during 30micron aperture tube analyses.
11) Pour sample saved from 200micron aperture tube analysis through a clean 20micron
sieve into a clean electrolyterinsed beaker. When the sample has passed through the
sieve, pass the sample back through the sieve into the original beaker, and then
through the sieve back into the new beaker. This resuspends the sample and ensures
that all of the sample has been scalped by the sieve.
12) Immediately place beaker in the sample stand, close the samplestand door, and turn the
Reset/Count Control clockwise to reset. Push the Start button, accumulate data for 100
s, push the Stop button, and push the Print button to send the data to the computer.

Additional suggestions:

a. Make sure bubbles are initially cleared from the aperture tube by opening both stopcocks.
This will reduce system noise.
b. If the tube clogs, brush the aperture opening with a sweeping motion. If the tube is still
clogged, clear tube in a distilledwater ultrasonic bath. If this fails, replace the distilled
water with 50 % nitric acid.
c. Always have aperture current off when not running an analysis or when changing tubes.
d. After the analyses are completed, the sample stand, Faraday cage, vacuum and electrolyte
reservoir flasks, and counter top should be rinsed in distilled water and dried with
paper towels.
e. When the analyses are complete remove the 30micron aperture tube, place the 200micron
aperture tube on the sample stand, and set all switches to the proper settings for the
200micron analysis.
f. Keep the aperture tubes in a cleaning solution (e.g. Coulter Clenz) when not in use.
g. With proficiency, an operator can speed up the analytical procedure by sonifying (Fig. 10)
the next sample while entering pertinent identifiers into the computer for a sample that
is being analyzed by the EMPSA.

Descriptive and Interpretive Measures

Raw grainsize data are typically in the form of weight percentages of sediment in various size
classes. Because many analyses and commonly more than one data set are involved in
geological studies, the method by which these data are presented and compared becomes
important when determining how the distributions differ and the magnitude of these
differences (Royse, 1970). Both graphical and statistical methods are available. Of the
graphical techniques, one of the more common methods is to plot the basic sand, silt and
clay percentages on equilateral triangular diagrams (Shepard, 1954; Folk, 1956). This
means of data presentation is simple and facilitates rapid classification of sediments and
comparison of samples. The USGS sediment lab at the Woods Hole Field Center uses a
modification of Shepard’s (1954) ternary classification system (Fig. 18).
The statistical measures of size distributions used by sedimentologists are most
commonly based on quartile measures (Trask, 1932), phi notation (Inman, 1952; Folk and
Ward, 1957), or the method of moments (Kane and Hubert, 1962; Folk, 1974; Sawyer,
1977). Inclusive graphics statistics, the phi notation method utilized by the programs provided herein (Folk,
1974), are graphical in that the data are read directly from a computerdrawn cumulativefrequency curve at
five points (the 5, 16, 50, 84, and 95 percentiles). Verbal equivalents for standard deviation, skewness, and
kurtosis based on the inclusive graphics statistics. The percentages of gravel, sand, silt, and clay, and the
modified frequency percentages for size distributions ranging from 11 ph (or 13 phi using the program
CLAYES2K) to 5 phi are also computed. Method of moments statistics, which involve more complicated
arithmetic calculations that account for every grain in the distribution, have gained popularity with the
increasing availability of fast, inexpensive computers. The method of moments statistics generated with the
programs provided herein include modal classes, modal frequencies, arithmetic mean, median, and standard
deviation, skewness, and kurtosis. However, in openended distributions (truncated distributions or where a
lot of material of unkown size occurs in a pan fraction), the method of moments is probably not justified
(Folk, 1974).

Insoluble Residues

The insoluble residue of a sediment is that portion which remains after digestion in hydrochloric acid
(HCL) of a prescribed strength under specific conditions. Because carbonate rocks may contain significant
amounts of chert, anhydrite, and siliciclastic sand, silt, and argillaceous material, the determination of
insoluble residues is useful for comparing sediments from different localities and for expressing their degree
of purity or contamination by detrital and authigenic constituents (Milner, 1962).
To perform a typical analysis, approximately 15 g of wet sediment are placed in a preweighed 600
ml beaker and dried at 100oC. The beaker is placed in a desiccator to cool and reweighed to determine
water content. Cool dilute HCL (10%) is slowly added in stages till all effervescence has stopped. After
effervescence has ceased, the excess acid is carefully decanted. The insoluble residue is washed at least five
times and each washing is decanted. Alternately, the insoluble residue can be washed into a labeled pre
weighed paper filter and throughly rinsed. In any case, the insoluble residue is dried at 100oC and is
calculated by weight as a percentage of the original bulk sample. The difference between 100% and the
value obtained is the percent calcium carbonate. Grainsize analyses may be performed on the residues, or
they may be examined petrographically.
This procedure will remove calcium carbonate. If significant amounts of dolomite are present, 6N
HCL should be used and the suspension must be heated to near boiling to dissolve the dolomite. The water
content need be determined only if the samples are marine and a salt correction must be applied, or if
appreciable amounts of hygroscopic water are present. Although commercial grade HCL (muriatic acid)
may be used, gypsum formation due to the presence of sulfate ions is a concern (Krumbein and Pettijohn,
1938). The acid digestion portion of this analysis should be performed under a fume hood; gloves and safety
glasses should be worn.

Comments

The purpose for performing the analyses must be considered when selecting which method will be
used. For example, the Coulter Counter determines particle volume as opposed to the pipette method which
measures settling rates. Therefore, if a researcher is studying flow regimes and hydraulic equivalents, the
pipette method might produce more applicable data. Other settlingvelocity analysis methods used for fine
grain sizes are the hydrometer (Buoyocoz, 1928) and decantation methods. However, these techniques are
more difficult and less accurate (Folk, 1974) and thus are generally not recommended. Numerous journal
articles have compared the various techniques used for size analyses of finegrained suspended sediments.
All operators contemplating the use of any of these methods are strongly encouraged to familiarize
themselves with this literature. For example, Shideler (1976) and Behrens (1978) compared the Coulter
Counter with pipette techniques. Hydrophotometers have been compared with the pipette method (Jordan and
others, 1971; Singer and others, 1988) and with the Coulter Counter (Swift and others, 1972). The above
finefraction considerations also apply to the coarse fraction. The coarse fraction is usually determined by
settlingtube analysis. However, if this fraction weighs less than 10 g or contains greater than 25%
foraminifera which will not settle properly in a sedimentation column, the operator must utilize sieves, which
will measure nominal diameter. These and other particlesize methods and considerations are discussed in
Barth (1984) and Syvitski (1991).
Aggregates of claysized particles, which are difficult to break up, commonly form when samples are
dried. Because these aggregates or “bricks” cause the size distribution to appear slightly (about 24%)
coarser, care should be exercised to sonify samples with appreciable claysized material for at least 4 minutes
prior to EMPSA analysis to minimize this effect. Other techniques to determine the weight percentages of
the coarse and fine fractions that do not involve drying the fine fraction include pipette analyses and splitting
the sample. In the latter technique where the sample is split, half is dried to determine the percentages of the
coarse and fine fractions and the fine fraction from the other undried half is analyzed by EMPSA.
Unfortunately, getting representative splits is difficult because of intrasample heterogeneity and the splitting
process can commonly introduce an error much greater than the original 24 percent. For those interested in a
determination of the entire clay fraction with the greatest accuracy, pipette analyses or the use of the
computer program CLAYES2K (Appendices B and C) are strongly recommended.

Quality Assurance

Extensive textural analyses performed on standards have shown that the above methods, with the
possible exception of the hydrometer, will produce results with an accuracy of better than plus or minus 10%
(electroresistance multichannel particle size analyzer: about 3%; sieves: about 5%; pipette and sandfraction
settling tube: about 5%). However, the optimum precision for the above analyses is realized only if the
operator is conscientious in attention to detail and consistently follows established procedure. To monitor
precision, the operator should run replicates on at least every tenth sample.
The representativeness of any textural data set depends on the methods used to obtain the data. These
methods must be chosen in accordance with the original purpose of the study. If the importance of knowing
the actual size distribution outweighs the hydraulic equivalence, the sieve and the particlecounter analyses
should be performed rather than the settlingtube and pipette analyses.
The comparability problems between sets of data generated by different devices are not as great as
one might expect. For example, the data produced by sieve and settling tube analyses would be remarkably
similar for a given sample because a settling tube is usually calibrated using natural sediments sieved to
known fractions. On the other hand, pipette and hydrometer analyses will usually produce data indicating a
given sample is slightly finer than the data produced on an EMPSA. This result occurs because finefraction
particles are generally plate shaped and do not settle as fast as the quartz spheres upon which Stoke's Law,
and therefore the pipette and hydrometer settling analyses, is based. And again, an EMPSA can not typically
be calibrated to analyze the very fine clay (less than 0.6 microns) and colloidalclay portions of the size
distribution.

VIDEO DEMONSTRATIONS OF LABORATORY PROCEDURES

Six videos with voice commentary were produced as a guide for laboratory technicians and students
in the earthscience and oceanographic communities who would like to use the above described methods.
They are not intended to be detailed presentations of the procedures, but to serve only as supplements to help
familiarize users with the basic principles. Users are strongly encouraged to consult the original references
cited above for more detailed analytical descriptions.

Operational Procedures

The free multimedia software, RealPlayer, must be installed on the user’s computer with a web
browser before the videos, which are stored as compressed streaming files, can be viewed. Once installed, if
using Internet Explorer, the user can launch the demonstration videos below by clicking on the respective
links. If the user's browser does not connect properly to the links below, the user should get out of the
browser, go directly to the videos directory of chapter1 and open the respective .rm files with RealPlayer.

RealPlayer Video Files

Wet Sieving video Dry Sieving video
Rapid Sediment Analyzer
Coulter Counter video
video
Constant Temperature Bath
Pipette video
video

LITHOLOGIC SYMBOLS

The basic lithologic symbols shown in figure 19 are provided as guidelines. Symbols similar to these
are generally acceptable for use as patterns both on sediment distribution maps and in lithologic columnar
sections, such as on core description forms. Although these are the most commonly used symbols for each
of the respective lithologies, the patterns must still be explained separately in a key. As with most graphics,
users should also be mindful of the eventual publication scale when choosing line weights.

SOFTWARE

Figure 20 outlines the software sequence of operation in a generalized flow
diagram for those programs used on the computers in the sedimentation laboratory at
the Woods Hole Field Center. The dataacquisition programs RSA2000, CLTRMS2K,
and SEDITY2K, and the dataprocessing program CLAYES2K, run in DOS 3.0 or
later and in DOS under Windows 3.1,/95/98. The dataacquisition programs GSANV,
RSAM, CLTRM, and ENTRY, and the dataprocessing programs JSORT, GSTAT, and
GSTATM, run under Windows 95/98 in the “BornAgainShell” (bash). This shell,
which is part of the GNU operating system (Hagerty and others, 1998) distributed by
the Free Software Foundation, creates a Unixlike environment under Microsoft
Windows 95/98.
Raw data records are created on IBMcompatible
computers interfaced with an RSA and EMPSA by using the programs RSA2000 and
CLTRMS2K, respectively (Appendices A and C). The user is prompted for all the
necessary identifiers, and, upon completion of a satisfactory analysis, the data and
identifiers can be written to both an output file and a printer. Three raw data records are
generated for each sample: an RSA record, a 200micron aperture tube EMPSA record,
and a 30micron aperture tube EMPSA record. These records each contain a lab number,
equipment type, sample identification, project identification, requestor, operator, and
analysis date. The RSA data records include sample weight, coarse weight, sand weight,
and the relative percentages of the5 to 1 phi gravel and 0 to 4 phi sand fractions. The
EMPSA data records include aperture diameter and tabulated micrometer diameters and
the corresponding relativefrequency percentages from the sizefraction channels collected by the Coulter
Counter Multisizer IIe. Although the Multisizer IIe generates 256 channels of data, this accuracy is
unnecessary when generating wholephi grainsize distributions. The program CLTRMS2K combines and
reduces the data into a more manageable 16channel format that is equivalent to the data originally produced
by the Coulter Counter Model TAII.
The raw RSA and EMPSA data are archived into master files by using the program SEDITY2K
(Appendices A and C). This program also contains utilities to inspect, edit, and print hard copies of the data
generated by the RSA2000 and CLTRMS2K programs.
Occasionally, distribution and statistics must be generated for samples which were not analyzed or
only partially analyzed with the RSA2000 and CLTRMS2K programs. For example, many finegrained
samples do not contain enough sand (< 10 g) to perform settlingtube analyses, and the entire coarse fraction
(>0.062 mm) must be determined by sieving or approximated by visual estimates. When this occurs, a raw
data master file may be created or updated by keying the raw sediment data directly into a file using the
programs RSAM and CLTRM (Appendices A and C). These programs prompt the user for all necessary
identifiers and data. The data can then be processed as output from the programs RSA2000 or CLTRMS2K.
The field and navigation parameters are entered by using the program GSANV (Appendix A and C).
These parameters and their coding are described in the Request For Analysis forms which have been
completed by all personnel who submit samples for particlesize analysis. The field and navigation
parameters include lab number, latitude, longitude, area, sampling device, water depth, depth in section to the
top of the sample, and depth in section to the bottom of the sample.
The dataprocessing program JSORT (Appendices B and C) is used to sort the multiline records
according to lab numbers and to output the records that are complete (all RSA and EMPSA data, and field
and navigation parameters) to an output file for further processing. The program GSTAT (Appendices B and
C) is used to retrieve data from the complete, sorted, raw data files created by JSORT and to compute the
modified frequency percentages, method of moments statistics, textural nomenclature and classification
(Wentworth, 1929; Shepard, 1954; Figs. 9, 18), and percentages of gravel, sand, silt, and clay. The modified
frequency percentages are given for size distributions up to and including 11 phi to 5 phi. The method of
moments statistics includes arithmetic mean, median, standard deviation, skewness, kurtosis, modal classes,
and modal frequencies. If requested by the user, a hardcopy of this output (Fig. 21), which also includes
inclusive graphics statistics and verbal equivalents for standard deviation, skewness, and kurtosis (Folk,
1974), can be produced. The frequency percentages for the corresponding phi classes are computed by the
subroutines MPVC, SUMRY, and WTFP (Appendix C). The cumulative frequencypercent curve used in
computing the inclusive graphics statistics is approximated by using the International Mathematical and
Statistical Library Inc. (IMSL) routines IQHSCU and ICSEVU (Appendix C).
The programs ENTRY and GSTATM (Appendices B and C) allow the user to generate statistics for
preexistent grainsize data produced outside the software system described above. The program ENTRY
permits input of sediment data as relative frequency percentages at wholephi intervals; the program
GSTATM performs the functions of the program GSTAT on these data. To correct the errors introduced by
the assumption that each value within a phi class is centered at the midpoint of that class, Shepard's
Correction (Kenny and Keeping, 1951) has been applied to the second and fourth moments about the mean in
the statistics generated by the programs GSTAT and GSTATM.
When creation of a database file is specified in either GSTAT or GSTATM, the cumulative frequency
percentages, phi classes, method of moments statistics, and the appropriate identifiers are written to a “pre
database” file in a commadelimited freefield format. Once the data are in a database, multivariate analyses
such as factor analysis or cluster analysis may be applied to retrieved data to help interpret complicated
sedimentological phenomena.
Because an EMPSA can detect only those particles for which it is calibrated, the tail of the fine
fraction produced by this instrumentation (below about 0.60.7 microns) is commonly truncated. The
program CLAYES2K (Poppe and Eliason, 1999; Appendices B and C) allows the user to extrapolate the
grainsize distribution contained in the “predatabase” file generated by the program GSTAT to the colloidal
clay boundary. The user may select solutions based on linear or exponential extrapolations, or the mean of
both.
Figure 22 presents a stylized plot showing that portion of the grainsize distribution typically
truncated by EMPSAs. Also shown in this figure are examples of linear,
exponential, and averaged extrapolations of the clay fraction to 0.1
microns, and the claycolloidal clay boundary. Errors inherent in the linear
and exponential extrapolations have been exaggerated within this figure to
more clearly demonstrate their effect on the grainsize distribution. The
linear extrapolation tends to slightly overestimate the amount of clay
present in a typical distribution and may be used by operators to account for
some of the material within the colloidal fraction. The exponential
extrapolation tends to slightly underestimate the amount of clay present in a
typical distribution and may be used by operators who want data that
represents the minimal amount of clay present. Although an operator may
select linear or exponential extrapolation, the mean of both extrapolations usually provides the most accurate
estimate and is, therefore, the recommended solution for most applications.
RSA2000, CLTRMS2K, SEDITY2K, and CLAYES2K were written and compiled in Microsoft
QuickBASIC version 4.5; RSAM, CLTRM, GSANV, JSORT, GSTAT, ENTRY, and GSTATM were
originally written in RATFOR (Poppe and others, 1985), but have been rewritten in “C” and compiled with
the DJGPP Development System v. 2.01 (Walnut Creek CDROM).

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This report is preliminary and has not been reviewed for conformity with U.S. Geological Survey
editorial standards (or with the North American Stratigraphic Code). Any use of trade, product, or firm
names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. The
software presented herein is provided as a service; no warranty is given or implied. Images on the title page
and table of contents are clipart from Corel XARA (v. 1.5). We thank A. Robinson, J. Commeau, and D.
Walsh, the sediment lab analysts who assisted during preparation of this report.

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clastics: 2d ed., Berlin and New York, SpringerVerlag, 549 p.

Rickly Hydrological Company, 2000, US BLM84 USGSdesigned bedload samplers:
http://www.rickly.com/

Rigler, J.K., Collins, M.B., and Williams, S.J., 1981, A highprecision digitalrecording sedimentation tower
for sands: Journal of Sedimentary Petrology, v. 51, p. 642644.

Rosfelder, A.M., and Marshall, N.F., 1967, Obtaining large, undisturbed and oriented samples in deep water,
In A.F. Richards (ed.) Marine Geotechnique, Proceedings of 1966 International Conference in Marine
Geotechnique, University of Illinois Press, p. 243262.

Royse, C.F., 1970, An introduction to sediment analysis: Tempe, Arizona, Arizona State University, 180 p.

Sahu, B.K., 1965, Theory of sieving: Journal Sedimentary Petrology, v. 35, p. 750753.

Sawyer, M.B., 1977, Computer program for the calculation of grainsize statistics by the method of
moments: U.S. Geological Survey OpenFile Report 77580, 15 p.

Schlee, J., 1966, A modified Woods Hole Rapid Sediment Analyzer: Journal Sedimentary Petrology, v. 30, p.
403413.

Schlee, J., and Webster, J., 1967, A computer program for grainsize data: Sedimentology, v. 8, p. 4554.

Schlee, J., 1973, Atlantic continental shelf and slope of the United States sediment texture of the
northeastern part: U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 529L, 64 p.

Sea Surveyor Inc., 2000, Alpine vibracorer: http://www.seasurveyor.com

Sheldon, R.W., and Parsons, T.R., 1967, A practical manual on the use of the Coulter Counter in marine
research: Toronto, Coulter Electronics, 66 p.

Shepard, F.P., 1954, Nomenclature based on sandsiltclay ratios: Journal Sedimentary Petrology, v. 24, p.
151158.

Shepard, F.P., 1963, Submarine Geology: New York, Harper and Row, 557 p.

Shideler, G.L., 1976, A comparison of electronic particle counting and pipette techniques in routine mud
analysis: Journal Sedimentary Petrology, v. 46, no. 4, p. 10171025.

Singer, J.K., Anderson, J.B., Ledbetter, M.T., McCave, I.N., Jones, K.P.N., and Wright, R., 1988, An
assessment of analytical techniques for size analysis of finegrained sediments: Journal Sedimentary
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Swift, D.J.P., Schubel, J.R., and Sheldon, R.W., 1972, Size analysis of finegrained suspended Sedimentsa
review: Journal Sedimentary Petrology, v. 42, no. 1, p. 122134.

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Company, 323 p.

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computer processing: Science, v. 145, p. 51.

FIGURE CAPTIONS

Figure 1. Schematic diagram showing the basic design of a rapid sediment analyzer (RSA; Schlee, 1966), a
settling tube.

Figure 2. Basic design of an electroresistance multichannel particle size analyzer (EMPSA).

Figure 3. Generalized flow diagram outlining the laboratory techniques and the computer software used in
the sedimentation laboratory at the Woods Hole Field Center.

Figure 4. A form used at the USGS Woods Hole Field Center to request grainsize analyses. Form supplies
sample identifiers and defines the purpose of the project and the laboratory procedures to be employed.

Figure 5. Form used to record sample identifiers and assign the corresponding lab numbers. Information
supplied includes: submitter, cruise id, project id, latitude, longitude, water depth in meters, sampling device
area, top depth within the sediment column in centimeters, and bottom depth within the sediment column in
centimeters. Information from this form is entered into a computer using the programs GSANV or ENTRY.

Figure 6. Form used to record and calculate analytical data during grainsize and carbonate analyses. Grain
size data from this form are entered into a computer using the programs RSAM and RSA2000.

Figure 7. Photograph showing a typical convection oven used to dry samples and a desiccator used to store
samples prior to weighing.

Figure 8. Photograph showing an analyst in the process of wet sieving a sample.
Figure 9. Correlation chart showing the relationships between phi sizes, millimeter diameters, size
classifications (Wentworth, 1929), and ASTM and Tyler sieve sizes. Chart also shows the corresponding
intermediate diameters, grains per milligram, settling velocities, and threshold velocities for traction.
Figure 10. Photograph showing a typical distillation system used to produce distilled water and a sonic
probe used to disaggregate particles prior to EMPSA and pipette analysis.
Figure 11. Basic filtration system used to remove submicronsized particles from the electrolyte/dispersant
used during EMPSA and pipette analyses.
Figure 12. Photograph of a rapid sediment analyzer, a settling tube. This instrument (Schlee, 1966) uses a
pressure transducer to monitor the settling of sediment with time. An amplifier demodulator on the shelf next
to the settling tube relays electrical information to and analogtodigital converter in the computer.
Figure 13. Photograph of a bank of sieves mounted in a sieve shaker. The shaker sits in a soundproof
cabinet.
Figure 14. Hard copy of a coarsefraction raw data record produced by the computer program RSA2000.
Plot is stylized.

Figure 15. Photograph of a Coulter Counter Multisizer IIe and associated computer hardware.
Figure 16. Form used to record and calculate sample identifiers and data generated during a pipette analysis.
Data from pipette analyses can be entered into a computer using the program ENTRY.
Figure 17. Hard copy of a finefraction raw data record produced by the computer program CLTRMS2K.
Figure 18. Sediment classification scheme modified from Shepard (1954) used by the programs GSTAT and
GSTATM.
Figure 19. Basic lithologic symbols commonly used on sediment distribution maps and in lithologic
columnar sections.
Figure 20. Generalized flow diagram showing the available grainsize analysis software and its sequence of
operation.
Figure 21. Hard copy of a data record produced by the computer programs GSTAT and GSTATM. Hard
copy shows sample identifiers, size distribution, method of moments and inclusive graphics statistics, and
verbal equivalents.
Figure 22. Stylized plot showing that portion of the clay fraction typically truncated by electroresistance
particle size analyzers. Also shown are examples of linear, exponential, and average of the linear and
exponential extrapolations to 0.1 microns, the claycolloidal boundary by the program CLAYES2K. Errors
inherent in the linear and exponential solutions have been exaggerated to show their effect.
Figure 23. Raw data records produced by the computer program GSANV.
Figure 24. Raw coarsefraction data records from the Rapid Sediment Analyzer produced by the computer
program RSA2000 and output into a file by the program SEDITY2K. The first line, which is the master file
name assigned by the operator with the program SEDITY2K, must be deleted before further processing.
Figure 25. Raw finefraction data records from the Coulter Counter (200 and 30micron analyses) produced
by the computer program CLTRMS2K and output into a file by the program SEDITY2K. The first line,
which is the master file name assigned by the operator with the program SEDITY2K, must be deleted before
further processing.
Figure 26. Data file produced by the computer programs GSTAT and GSTATM and used as input for the
computer program CLAYES2K. Fields are delimited by commas; records are delimited by dollar signs. A
header file has been inserted as the first record to show the field attributes and their order.
Figure 27. Hard copy of a data record produced by the computer program CLAYES2K. The sample
identifiers and the original and revised data are shown.
Figure 28. Data file produced by the computer program CLAYES2K. Fields are delimited by commas;
records are delimited by dollar signs. A header file has been inserted on the first line to show the field
attributes.

APPENDICES

APPENDIX A. SOFTWARE DOCUMENTATION AND CODE FOR DATAACQUISITION
SOFTWARE

1.) GSANV

Name: gsanv to facilitate keyboard entry of navigation and descriptive information associated with raw
sediment data processed during grainsize analysis.

Synopsis
gsanv [c] file_name

Description: This version of the program, which was written in “c” and compiled with DJGPP (v. 2.01),
will run under Windows 95/98 in the BornAgainShell (Bash). The program prompts the user for each of the
parameters to be entered into the output file (Fig. 23). All prompts are selfexplanatory.

When the “c” option is specified on the runline, the latitude and longitude are expected as “deg min Q”
where Q is N, S, E, or W. These values are then converted into decimal degrees; S and W are converted to
negative values. Otherwise, the navigation is expected as plus/minus decimal degrees.

A “Control C” will cause immediate termination of the program. All data entered during the current run will
be lost.

A carriage return in response to the sampling device, area, depth, top depth, or bottom depth prompts will
cause the default value to be used as the response. The default value, which after the first record is the
previous response for a particular attribute, is displayed in the parentheses of the prompt. A dash and carriage
return in response to the prompt will enter a blank as the response. The depth is expected in meters; the top
and bottom depths are expected in centimeters.

FILES
gsanv.c, sedlab.h, iolab.c

SEE ALSO
gstat

DIAGNOSTICS/BUGS
No imbedded commas or spaces are allowed in the responses

AUTHOR/MAINTENANCE
Janet Fredericks, WHOI, Woods Hole, MA/Larry Poppe, USGS, Woods Hole, MA

2.) RSAM

NAME: rsam to enter sandfraction (sieve and rapid sediment analyzer; Figs 1, 9, and 12) and
gravel fraction data via the keyboard

SYNOPSIS
rsam afile_name

DESCRIPTION: This version of the program, which was written in “c” and compiled with DJGPP (v.
2.01), will run under Windows 95/98 in the BornAgainShell (Bash). For each file named, the user is
prompted for a set of project identifiers. These will remain constant for each file. If the file named
exists, data are appended to the file. Otherwise, the file will be created. All prompts are self
explanatory.

Data are written to the file when all sand and gravel data have been entered. Data are entered as two
separate groups: sand being phi 4 to phi 0, gravel being phi 1 to phi 5. Each phi group must sum to
100 + .1% . Otherwise, the user is prompted to reenter the phi group. When the sample weight is
equal to the coarse weight, the user is not prompted to enter gravel data.

The program may be aborted at any time by hitting the “Control C” key.

FILES
sedlab.h

SEE ALSO
rsam.c getcoars.c getids.c rsetup.c rprint.c /utils/iolib.c

DIAGNOSTICSBUGS
Each response will have a maximum field length as specified in sedlab.h . If the user response is too
long, the program will specify the maximum number of characters allowed for the current response.

AUTHOR/MAINTENANCE
Janet J. Fredericks, WHOI, Woods Hole, MA/Larry Poppe, USGS, Woods Hole, MA

3) CLTRM

NAME: cltrm to enter 200 and/or 30 micron diameter tube elecrtoresistance multichannel particle
size analyzer (EMPSA, e.g. Coulter Counter; Figs. 2, 15) analyses via the keyboard

SYNOPSIS
cltrm afile_name

2.01), will run under Windows 95/98 in the BornAgainShell (Bash). For each file named, the user is
prompted for a set of project identifiers. These will remain constant for each file. If the file named
exists, data are appended to the file. Otherwise, the file will be created.

Data are written to the file each time the user responds 'y' (in lower case) to the prompt "Are data ok?".
A “period and carriage return” will terminate the data correction mode. The program may be aborted
at any time by hitting “Control C”

FILES
sedlab.h

SEE ALSO
cltrm.c getsam.c getids.c getopt.c csetup.c mprint./utils/iolib.c

DIAGNOSTICSBUGS

AUTHOR/MAINTENANCE
4.) RSA2000

NAME: RSA2000

TYPE: Main program

PURPOSE: To create raw rapid sediment analyzer (RSA; Figs. 1, 12) data records

OPERATING SYSTEM: DOS version 3.0 or later, or DOS under Windows 3.1/95/98

SOURCE LANGUAGE: Microsoft QuickBASIC

SOURCE CODE: RSA2000.BAS

COMPILED SOFTWARE: RSA2000.EXE

SEE ALSO: This program requires and/or generates the following associated data files. The files
contain only ASCII (viewable) data and reside in the same directories (folders) as the associated
executable.

ADAC.DAT Initialization file required to set up ADAC a/d board. An example file is
included using IRQ 4. The IRQ must be reserved for the card. Please see ADAC documentation for
more information.

RAWINDEX.DAT Required to run program. May be set initially to just contain ASCII “0”
(character zero).

RawDat*.DAT *= 1,2,3 Intermediate data generated by the program during successive runs.

RSA.DAT Reduced data generated by the program. No initial file is needed but the file
contains data from all saved runs. It is maintained by the program SEDITY2K.EXE.

RSA.NDX Index file to RSA.DAT. An initial file will be created upon first run.

MIXED_AD.LIB Library file needed in the development environment (QuickBASIC) to
compile the program

MIXED_AD.QLB Quick library file needed in the development environment to compile the
program.

RSA2000.MAK A MAK file that uses WINDOWS.BAS, BITS.BAS, BIOSCALL.BAS,
MOUSSUBS.BAS, and KEYS.BAS. These files are included in Microsoft QuickBASIC
Programmer’s Toolbox and are also needed in the development environment to compile the program.

INPUT: At the beginning of each run, the operator will be prompted for the plotter scale, operator,
requestor, cruise id, project id, sample id, lab number, sample weight, coarse weight, sand weight, and
relative percentages of the phi classes from the gravel fraction.

OUTPUT: A raw data record stored to disk and a hard copy (Fig. 14)

USAGE: To use the program from DOS, change to the working directory and type: RSA2000
To use the program from Windows 95/98, access it from the file manager or the Run command
The user is prompted for all necessary identifiers and data. For each run enter the plotter scale
(program defaults to full scale). For each analysis enter:
a) Operator
b) Requestor
c)Cruise id
d) Project id
e) Sample id
f) Lab Number
g) Sample weight
h) Coarse weight
i) Sand weight
j) Relative percentages of the phi classes from the gravel fraction
The sample is introduced into the settling tube when the “Waiting For Sample Introduction” prompt is
given.
A copy of the identifiers, the data, and the cumulative frequency plot of the pressure change versus
time are generated on the printer (Fig. 14).
The operator may then save , reprint, smooth, or, if the analysis was no good, purge the data. A default
saves the data. Upon responding to a choice, the program is recycled.
A default (carriage return) to any of the prompted identifiers other than sample id or Lab Number will
enter the identifier from the previous analysis.

RESTRICTIONS: Operator, requestor, cruise id, and project id may be up to 19 characters and have
no imbedded spaces or commas. Speed requirements necessitate the BASIC source code be compiled
into machine language.

AUTHOR/MAINTENANCE: Eliason Data Services, Mashpee, MA/L. Poppe, USGS, Woods Hole,
MA

5.) CLTRMS2K

NAME: CLTRMS2K

TYPE: Main program

PURPOSE: To create raw EMPSA (Coulter Counter; Figs. 2, 15) data records



SOURCE CODE: CLTRMS2K.BAS

COMPILED SOFTWARE: CLTRMS2K.EXE

executable.

CLTR.NDX Index file to CLTR.DAT. An initial file will be created in the working directory
upon first run.

CLTR.DAT Reduced data generated by the program. The file contains data from all saved
runs. It is maintained by the program SEDITY2K.EXE.

MS_LABEL.DAT Required. The filename is spelled that way. This is a list of parameter
names for the Multisizer II currently in use.

MSII.DAT Required in order to use the test option (3) on the input port option menu
(MSII=msii in lowercase).

INPUT: At the beginning of the first run, the operator will be prompted for diagnostics, printed output,
and printer setup. Subsequently and for each sample thereafter the operator will be prompted for
operator, requestor, cruise id, project id, sample id, lab number, and tube diameter.

OUTPUT: A raw data record stored to disk and a hard copy (Fig. 17)

USAGE: To use the program from DOS, change to the working directory and type: CLTRMS2K
For each analysis enter:
a) Operator
b) Requestor
c)Cruise id
d) Project id
e) Sample id
f) Lab Number
g) Tube diameter
h) Initial micron diameter
Press the Print/Plot button on the EMPSA after the analysis is complete and the “Waiting For Sample”
prompt is given.
A copy of the identifiers and raw data are generated on the printer.
The operator may then save, reprint, or, if the data are no good, purge the data. Upon responding to any
of the three choices, the program is recycled.
A default (carriage return) to any of the prompted identifiers other than sample id or Lab Number will
enter the identifier from the previous analysis.

RESTRICTIONS: This program runs only with output from a BeckmanCoulter Electronics Multisizer
IIe EMPSA. Operator, requestor, cruise id, and project id may be up to 19 characters and have no
imbedded spaces or commas. Speed requirements necessitate the BASIC source code be compiled into
machine language.

MA

6.) SEDITY2K

NAME: SEDITY2K

TYPE: Main program

PURPOSE: To archive the raw RSA and EMPSA data into master files subsequently used by the
processing programs. SEDITY2K also examines, edits, and generates additional hard copies of these
records.



SOURCE CODE: SEDITY2K.BAS

COMPILED SOFTWARE: SEDITY2K.EXE

executable. There are no required initialization files.

CLTR.DAT The user will specify the data file name & location.

CLTR.NDX The program will modify the index file as appropriate to the tasks performed.

RSA.DAT The user will specify the data file name & location.

RSA.DAT The program will modify the index file as appropriate to the tasks performed.

SEDXFER.DAT The program will create a new data transfer file.

SEDXFER.OLD Before rewriting the transfer file, the program will archive the last transfer
file in case of problems.

INPUT: RSA and EMPSA raw data records, which are stored to disk during operation of the RSA2000
and CLTRMS2K programs, are input into files accessed by SEDITY2K

OUTPUT: Master files of raw RSA (Fig. 24) and EMPSA (Fig. 25) data records stored to disk or a
hard copy of the rawdata records. Note: the first line of each master file is a usersupplied project
identifier that must be removed before the sorting routines are applied.

USAGE: To use the program from DOS, change to the working directory and type: SEDITY2K
User is prompted for which raw data records (RSA, EMPSA, or both) are to be accessed. Operations
performed by the program are listed in and selected from the main menu (Table 3). When a
number 1 through 7 is entered, the operator can use that utility to perform the corresponding
task.
In the Display or Print mode, the user can scroll through the list of logged records. This list is
composed of Lab Numbers and letters (O: open, D: deleted, or A: assigned) designating the
records present status.
When options 3 or 4 are selected, the Assign and Edit/Display Mode menu (Table 4) appears and the
data records scroll up from the bottom. The records may be scroll as in the Display or Print
modes, but, when O, D, or A commands are given, the indicated record is tagged for that
respective operation.
When the Edit command (E) is given, the raw data record for the corresponding Lab Number appears.
The user is then prompted for editing commands.
When all raw data records in the SEDITY2K files have been written to Master files or deleted, the K
key will permanently remove these records from disk.

MA

APPENDIX B. SOFTWARE DOCUMENTATION AND CODE FOR DATAPROCESSING
SOFTWARE

1.) JSORT 11/3/98

NAME: jsort to sort sediment analyses samples by lab number and retrieve complete sets which will
be appended to the complete data set file.

SYNOPSIS
jsort file_name

2.01), will run under Windows 95/98 in the BornAgainShell (Bash). The program jsort expects the
input file to have a filename suffix with “.dat”. The “.dat” is not entered on the run line, but is used
solely for file management purposes. The input file is produced by combining or concatenating the
raw data records from the GSANV, RSAM, CLTRM, and, through SEDITY2K, the RSA2000 and
CLTRMS2K programs. The input file is reorganized by 'pack' to contain one analysis type on only one
physical record. This 'packed' file is piped into a) a temporary file "jsortnn" where nn is the
process_id; and, b) into the program 'dirct'. A directory of which analyses were entered into the input
file for each lab number is listed on the terminal. The listing is piped through 'more'. The original data
file “file_name.dat’ is left unaltered.

Upon completion of the directory listing, the user is queried as to whether the file should be split. This
refers to retrieving complete data sets from the sorted temporary file. If the user responds 'y' to the
prompt "Enter 'y' to split file:" the complete samples will be copied to a file 'file_name.fin’. If
incomplete samples remain, an output file ('file_name.inc') will be created with only the incomplete
samples. If the file exists, the data are appended to the file. The samples will be sorted and contain
only one physical record per analysis.

The temporary file “jsortnn" will be purged from the system.

FILES
sedlab.h

SEE ALSO
backup, dirct, jsplit, sort, tee.

DIAGNOSTICSBUGS
In the program 'dirct' the line length is checked. The program will abort when a packed line has
become too large. See MAXLINE of sedlab.h (2000 chars).

AUTHOR/MAINTENANCE

2.) GSTAT

NAME: gstat to retrieve sediment analyses and the corresponding identifiers from the sorted raw
data files and compute standard textural parameters.

SYNOPSIS
gstat file_name.out <file_name.fin >file_name.txt

Alternately, using the provided script file:
dogstat file_name

DESCRIPTION: This version, which was written in “c” and compiled with DJGPP (v. 2.01), will run
under Windows 95/98 in the BornAgainShell (Bash). For each sample, the 200micron tube Coulter
data, 30micron tube Coulter data, coarse fraction data, and the sample identifiers are retrieved from
the sorted raw data file (file_name.fin) produced by the program JSORT. From these data, the program
calculates the textural distributions (cumulative and frequency percentages); statistics (method of
moments and inclusive graphics; Folk, 1974); percentages gravel, sand, silt, and clay; and the textural
classification. Output is a digital predatabase file (Fig. 26) and a hard copy (Fig. 21). A header file
has been inserted as the first record in the predatabase file to show the field attributes and their order.
Size nomenclature and the grade scale are based on the method proposed by Wentworth (1929; Fig. 9);
the classification scheme is modified from the one proposed by Shepard (1954; Fig. 18).

DIAGNOSTICSBUGS
A message is displayed which notifies user as each sample is retrieved. During the inclusive graphics
analyses, some distributions cause the last frequency percent to be beyond 100.0%. This will cause a
message to be displayed, which may be ignored. But user should always "eyeball" the data for any
apparent error(s). If the input file is outofsequence a message will be displayed. This will be in
reference to the sample after the last successfully retrieved sample.

Other messages, such as core dumped, etc., come from gross errors in input. In such a case, the input
file should be carefully scanned.

AUTHOR/MAINTENANCE

3.) ENTRY

NAME: entry to enter sediment data as relative frequency percents at whole phi intervals.

SYNOPSIS
entry [cvgo] file_name

2.01), will run under Windows 95/98 in the BornAgainShell (Bash).The 'o' option allows the user to
enter the data as cumulative frequency percent (an ojive). The data must be entered in decreasing
values: i.e., phi [11] = 100%.

The 'g' option allows the user to enter the data in groups. Each group (fines, sand or gravel) must sum
to 100%.

The default entry mode is to enter the absolute frequency percent of each phi class. These must sum to
100%.

The user is prompted for all input. The user will not be prompted for a given group when no data are
present for that group. (Eg., there is no sand in the sample.)

Entry for a given phi group may be restarted by typing in "re" in response to the phi prompt. A 'RE'
can be entered to restart at phi[11].

If the "v" option is selected, the phi with corresponding relative frequency percents are displayed on
the screen. If the user responds "no" to the verification, the group entries are discarded and the user
may reenter that phi group.

A "." (period) in response to the phi prompt terminates entry for that phi group.

If the "c" option is selected, latitude and longitude will be entered as degrees minutes and hemisphere
(N, S, E or W) and will internally be converted to decimal degrees (+/). See GSANV writeup for
description of allowed sampling devices and areas.

The sample is written when all data have been entered for the current sample.

The program may be aborted at any time by hitting “Control C”

FILES
sedlab.h gstat.h

SEE ALSO (make file = entry.m)
LISTA = entry.o getdatm.o rsetup.o getids.o prhead.o getnavm.o output.o
LISTB = getlin.o iolib.o
entry: $(LISTA) $(LISTB)
cc $(LISTA) $(LISTB) o entry lm
$(LISTA) $(LISTB): sedlab.h
$(LISTA) $(LISTB): gstat.h

DIAGNOSTICSBUGS

AUTHOR/MAINTENANCE

4.) GSTATM

NAME: gstatm to input frequency percent data entered by ENTRY and analyze as described in
GSTAT.

SYNOPSIS
gstatm file.out <file.dat >file.txt

2.01), will run under Windows 95/98 in the BornAgainShell (Bash). Data are read from stdin
("file.dat") which was created by the program ENTRY. The relative frequency percentages are
normalized to 100%. These are statistically analyzed by method of moments and inclusive graphics
methods, plotted, and output both in page format as a hard copy (Fig. 21) and as a commadelimited
predatabase file (Fig. 26). The formatted statistical analyses and printer plots are directed to stdout
("file.txt"). The predatabase formatted identifiers and analyses are directed to a file ("file.out"). Size
nomenclature and grade scale are based on the method proposed by Wentworth (1929; Fig. 9). The
verbal equivalents are calculated using the inclusive graphics statistical method (Folk, 1974) and the
classification scheme was modified from the one proposed by Shepard (1954; Fig. 18).

FILES
sedlab.h gstat.h

SEE ALSO (make file = gstatm.m)
LISTA = gstatm.o loadat.o loadids.o gprint.o prhead.o getnav.o
LISTB = stats.o name.o momnts.o mode.o hplot.o pgprint.o igst.o iolib.o
LISTC = median.o iqhscu.o icsevu.o
gstatm: $(LISTA) $(LISTB) $(LISTC)
cc $(LISTA) $(LISTB) $(LISTC) o gstatm lm
$(LISTA) $(LISTB): sedlab.h
$(LISTA) $(LISTB): gstat.h

DIAGNOSTICSBUGS
A message is displayed which notifies user as each sample is retrieved. During the inclusive graphics
analyses, some distributions cause the last frequency percent to be beyond 100.0%. This will cause a
message to be displayed, which may be ignored. But user should always "eyeball" the data for any
apparent error(s). If the input file is outofsequence a message will be displayed. This will be in
reference to the sample after the last successfully retrieved sample.

Other messages, such as core dumped, etc., come from gross errors in input. In such a case, the input
file should be carefully scanned.

AUTHOR/MAINTENANCE

5.) CLAYES2K

NAME: CLAYES2K to extrapolate the clay fraction to the colloidal clay boundary

TYPE: Main program

PURPOSE: This program will calculate that portion of the clay fraction not detected during a particle
size analysis by a Coulter Counter (down to 13.0 phi). The operator may select linear or
exponential extrapolation, or the mean of both (Fig. 22).

OPERATING SYSTEM: DOS version 3.0 or later, or DOS under Windows 3.1 or Windows 95

SOURCE LANGUAGE: Microsoft QuickBASIC version 4.0 or later
Librarystandard

SOURCE CODE: CLAYES2K.BAS

COMPILED SOFTWARE: CLAYES2K.EXE

INPUT: The predatabase file created by GSTAT, the main data processing and statistics program used
in the Sedimentation Laboratory of the Coastal and Marine Geology Program, Woods Hole
Section. The format for this predatabase file and an example of a typical file is shown in figure
26.

OUTPUT: When specified, this program will generate a hard copy (Fig. 27) and/or a data file (Fig.
28).

The optional hard copy will contain: the sample identifiers; the original and
revised frequency percentages; the original and revised percentages of gravel, sand, silt,
and clay; a revised sediment classification (verbal equivalent); and the revised statistics.
All sample identifiers of length greater than 11 characters will be truncated.

The optional data file will be comma delimited and contain: the sample
identifiers; the revised percentages of sand, gravel, silt, and clay; the revised
verbal equivalent; the revised statistics; and the revised frequency percentages (5
to 13 phi). The first line of this data file will contain a list of the field attributes.

USAGE: To use the program from DOS, change to the working directory and type: CLAYES2K
To use the program from Windows 95/98, access it from the file manager or the Run command.

The program CLAYES2K is interactive and will prompt the operator for:
1.) A printer output on LPT1 (the default is no).
2.) Which to use: linear or exponential interpolation or the mean of both (the default is
the mean). Linear interpolation may slightly overestimate the amount
of clay present; exponential interpolation may slightly underestimate the
amount of clay present.
. 3.) The smallest particle size in microns actually measured.
4.) The drive where the data file is located (the default is C:).
5.) The path name to the data file.
6.) What filename to read. If none is entered, the program will display a directory of
the file names in the specified drive and path.
7.) The initial Lab Number. If no lab number is entered the program will search for the
first lab number in the specified file.
8.) Whether to write the revised data to disk (the default is yes). The program will add
an “E_”, “L_”, or “M_” depending on which interpolation is chosen to
the beginning of the filename assigned to the output file. If the resultant
filename is too long (over eight characters), the user will be warned and
asked to enter a new file path and name.
9.) Whether the operator wishes to pause the scrolling screen after each record in order
to examine the data.

MA

APPENDIX C. COMPUTER PROGRAMS

All programs are stored in a directory labeled software. To access these programs, go to the
software directory, and download the desired software.
BASIC SOFTWARE

The following programs were written and the executables compiled into machine language with
Microsoft QuickBasic (version 4.5). They will run under DOS version 3.0 or later, or DOS under
Windows 3.1/95/98. The source code module names have a BAS extension; the compiled executables
have the extension .EXE.

Software Compilation and Source Code:

RSA2000.BAS
CLTRMS2K.BAS
SEDITY2K.BAS
CLAYES2K.BAS

Executable Programs:

RSA2000.EXE
CLTRMS2K.EXE
SEDITY2K.EXE
CLAYES2K.EXE

The above programs require the following data files. The files contain only ASCII (viewable)
data and reside in the same directories (folders) as the associated executable.

ADAC.DAT
RAWINDEX.DAT
MIXED_AD.LIB
MIXED_AD.QLB
MS_LABEL.DAT
MSII.DAT

C LANGUAGE SOFTWARE

The following programs were written in “C” and compiled with DJGPP (version 2.01) to run
on Windows 98 with the GNU operating system installed and run from the BornAgainShell (bash),
which is run in a DOSprompt window. These programs include the dataacquisition software:
GSANV, RSAM, CLTRM, and ENTRY, and the dataprocessing software: JSORT, GSTAT, and
GSTATM. The DJGPP is a 32bit protectedmode development system available from Walnut Creek
CDROM (ISBN 1571762280) that is suitable for porting Unix programs to DOS. GNU is a Unix
like operating environment distributed by the Free Software Foundation (ISBN 1882114574). The
user must install the GNU package, and set their system to run in the bash environment before using
these programs.

Software Code: Documentation files and source code are contained in the compressed file:
c_code.tar

Download the tar file to an appropriate directory. This tar file, which puts it’s contents into a new
directory called c_code, is expanded in the bash shell with the command:

tar xvf c_code.tar

Executable Programs: Compiled versions of the code and a readme file are contained in the
compressed file:

apsas_up.tar

Download the tar file to an appropriate directory. This tar file, which puts it’s contents into a new
directory called apsas, is expanded in the bash shell with the command:

tar xvf apsas_up.tar

The programs may be operated from this directory or can be copied to a directory which is in the user’s
path.

Questions regarding these utilities (not the DJGPP or Free Software Foundation packages and the
Unix environment) should be directed to lpoppe@usgs.gov and include "regarding Unix package" in
the subject. Questions regarding installation and implementation of DJGPP or the GNU utilities should
be directed to Walnut CDROM and the Free Software Foundation, respectively.

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Grain-Size Analysis of Marine Sediments

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