Marine sediments

•Objective: To become familiar with the different types of marine sediments and understand how turbidity currents are created

NOTE LOG SCALE

Flocculation Demonstration

•How does sediment (clay) behave differently in saltwater vs. freshwater??

Flocculation Demonstration•Charged particles (clay) in saltwater “cling” to each other forming larger particles that settle out faster

•Sediments from land settle out along the continental shelf

•Continental sediments have both a biological and terrigenous origin

Hard parts of organisms that can be found in sediment samples

Carbonate compensation depth

Turbidites

Turbidity Currents- EvidenceTurbidity Currents- Evidence• Shallow, continental shelf, benthic fauna

are carried to deep-ocean depths and deposited.

• Coarse sediment deposits are found where sediments collect because of the presence of low current speeds.

• Deep sea channels indicate a current has moved across the ocean bottom.

• Laboratory models indicate turbidity flows are possible (sediment/water & water).

= 56 mph

Measured vs. TheoreticalMeasured vs. Theoretical

U = 0.7 [(d1 - d2)(gh)/d2]-2

Measured speed - use 133.3 cm mark