Geotechnical Investigation of the Titanic Wreck Site     

Angus I. Best  William Powrie  Toby Hayward  Max Barton 《Marine Georesources & Geotechnology》2013,31(4):315-331

Abstract

Recent marine forensic investigations have largely unravelled the sequence of events concerning the sinking of the R.M.S. Titanic and its descent through nearly 3800 m of water to the seafloor on the morning of 15 April 1912. In particular, the velocity and attitude of the Titanic's bow section (at present lying upright, reasonably intact, and embedded by ～12 m at the prow) as it hit the bottom are of general interest to marine accident investigators. During the 1998 Titanic Science Expedition, a single sediment sample was retrieved from the seafloor (depth 20–30 cm) near the wreck by the deep water submersible, Nautile. Published geological studies suggest the seafloor in this area has remained largely undisturbed since 1912. Geotechnical analysis of the sediment sample reveals that the impact was probably a substantially undrained event and that the characteristic undrained shear strength of the sediment is ～25kPa within 10–16 m below the seafloor. A simple analytical model was used to calculate the embedment of a cuboid with dimensions and mass of the water-filled bow as a function of impact velocity, impact angle, and the undrained shear strength of the sediment. The results indicate the impossibility of a steep angle of impact and fast velocity. The most likely scenario is an impact velocity of 5–10 m/s at a fairly shallow angle (<40°), which corroborates the results of hydrodynamic investigations.  相似文献   

Geotechnical Properties of Surface Sediments in the INDEX Area     

N. H. Khadge 《Marine Georesources & Geotechnology》2013,31(3):251-258

Abstract

As a part of the environmental impact assessment studies, geotechnical properties of sediments were determined in the Central Indian Basin. The undrained shear strength and index properties of the siliceous sediments were determined on 20 box cores of uniform dimension collected from various locations in five preselected sites. The maximum core length encountered was 41 cm and most of the sediments were siliceous oozes consisting of radiolarian or diatomaceous tests. The shear strength measurements revealed that surface sediments deposited in recent times (0–10 cm) have a shear strength of 0–1 kPa; this value increases with depth, reaching 10 kPa at 40 cm deep. Older sediments have greater strength because of compaction. Water content varies in the wide range of 312–577% and decreases with depth. The clay minerals such as smectite and illite are dominant and show some control over water content. Wet density, specific gravity, and porosity do not indicate any notable variation with depth, thereby indicating a uniform, slow rate of sedimentation. The average porosity of sediments is 90.2%, specific gravity 2.18, and wet bulk density 1.12 g/cm³. Sediments exhibit medium to high plasticity characteristics, with the average plasticity index varying between 105% and 136%. Preliminary studies on postdisturbance samples showed an increase in natural water content and a decrease in undrained shear strength of sediments in the top 10- to 15-cm layer.  相似文献   

Regional geochemistry of sediments from the Hellenic volcanic arc in regard to submarine hydrothermal activity     

R. A. Hodkinson  D. S. Cronan  S. Varnavas  C. Perissoratis 《Marine Georesources & Geotechnology》2013,31(2):83-129

Some 600 surface sediment samples from the Hellenic Volcanic Arc region have been analyzed by bulk and HCl selective leach geochemical techniques. Geostatisti‐cal analysis, followed by further selective leaches on a number of samples, has been used in order to identify any regional hydrothermal influence on the sediments and/or any local hydrothermal metal enrichments. The two main sediment components affecting the geochemical variability in the region are biogenic carbonate and volcaniclastic/terrigenous detritus. Proximity to islands appears to be the primary factor controlling the variability in these components. Sediments from deeper water, to the south of the Hellenic Volcanic Arc and in the Anydros Basin, exhibit some elevated levels of Mn, Co, and Cu, probably of hydrogenous origin. No widespread hydrothermal influence to the sediments in the region is recognized, although this could in part be due to the high sedimentation rates in the region. Localized hydrothermal inputs to sediments are, however, recognized proximal to Santorini, in particular within the northern part of the central caldera. These are predominantly of Fe and associated adsorbed/coprecipitated elements along with some Mn enrichment. Several samples proximal to Milos, just off the coast in the northern part of the central Milos embayment, also show enrichments of commonly hydrothermally associated elements, including Mn, Cu, Zn, and Pb. Data suggest that these enrichments could, in part, be due to weathering of “on‐land”; mineralization as well as hydrothermal inputs.  相似文献   

Minor and rare elements in manganese crusts and nodules and sediments from the Manihiki plateau and adjacent areas: Results of HMNZS Tui cruises     

H. Kunzendorf  G. P. Glasby 《Marine Georesources & Geotechnology》2013,31(4):271-281

Six manganese crusts, 13 manganese nodules, and 16 sediments were analyzed by instrumental neutron activation analysis. Data were generated on selected major and minor elements but geochemical evaluations are based only on Fe, Sc, U, Th, and the rare earth elements (REE). Manganese crusts and manganese nodules have comparable trivalent REE contents and show a shale‐like distribution pattern. Both crusts and nodules are characterized by a positive Ce anomaly but the anomaly is higher in nodules. REE contents in manganese nodules show a linear dependence on the Fe content, and it is concluded that these elements are incorporated in the Fe‐rich (δ‐MnO₂) phase. In the crusts, the REE correlate with Sc and are therefore assumed to be associated with the clay minerals. Uranium contents are significantly higher in the crusts than in nodules whereas Th is slightly higher in the nodules. There is a clear positive correlation between U and Th in nodules but there are too few data to make a similar conclusion for crusts. Compositional data suggest a division of the sediments into two groups. The carbonate sediments have much lower REE contents and a more pronounced negative Ce anomaly than the clays, while both show a lithogenous component as indicated by a slight negative Eu anomaly.  相似文献   

A method of making deepwater shallow sediments considering their rehological properties     

Zhuo Chen  JinGen Deng  Baohua Yu  Haoyang Weng 《Marine Georesources & Geotechnology》2013,31(6):721-726

Abstract

In this article, based on the rheological consolidation model of deepwater shallow sediments, the artificial samples were made in laboratory. The feasibility of artificial samples was verified by electron microscopy scanning and triaxial experiments. Deepwater shallow sediments consolidation models mainly considers two points: (i) the change of permeability with time and temperature and (ii) the effect of rheology. The consolidation experiment of deepwater shallow sediments verifies the correctness of the model. It can be found that, the artificial and natural samples have the same physical and mechanical properties. And the physical properties of natural samples can be obtained by rheological consolidation model of deepwater shallow sediments.  相似文献   

Establishing Holocene sediment core chronologies for northern Ungava lakes, Canada, using humic acids (AMS C) and Pb     

milie Saulnier-Talbot  Reinhard Pienitz  Thomas W. Stafford Jr. 《Quaternary Geochronology》2009,4(4):278-287

The absence of datable macrofossils in six sediment cores recovered from northern Ungava (Canada) lakes constituted a major challenge for the establishment of reliable lacustrine chronologies for the Holocene. Consequently, AMS radiocarbon dating of humic acids was used to assess age–depth in the cores. The reliability of the radiocarbon results near some of the core tops was evaluated through ²¹⁰Pb dating. The offset of sediment radiocarbon ages with their most probable time of formation and deposition in the lakes was found to be in the order of about 1000 years for recently deposited sediments. However, the basal dates in one core covering the entire postglacial period yielded a remarkable fit with previously established dates performed on marine shells at the maximum marine limit. Hence, the aim of this study was to describe how the two dating methods can be combined to address some of the problems paleolimnologists face when trying to assign ages to high-latitude lake sediment records. Suggestions are made for improving the quality of age–depth models developed in future studies for northernmost Québec and other comparable regions where paleolimnologists must deal with the combined challenges of very slow sediment accumulation rates in lakes, an extreme paucity of datable material and the sequestration of old carbon in the watersheds.  相似文献   

江汉平原沉积物重矿物特征及其对三峡贯通的指示   总被引：13，自引：0，他引：13  

康春国  李长安  王节涛  邵磊 《地球科学》2009,34(3):419-427

江汉平原是长江穿过三峡区的第一个大型卸载盆地, 其沉积物必然反映长江流经的物源区的物源特征.通过对盆地中心周老孔第四纪岩心的重砂样品中0.125~0.063mm粒级的重矿物含量变化、ATi、GZi、ZTR指数和重矿物组合分析, 发现从钻孔岩心深度110m开始向上, 水动力条件加强, 沉积速率加快, 重矿物的数量特征发生明显突变, 特征矿物的组合与现代长江相同.表明在周老孔岩心深度110m (古地磁年龄1.1Ma左右) 位置处, 长江三峡开始贯通, 江汉平原开始接纳长江带来的三峡上游的物质.   相似文献   

陆表海碎屑岩—碳酸盐岩混积层系沉积相研究——以鄂尔多斯东北部大牛地气田为例   总被引：3，自引：0，他引：3       下载免费PDF全文

郭书元  张广权  陈舒薇 《古地理学报》2009,11(6):611-627

陆源碎屑岩和碳酸盐岩的混合沉积是陆表海重要的沉积现象,反映了其沉积特征。鄂尔多斯东北部大牛地气田本溪组和太原组是典型的陆表海碎屑岩—碳酸盐岩混积层系。结合区域地质研究,建立了陆表海碎屑岩—碳酸盐岩混积层系的沉积相模式。根据华北晚古生代聚煤盆地的地质背景和沉积演化过程,认为大牛地气田本溪组、太原组是陆表海碎屑滨岸—碳酸盐岩台地混积体系和海岸平原沉积体系：本溪组下段为碎屑滨岸相局限浅海亚相,上段为碳酸盐岩台地相和碎屑滨岸相;太原组下段为三角洲相和碎屑滨岸相→碎屑滨岸相;中段为盆控型泥炭沼泽相→碳酸盐岩台地相和碎屑滨岸相;上段为三角洲相和碎屑滨岸相→碳酸盐岩台地相和碎屑滨岸相→三角洲相和碎屑滨岸相→碳酸盐岩台地相和碎屑滨岸相。  相似文献   

Subaqueous geothermal activity revealed by lacustrine sediments of the acidic Nakadake crater lake, Aso Volcano, Japan     

Yasuo Miyabuchi  Akihiko Terada   《Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research》2009,187(1-2):140-145

Lacustrine sediments were sampled from the inaccessible acidic (pH = 0.43) Nakadake crater lake of Aso Volcano, Japan by a simple method. The sediments contain an extremely high content (74 wt.%) of sulfur, which exits as elemental sulfur, gypsum and anhydrite. The abundant elemental sulfur is likely formed by the reaction of SO₂ and H₂S gases and by the SO₂ disproportionation reaction in magmatic hydrothermal system below the crater lake. Based on the sulfur content of sediments and measurements of elevation change of the crater bottom, the sulfur accumulation rate at the Nakadake crater lake was calculated as 250 tonne/day, which is comparable with the SO₂ emission rate (200–600 tonne/day) from the Nakadake crater. The sediments include a small amount (9%) of clear glass shards that are apparently not altered in spite of the high reactivity of hyperacid lake water. This finding suggests that the clear glass shards are fragments of recently emitted magmas from fumaroles on the bottom of the crater lake and the magma emissions continuously occur even in quiescent periods.  相似文献   

Evidence of high‐energy events in shelly layers interbedded in coastal Holocene sands in Cadiz Bay (south‐west Spain)     

J. M. Gutiérrez‐Mas  C. Juan  J. A. Morales 《地球表面变化过程与地形》2009,34(6):810-823

In some present‐day coastal areas, recent inactive deposits now outside the reach of sea agents can be observed. These deposits, although formed under different climatic and sea level conditions, often show similar facies to current littoral deposits. They are frequently interpreted as old dunes and beach ridges, or as abandoned spit bars, representative of previous dynamic stages. Nevertheless, in coastal areas which have been subjected to highly‐energetic events similar deposits can also be found. When a dynamic event acts on several adjacent environments, the transported and re‐deposited sediments can create homogeneous deposits with similar facies, that are easily confused. In this work, shelly layers interbedded in relict littoral sands located in the La Algaida pinewood, on the edge of the Rio San Pedro tidal channel, in Cadiz Bay (south‐west Spain) have been studied. The main constituents of the shelly beds are Glycimeris valves, organisms which are no longer found as live specimens in the present‐day sea bed of Cadiz Bay. From their appearance, the origin of these shelly beds could be related to sea washovers generated by tidal or storm action, but their disposition and height over the present sea level implies that even higher energy agents were involved in their formation, such as major storms or tsunami waves. The most significant process was the mobilization of the sub‐tidal and littoral sediments and their dispersal and re‐sedimentation, both lengthways and widthways of the coast, giving way to homogeneous sandy deposits in all littoral environments some of which are now outside the reach of current sea agents. The exception is the present‐day shore of the San Pedro tidal channel, where the sediments are being reworked by tidal and small wave action. If the proximity of the study zone to the limit of the African and Iberian plates is considered, where several historical earthquakes and tsunamis have taken place, it is possible to think that these deposits could be a consequence of sporadic and successive washovers, generated by tsunamis occurring between ad 800 and ad 1200. Sedimentological and historical data indicate an increase in seismic and tsunami activity during this period of time, while the shelly layers would be the consequence of the most intense pulses occurring during these high‐energy events. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.  相似文献