A.A. Boggess
B.J. Buczkowski
J.D. Chaytor
20210819
Grain size analyses of sediment cores from the New England Mud Patch collected on USGS Field Activity 2016-001-FA
1.0
spreadsheet
data release
DOI: 10.5066/P9ZYK3PX
Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center, Woods Hole, MA
U.S. Geological Survey, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program
https://doi.org/10.5066/P9ZYK3PX
https://www.sciencebase.gov/catalog/item/60551970d34e1894882d0a38
A.A. Boggess
B.J. Buczkowski
J.D. Chaytor
2021
Sedimentological and geotechnical analyses of marine sediment cores from the New England Mud Patch
1.0
Reston, VA
U.S. Geological Survey
Suggested citation: Boggess, A.A., Buczkowski, B.J., and Chaytor, J.D., 2021, Sedimentological and geotechnical analyses of marine sediment cores from the New England Mud Patch: U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/P9ZYK3PX.
https://doi.org/10.5066/P9ZYK3PX
https://www.sciencebase.gov/catalog/item/604b8bc4d34eb120311b3800
Variability in sediment properties with depth and the thickness of individual sedimentary layers are critical determinants of seabed acoustic response. The New England Mud Patch (NEMP), located south of Cape Cod, is an unusual feature on the U.S. Continental Shelf in that it is composed of fine-grained sediment layers containing a relatively-homogeneous mix of sand, silt, and clay-sized particles bounded by more typical sandy shelf sediments. The unique characteristics and nature of this deposit is due to a derivation of sediments that have been transported to, and deposited in, a basal bowl-shaped depression since the last glacial maximum. Ninety-two piston, vibra-, and gravity cores with a maximum length of 8.2 meters were collected from across the New England Mud Patch during a 2-leg, 10-day cruise aboard the R/V Endeavor in the spring of 2016. Geologic characterization and analysis of a subset of the cores including grain size, CaCO3, mineral composition, and bulk index properties (undrained shear strength, water content, density, and porosity) of discrete samples was carried out at the USGS Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center's (WHCMSC) Sediment Analysis Laboratory. This data release contains the results of these analyses, along with visual core descriptions and summary sheets for each core analyzed for this study.
The data gained through the analyses of cores collected from the New England Mud Patch help provide a comprehensive understanding of the nature and properties of the sediments found in this geographic location. Grain size analyses were used to define the grain size distribution and sedimentary character of samples collected from the cores.
Cores were collected on the 2016 R/V Endeavor cruise EN577 from April 19, 2016 to May 2, 2016. Information about this expedition, also known as USGS Field Activity 2016-001-FA, is available at https://cmgds.marine.usgs.gov/fan_info.php?fan=2016-001-FA
20160419
20160502
ground condition
None planned
-70.7979
-70.4370
40.5952
40.3058
ISO 19115 Topic Category
oceans
None
U.S. Geological Survey
USGS
Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
WHCMSC
sediment samples
cores
piston cores
trigger cores
acoustic cores
vibracores
Cruise ID EN577
WHCMSC Field Activity 2016-001-FA
R/V Endeavor
grain-size
clay
silt
sand
gravel
USGS Thesaurus
geology
sedimentology
piston coring
gravity coring
vibracoring
core analysis
unconsolidated deposits
clay deposits
sand deposits
grain-size analysis
sieve-size analysis
Holocene
USGS Metadata Identifier
USGS:60551970d34e1894882d0a38
None
New England Mud Patch
NEMP
Atlantic
U.S. Continental Shelf
Massachusetts
Martha's Vineyard
Seabed Experiment Area
None.
Not to be used for navigation. The public domain data from the U.S. Government are freely redistributable with proper metadata and source attribution. Please recognize the U.S. Geological Survey as the originator of the dataset.
Jason Chaytor
U.S. Geological Survey, Northeast Region
Research Geologist
mailing and physical
384 Woods Hole Road
Woods Hole
MA
02543
US
508-548-8700 x2351
jchaytor@usgs.gov
https://www.sciencebase.gov/catalog/file/get/60551970d34e1894882d0a38/?name=MudPatchCores_BrowseGraphic.png
Browse image of the core collection locations and spatial extent of the study area
PNG
Microsoft Windows 10 Enterprise Version 10.0.18363 (Build 18363)
Jason D. Chaytor
Megan S. Ballard
Brian J. Buczkowski
John A. Goff
Kevin M. Lee
Allen H. Reed
Allyson A. Boggess
2021
Measurements of Geologic Characteristics and Geophysical Properties of Sediments from the New England Mud Patch
1.0
Piscataway, NJ
IEEE Oceanic Engineering Society
This journal article is the publication supported by this data release.
https://doi.org/10.1109/JOE.2021.3101013
Data quality grades have been assigned to each sample analysis, indicating the accuracy of the grain size distribution of the sample's coarse fraction. Standards are regularly run for quality control on the Beckman Coulter Multisizer3, ensuring accuracy of grain-size measurements of the fine fractions.
Samples' quantified grain size classification, calculated with workbook macros (see Process Step 3), were compared to the qualitative grain size classification described by observers on the core's visual description. This was done to ensure that the actual grain-size data was consistent with expected results determined by inspection of physical samples.
Of the 98 cores collected during the R/V Endeavor EN577 cruise, 66 cores were analyzed for this grain-size dataset. Cores chosen for analysis were those that were thought to represent the full range of sediments expected to be encountered. Any cores omitted from analysis were not included because the coring locations were in close proximity to previously analyzed cores.
Each core was cut into sections on the ship during collection. The cores were then split into halves in the core lab. Subsamples (1- cm thick) were taken from the split cores for grain size analysis.
2016
Jason Chaytor
U.S. Geological Survey, Northeast Region
Research Geologist
mailing address
384 Woods Hole Road
Woods Hole
MA
02543
US
508-548-8700 x2351
jchaytor@usgs.gov
Samples submitted to the sediment analysis laboratory for grain size analysis using the Beckman Coulter Multisizer3 and sieving of the ≥ 4 phi fraction are assigned internal analysis identifiers to record the measurement data. About 50 grams of wet sediment are placed in a pre-weighed beaker, weighed, oven dried at 100°C, and reweighed to correct for salt. The dried sample is wet sieved through a 0.062 mm (No. 230) sieve. The coarse fraction remaining in the sieve is oven dried at 100°C (until completely dried) and weighed. The fine fraction in water is collected in a plastic Nalgene bottle and sealed with a screw lid (stored for no longer than one week). The coarse fraction is dry sieved to determine the individual weights of the 4 to -5 phi fractions, and the weights are recorded in the data entry spreadsheet. At the request of the submitter, shell and shell fragments can be manually removed from the -2 phi and coarser fractions, weighed and their weights are recorded in the data entry spreadsheet. The fine fraction is run and combined using the 200 μm and 30 μm Coulter analyses using the Multisizer3 software (version 3.53) to get the fine fraction grain size distribution. The fine fraction distribution data are added to the data entry spreadsheet. The spreadsheet is used to calculate a continuous phi class distribution from the original fractions.
2020
Allyson A Boggess
U.S. Geological Survey, NORTHEAST REGION
Geologist
mailing address
384 Woods Hole Road
Woods Hole
MA
02543
US
508-548-8700 x2341
508-457-2310
aboggess@usgs.gov
Continuous phi class distribution from the original fractions are transposed to the "results" tab in the macro-enabled Microsoft Excel data entry workbook with a unique identifier assigned to the sample submission. Macros in the workbook are run to calculate grain size classification and statistical analyses. Sample, navigation, and field identifiers, along with continuous phi class distribution data, grain size classification, and statistical analysis results are copied and pasted into a final Microsoft Excel spreadsheet for each sample submission batch . The processed data are quality control checked and assigned a quality grade based on the examination of the analytical data. Processed data are released to the submitter and incorporated into the laboratory's database. All raw analytical data generated by the samples are archived in the sediment analysis laboratory.
2020
Brian Buczkowski
U.S. Geological Survey, Northeast Region
Physical Scientist
mailing address
384 Woods Hole Road
Woods Hole
MA
02543
US
508-548-8700 x2361
508-457-2310
bbuczkowski@usgs.gov
Finalized grain-size data was taken from individual batch tables and compiled into three CSV (comma-separated value)spreadsheets of data pertaining to each core type (piston, trigger, and acoustic cores).
2020
Allyson A Boggess
U.S. Geological Survey, NORTHEAST REGION
Geologist
mailing address
384 Woods Hole Road
Woods Hole
MA
02543
US
508-548-8700 x2341
508-457-2310
aboggess@usgs.gov
Tweaked a thesaurus name (20211117).
20211117
U.S. Geological Survey
VeeAnn A. Cross
Marine Geologist
Mailing and Physical
384 Woods Hole Road
Woods Hole
MA
02543-1598
508-548-8700 x2251
508-457-2310
vatnipp@usgs.gov
0.0197464427
0.0258271413
Decimal degrees
WGS_1984
WGS_84
6378137.0
298.257223563
Local surface
0.1
meters
Attribute values
EN577_GrainSize_PistonCores.csv
Comma Separated Value (CSV) file containing grain-size data for NEMP piston cores. Point dataset. 770 data records.
Producer Defined
SAMPLE_ID
Sample ID. Naming convention: FFFFF-CC-P-GS-# (FFFFF= Field ID abbreviation) (CC=Core ID) (P=Piston Core) (GS= Grain Size Sample) (# = Sample Number)
USGS
character string
PROJECT
Project group ID
USGS
ONR Mud Patch
ID for USGS project
USGS
CRUISE ID
Cruise identification code assigned by research vessel
USGS
EN577
R/V Endeavor Cruise EN577, also known by WHCMSC field activity number 2016-001-FA
USGS
CONTACT
Contact for samples
USGS
JCHAYTOR
Jason D. Chaytor
USGS
AREA
General area where samples were taken
USGS
Mud Patch
Southern New England Mud Patch
USGS
CORE_ID
Core identification number assigned in field. Naming convention EN577-XXPC (EN577=Cruise ID) (XX=Core number) (PC=Piston Core)
USGS
character string
LATITUDE
Latitude of core that grain-size data came from
USGS
39.893954
40.50153
decimal degrees
LONGITUDE
Longitude of core that grain-size data came from
USGS
-70.948424
-70.482964
decimal degrees
WATER_DEPTH
Water depth at location where core was collected
USGS
69.3
645.0
Meters
0.1
SAMPLE_DEPTH_TOP
Top of interval that was sampled for grain-size analysis
USGS
3
780
centimeters
SAMPLE_DEPTH_BOTTOM
Bottom of interval that was sampled for grain-size analysis
USGS
4
781
centimeters
DEVICE
Device used to collect core
USGS
PISTON CORER
Piston Corer
Producer defined
DATE_COLLECTED
Date that core was collected. Format: MM/DD/YYYY (MM= Month) (DD=Day) (YYYY=Year)
USGS
character string
DATE_ANALYZED
Date that grain-size analysis was completed. Format: MM/DD/YYYY (MM= Month) (DD=Day) (YYYY=Year)
USGS
character string
WEIGHT
Weight of dry sample
USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary
2.151
31.167
grams
0.001
GRAVEL_PCT
Gravel content in percent dry weight of the sample (particles with nominal diameters greater than 2 mm; -1 Phi and coarser).
USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary
0
28.87
percent
0.01
SAND_PCT
Sand content in percent dry weight of the sample (particles with nominal diameters less than 2 mm, but greater than or equal to 0.0625 mm; 0 Phi through 4 Phi).
USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary
2.53
99.78
percent
0.01
SILT_PCT
Silt content in percent dry weight of the sample (particles with nominal diameters less than 0.0625 mm, but greater than or equal to 0.004 mm; 5 Phi through 8 Phi, inclusive).
USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary
0.0
86.13
percent
0.01
CLAY_PCT
Clay content in percent dry weight of the sample (particles with nominal diameters less than 0.004 mm; 9 Phi and finer).
USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary
0.0
85.38
percent
0.01
CLASSIFICATION
Sediment description based on a rigorous definition, usually Shepard (1954) as modified by Schlee (1973) and Poppe and others ( 2005).
USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary
clayey silt
Sediment whose main phase is silt, but with significant clay.
USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary
sand silt clay
Sediment with significant (over 20 percent) sand, silt, and clay
Producer defined
silty clay
Sediment whose main phase is clay, but with significant silt.
USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary
sandy silt
Sediment whose main phase is silt, but with significant sand.
USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary
silty sand
Sediment whose main phase is silt, but with significant sand.
USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary
sand
Sediment whose main phase is less than 2 mm, but greater than or equal to 0.062 mm.
USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary
gravelly sediment
Sediment with gravel component equal to or greater than 10 percent, but less than 50 percent
USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary
clay
Sediment whose main phase is less than 0.004 mm.
USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary
clayey sand
Sediment whose main phase is sand, but with significant clay.
USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary
silt
Sediment whose main phase is less than 2 mm but greater than or equal to 0.0625 mm; 0 phi through 4 phi
USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary
MEDIAN
Middle point in the grain size distribution in phi units.
USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary
0.85
10.39
phi
0.01
MEAN
Average value in the grain size distribution in phi units.
USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary
0.46
9.44
phi
0.01
STDEV
Standard deviation (root mean square of the deviations) of the grain size distribution in phi units (sorting).
USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary
0.55
3.57
phi
0.01
SKEWNESS
Skewness (deviation from symmetrical form) of the grain size distribution in phi units.
USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary
-2.24
5.17
phi
0.01
KURTOSIS
Kurtosis (degree of curvature near the mode) of the grain size distribution in phi units.
USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary
-0.59
39.63
phi
0.01
PHI11
11 Phi - Weight percent of the sample in the 11 Phi fraction and finer (nominal diameter of particles less than 0.001 mm); fine clay.
USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary
0.0
21.01
percent
0.01
PHI10
10 Phi - Weight percent of the sample in the 10 Phi fraction (nominal diameter of particles greater than or equal to 0.001 mm, but less than 0.002 mm); medium clay.
USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary
0.0
34.68
percent
0.01
PHI9
9 Phi - Weight percent of the sample in the 9 Phi fraction (nominal diameter of particles greater than or equal to 0.002 mm, but less than 0.004 mm); coarse clay.
USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary
0.0
37.35
percent
0.01
PHI8
8 Phi - Weight percent of the sample in the 8 Phi fraction (nominal diameter of particles greater than or equal to 0.004 mm, but less than 0.008 mm); very fine silt.
USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary
0.01
31.60
percent
0.01
PHI7
7 Phi - Weight percent of the sample in the 7 Phi fraction (nominal diameter of particles greater than or equal to 0.008 mm, but less than 0.016 mm); fine silt.
USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary
0.01
47.41
percent
0.01
PHI6
6 Phi - Weight percent of the sample in the 6 Phi fraction (nominal diameter of particles greater than or equal to 0.016 mm, but less than 0.031 mm); medium silt.
USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary
0.01
34.11
percent
0.01
PHI5
5 Phi - Weight percent of the sample in the 5 Phi fraction (nominal diameter of particles greater than or equal to 0.031 mm, but less than 0.0625 mm); coarse silt.
USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary
0.0
65.37
percent
0.01
PHI4
4 Phi - Weight percent of the sample in the 4 Phi fraction (nominal diameters of particles greater than or equal to .0625 mm, but less than 0.125 mm); very fine sand.
USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary
0.5
85.89
percent
0.01
PHI3
3 Phi - Weight percent of the sample in the 3 Phi fraction (nominal diameter of particles greater than or equal to 0.125 mm, but less than 0.25 mm); fine sand.
USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary
0.01
68.25
percent
0.01
PHI2
2 Phi - Weight percent of the sample in the 2 Phi fraction (nominal diameter of particles greater than or equal to 0.25 mm, but less than 0.5 mm); medium sand.
USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary
0.0
81.9
percent
0.01
PHI1
1 Phi - Weight percent of the sample in the 1 Phi fraction (nominal diameter of particles greater than or equal to 0.5 mm, but less than 1 mm); coarse sand.
USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary
0.0
43.01
percent
0.01
PHI0
0 Phi - Weight percent of the sample in the 0 Phi fraction (nominal diameters of particles greater than or equal to 1 mm, but less than 2 mm); very coarse sand.
USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary
0.0
16.68
percent
0.01
PHIm1
-1 Phi - Weight percent of the sample in the -1 Phi fraction (nominal diameter of particles greater than or equal to 2 mm, but less than 4 mm); very fine pebbles (granules).
USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary
0.0
4.85
percent
0.01
PHIm2
-2 Phi - Weight percent of the sample in the -2 Phi fraction (nominal diameter of particles greater than or equal to 4 mm, but less than 8 mm); fine pebbles.
USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary
0.0
28.19
percent
0.01
PHIm3
-3 Phi - Weight percent of the sample in the -3 Phi fraction (nominal diameter of particles greater than or equal to 8 mm, but less than 16 mm); medium pebbles.
USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary
0.0
11.66
percent
0.01
PHIm4
-4 Phi - Weight percent of the sample in the -4 Phi fraction (nominal diameter of particles greater than or equal to 16 mm, but less than 32 mm); coarse pebbles.
USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary
0.0
17.72
percent
0.01
PHIm5
-5 Phi - Weight percent of the sample in the -5 Phi fraction and coarser (nominal diameter of particles greater than or equal to 32 mm); very coarse pebbles, cobbles, and boulders.
USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary
0.0
6.93
percent
0.01
ANALYST
Analyst who performed grain size laboratory analysis
USGS
ARP
Allison R. Paquette
Producer defined
DATA QUALITY GRADE
Samples are assigned a quality grade based on the examination of the analytical data. Data quality grades may be determined by several factors, and any comments or notes about the data for a particular sample are included in the results table for that sample under "comments". Quality grades for sample data that do not have any additional comments are assigned based on the calculated percent difference between the weights of the coarse fraction remaining after wet sieving and the sum of all of the weighed fractions after dry sieving the coarse fraction, indicating an estimated differing amount of material which could skew the calculated grain size results.
USGS
A
Coarse fraction percent differences between 0% and ±1.5%
Producer defined
B
Coarse fraction percent differences between ±1.5% and ±3%
Producer defined
D
Coarse fraction percent differences between percent differences greater than ±4.5%
Producer defined
C
Coarse fraction percent differences between ±3% and ±4.5%
Producer defined
GRADE QUALIFIER
Scientist who determined the data quality grade of sample
USGS
BJB
Brian J. Buczkowski
Producer defined
JDC
Jason D. Chaytor
Producer defined
COMMENTS
Information about percent difference between initial calculated coarse fraction (3 phi and coarser) weight and the sum of the sieved and weighed coarse material.
USGS
<< empty cell >>
No comments given for sample by grade qualifier
Producer defined
character string; statement of justification for data quality grade
EN577_GrainSize_TriggerCores.csv
Comma Separated Value (CSV) file containing grain-size data for NEMP trigger cores. Point dataset. 77 data records.
Producer Defined
SAMPLE_ID
Sample ID. Naming convention: FFFFF-CC-T-GS-# (FFFFF= Field ID abbreviation) (CC=Core ID) (T=Trigger Core) (GS= Indicates Grain Size Sample) (# = Sample Number)
Producer Defined
character string
FAN
Field activity number assigned by center.
USGS
2016-001-FA
R/V Endeavor Cruise EN577
USGS
CONTACT
Contact for samples
Producer Defined
JCHAYTOR
Jason D. Chaytor
USGS
AREA
General area where samples were taken
Producer Defined
Southern New England Mud Patch
Southern New England Mud Patch
Producer defined
CORE_ID
Core identification number assigned in field. Naming convention EN577-XXPC (EN577=Cruise ID) (XX=Core number) (PC=Piston Core)
Producer Defined
character string
LATITUDE
Latitude of core that grain-size data came from
USGS
40.305839
40.520818
decimal degrees
LONGITUDE
Longitude of core that grain-size data came from
Producer Defined
-70.7472293
-70.482964
decimal degrees
WATER_DEPTH
Water depth at location where core was collected
USGS
68.6
107.9
Meters
0.1
SAMPLE_DEPTH_TOP
Top of interval that was sampled for grain-size analysis
Producer Defined
0
65
centimeters
SAMPLE_DEPTH_BOTTOM
Bottom of interval that was sampled for grain-size analysis
Producer Defined
1
66
centimeters
DEVICE
Device used to collect core
Producer Defined
PISTON CORER
Piston Corer
Producer defined
DATE_COLLECTED
Date that core was collected. Format: MM/DD/YYYY (MM= Month) (DD=Day) (YYYY=Year)
USGS
character string
DATE_ANALYZED
Date that grain-size analysis was completed. Format: MM/DD/YYYY (MM= Month) (DD=Day) (YYYY=Year)
USGS
character string
WEIGHT
Weight of dry sample
USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary
4.367
10.760
grams
0.001
GRAVEL_PCT
Gravel content in percent dry weight of the sample (particles with nominal diameters greater than 2 mm; -1 Phi and coarser).
USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary
0
2.29
percent
0.01
SAND_PCT
Sand content in percent dry weight of the sample (particles with nominal diameters less than 2 mm, but greater than or equal to 0.0625 mm; 0 Phi through 4 Phi).
USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary
10.56
56.33
percent
0.01
SILT_PCT
Silt content in percent dry weight of the sample (particles with nominal diameters less than 0.0625 mm, but greater than or equal to 0.004 mm; 5 Phi through 8 Phi, inclusive).
USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary
31.43
80.61
percent
0.01
CLAY_PCT
Clay content in percent dry weight of the sample (particles with nominal diameters less than 0.004 mm; 9 Phi and finer).
USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary
0.02
40.82
percent
0.01
CLASSIFICATION
Sediment description based on a rigorous definition, usually Shepard (1954) as modified by Schlee (1973) and Poppe and others ( 2005).
USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary
clayey silt
Sediment whose main phase is silt, but with significant clay.
USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary
sand silt clay
Sediment with significant (over 20 percent) sand, silt, and clay
Producer defined
silty clay
Sediment whose main phase is clay, but with significant silt.
USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary
sandy silt
Sediment whose main phase is silt, but with significant sand.
USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary
silty sand
Sediment whose main phase is silt, but with significant sand.
USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary
sand
Sediment whose main phase is less than 2 mm, but greater than or equal to 0.062 mm.
USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary
gravelly sediment
Sediment with gravel component equal to or greater than 10 percent, but less than 50 percent
USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary
clay
Sediment whose main phase is less than 0.004 mm.
USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary
clayey sand
Sediment whose main phase is sand, but with significant clay.
USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary
silt
Sediment whose main phase is less than 2 mm but greater than or equal to 0.0625 mm; 0 phi through 4 phi
USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary
MEDIAN
Middle point in the grain size distribution in phi units.
USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary
3.89
7.56
phi
0.01
MEAN
Average value in the grain size distribution in phi units.
USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary
4.54
6.99
phi
0.01
STDEV
Standard deviation (root mean square of the deviations) of the grain size distribution in phi units (sorting).
USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary
1.31
2.33
phi
0.01
SKEWNESS
Skewness (deviation from symmetrical form) of the grain size distribution in phi units.
USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary
-0.82
1.56
phi
0.01
KURTOSIS
Kurtosis (degree of curvature near the mode) of the grain size distribution in phi units.
USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary
-0.13
5.99
phi
0.01
PHI11
11 Phi - Weight percent of the sample in the 11 Phi fraction and finer (nominal diameter of particles less than 0.001 mm); fine clay.
USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary
0.0
11.17
percent
0.01
PHI10
10 Phi - Weight percent of the sample in the 10 Phi fraction (nominal diameter of particles greater than or equal to 0.001 mm, but less than 0.002 mm); medium clay.
USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary
0.0
14.55
percent
0.01
PHI9
9 Phi - Weight percent of the sample in the 9 Phi fraction (nominal diameter of particles greater than or equal to 0.002 mm, but less than 0.004 mm); coarse clay.
USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary
0.0
26.14
percent
0.01
PHI8
8 Phi - Weight percent of the sample in the 8 Phi fraction (nominal diameter of particles greater than or equal to 0.004 mm, but less than 0.008 mm); very fine silt.
USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary
2.07
29.90
percent
0.01
PHI7
7 Phi - Weight percent of the sample in the 7 Phi fraction (nominal diameter of particles greater than or equal to 0.008 mm, but less than 0.016 mm); fine silt.
USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary
4.55
51.54
percent
0.01
PHI6
6 Phi - Weight percent of the sample in the 6 Phi fraction (nominal diameter of particles greater than or equal to 0.016 mm, but less than 0.031 mm); medium silt.
USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary
4.11
32.75
percent
0.01
PHI5
5 Phi - Weight percent of the sample in the 5 Phi fraction (nominal diameter of particles greater than or equal to 0.031 mm, but less than 0.0625 mm); coarse silt.
USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary
1.53
60.07
percent
0.01
PHI4
4 Phi - Weight percent of the sample in the 4 Phi fraction (nominal diameters of particles greater than or equal to .0625 mm, but less than 0.125 mm); very fine sand.
USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary
10.51
55.15
percent
0.01
PHI3
3 Phi - Weight percent of the sample in the 3 Phi fraction (nominal diameter of particles greater than or equal to 0.125 mm, but less than 0.25 mm); fine sand.
USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary
0.00
1.44
percent
0.01
PHI2
2 Phi - Weight percent of the sample in the 2 Phi fraction (nominal diameter of particles greater than or equal to 0.25 mm, but less than 0.5 mm); medium sand.
USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary
0.00
0.37
percent
0.01
PHI1
1 Phi - Weight percent of the sample in the 1 Phi fraction (nominal diameter of particles greater than or equal to 0.5 mm, but less than 1 mm); coarse sand.
USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary
0.0
0.19
percent
0.01
PHI0
0 Phi - Weight percent of the sample in the 0 Phi fraction (nominal diameters of particles greater than or equal to 1 mm, but less than 2 mm); very coarse sand.
USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary
0.00
0.12
percent
0.01
PHIm1
-1 Phi - Weight percent of the sample in the -1 Phi fraction (nominal diameter of particles greater than or equal to 2 mm, but less than 4 mm); very fine pebbles (granules).
USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary
0.00
0.22
percent
0.01
PHIm2
-2 Phi - Weight percent of the sample in the -2 Phi fraction (nominal diameter of particles greater than or equal to 4 mm, but less than 8 mm); fine pebbles.
USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary
0.00
2.18
percent
0.01
PHIm3
-3 Phi - Weight percent of the sample in the -3 Phi fraction (nominal diameter of particles greater than or equal to 8 mm, but less than 16 mm); medium pebbles.
USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary
0.0
0.00
percent
0.01
PHIm4
-4 Phi - Weight percent of the sample in the -4 Phi fraction (nominal diameter of particles greater than or equal to 16 mm, but less than 32 mm); coarse pebbles.
USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary
0.00
0.00
percent
0.01
PHIm5
-5 Phi - Weight percent of the sample in the -5 Phi fraction and coarser (nominal diameter of particles greater than or equal to 32 mm); very coarse pebbles, cobbles, and boulders.
USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary
0.00
0.00
percent
0.01
ANALYST
Analyst who performed grain size laboratory analysiss
Producer Defined
ARP
Allison R. Paquette
Producer defined
DATA QUALITY GRADE
Samples are assigned a quality grade based on the examination of the analytical data. Data quality grades may be determined by several factors, and any comments or notes about the data for a particular sample are included in the results table for that sample under "comments". Quality grades for sample data that do not have any additional comments are assigned based on the calculated percent difference between the weights of the coarse fraction remaining after wet sieving and the sum of all of the weighed fractions after dry sieving the coarse fraction, indicating an estimated differing amount of material which could skew the calculated grain size results.
Producer Defined
A
Coarse fraction percent differences between 0% and ±1.5%
Producer defined
B
Coarse fraction percent differences between ±1.5% and ±3%
Producer defined
C
Coarse fraction percent differences between ±3% and ±4.5%
Producer defined
GRADE QUALIFIER
Scientist who determined the data quality grade of sample
Producer Defined
BJB
Brian J. Buczkowski
Producer defined
JDC
Jason D. Chaytor
Producer defined
COMMENTS
Information about percent difference between initial calculated coarse fraction (3 phi and coarser) weight and the sum of the sieved and weighed coarse material.
Producer Defined
<< empty cell >>
No comments given for sample by grade qualifier
Producer defined
character string; statement of justification for data quality grade
EN577_GrainSize_AcousticCores.csv
Comma Separated Value (CSV) file containing grain size data for NEMP acoustic/gravity cores. Point dataset. 58 data records.
Producer Defined
SAMPLE_ID
Sample ID. Naming convention: FFFFF-CC-G-GS-# (FFFFF= Field ID abbreviation) (CC=Core ID) (G=Gravity/Acoustic Core) (GS= Indicates Grain Size Sample) (# = Sample Number)
Producer Defined
character string
FAN
Field activity number assigned by center.
USGS
2016-001-FA
R/V Endeavor Cruise EN577
USGS
CONTACT
Contact for samples
Producer Defined
JCHAYTOR
Jason D. Chaytor
USGS
AREA
General area where samples were taken
Producer Defined
Mud Patch
Southern New England Mud Patch
Producer defined
CORE_ID
Core identification number assigned in field. Naming convention EN577-ACXX (EN577=Cruise ID) (AC Core) (XX=Core number)
Producer Defined
character string
LATITUDE
Latitude of core that grain-size data came from
USGS
40.4329
40.48132
decimal degrees
LONGITUDE
Longitude of core that grain-size data came from
Producer Defined
-70.792517
-70.59867
decimal degrees
WATER_DEPTH
Water depth at location where core was collected
USGS
76
86
Meters
1
SAMPLE_DEPTH_TOP
Top of interval that was sampled for grain-size analysis
Producer Defined
2
226
centimeters
SAMPLE_DEPTH_BOTTOM
Bottom of interval that was sampled for grain-size analysis
Producer Defined
3
227
centimeters
DEVICE
Device used to collect core
Producer Defined
GRAVITY (ACOUSTIC) CORER
Gravity (Acoustic) Corer
Producer defined
DATE_COLLECTED
Date that core was collected. Format: MM/DD/YYYY (MM= Month) (DD=Day) (YYYY=Year)
USGS
character string
DATE_ANALYZED
Date that grain-size analysis was completed. Format: MM/DD/YYYY (MM= Month) (DD=Day) (YYYY=Year)
USGS
character string
WEIGHT
Weight of dry sample
USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary
3.3660
11.5893
grams
0.001
GRAVEL_PCT
Gravel content in percent dry weight of the sample (particles with nominal diameters greater than 2 mm; -1 Phi and coarser).
USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary
0
5.75
percent
0.01
SAND_PCT
Sand content in percent dry weight of the sample (particles with nominal diameters less than 2 mm, but greater than or equal to 0.0625 mm; 0 Phi through 4 Phi).
USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary
6.48
64.72
percent
0.01
SILT_PCT
Silt content in percent dry weight of the sample (particles with nominal diameters less than 0.0625 mm, but greater than or equal to 0.004 mm; 5 Phi through 8 Phi, inclusive).
USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary
23.48
78.19
percent
0.01
CLAY_PCT
Clay content in percent dry weight of the sample (particles with nominal diameters less than 0.004 mm; 9 Phi and finer).
USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary
3.82
47.89
percent
0.01
CLASSIFICATION
Sediment description based on a rigorous definition, usually Shepard (1954) as modified by Schlee (1973) and Poppe and others ( 2005).
USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary
clayey silt
Sediment whose main phase is silt, but with significant clay.
USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary
sand silt clay
Sediment with significant (over 20 percent) sand, silt, and clay
Producer defined
silty clay
Sediment whose main phase is clay, but with significant silt.
USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary
sandy silt
Sediment whose main phase is silt, but with significant sand.
USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary
silty sand
Sediment whose main phase is silt, but with significant sand.
USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary
sand
Sediment whose main phase is less than 2 mm, but greater than or equal to 0.062 mm.
USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary
gravelly sediment
Sediment with gravel component equal to or greater than 10 percent, but less than 50 percent
USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary
clay
Sediment whose main phase is less than 0.004 mm.
USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary
clayey sand
Sediment whose main phase is sand, but with significant clay.
USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary
silt
Sediment whose main phase is less than 2 mm but greater than or equal to 0.0625 mm; 0 phi through 4 phi
USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary
MEDIAN
Middle point in the grain size distribution in phi units.
USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary
2.39
7.88
phi
0.01
MEAN
Average value in the grain size distribution in phi units.
USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary
3.03
7.01
phi
0.01
STDEV
Standard deviation (root mean square of the deviations) of the grain size distribution in phi units (sorting).
USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary
1.57
2.78
phi
0.01
SKEWNESS
Skewness (deviation from symmetrical form) of the grain size distribution in phi units.
USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary
-2.24
5.17
phi
0.01
KURTOSIS
Kurtosis (degree of curvature near the mode) of the grain size distribution in phi units.
USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary
0.13
3.03
phi
0.01
PHI11
11 Phi - Weight percent of the sample in the 11 Phi fraction and finer (nominal diameter of particles less than 0.001 mm); fine clay.
USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary
0.00
13.17
percent
0.01
PHI10
10 Phi - Weight percent of the sample in the 10 Phi fraction (nominal diameter of particles greater than or equal to 0.001 mm, but less than 0.002 mm); medium clay.
USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary
0.00
18.26
percent
0.01
PHI9
9 Phi - Weight percent of the sample in the 9 Phi fraction (nominal diameter of particles greater than or equal to 0.002 mm, but less than 0.004 mm); coarse clay.
USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary
1.90
28.62
percent
0.01
PHI8
8 Phi - Weight percent of the sample in the 8 Phi fraction (nominal diameter of particles greater than or equal to 0.004 mm, but less than 0.008 mm); very fine silt.
USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary
4.08
29.90
percent
0.01
PHI7
7 Phi - Weight percent of the sample in the 7 Phi fraction (nominal diameter of particles greater than or equal to 0.008 mm, but less than 0.016 mm); fine silt.
USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary
3.35
24.82
percent
0.01
PHI6
6 Phi - Weight percent of the sample in the 6 Phi fraction (nominal diameter of particles greater than or equal to 0.016 mm, but less than 0.031 mm); medium silt.
USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary
1.14
25.28
percent
0.01
PHI5
5 Phi - Weight percent of the sample in the 5 Phi fraction (nominal diameter of particles greater than or equal to 0.031 mm, but less than 0.0625 mm); coarse silt.
USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary
0.79
53.40
percent
0.01
PHI4
4 Phi - Weight percent of the sample in the 4 Phi fraction (nominal diameters of particles greater than or equal to .0625 mm, but less than 0.125 mm); very fine sand.
USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary
6.42
27.91
percent
0.01
PHI3
3 Phi - Weight percent of the sample in the 3 Phi fraction (nominal diameter of particles greater than or equal to 0.125 mm, but less than 0.25 mm); fine sand.
USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary
0.02
16.66
percent
0.01
PHI2
2 Phi - Weight percent of the sample in the 2 Phi fraction (nominal diameter of particles greater than or equal to 0.25 mm, but less than 0.5 mm); medium sand.
USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary
0.01
26.88
percent
0.01
PHI1
1 Phi - Weight percent of the sample in the 1 Phi fraction (nominal diameter of particles greater than or equal to 0.5 mm, but less than 1 mm); coarse sand.
USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary
0.00
9.87
percent
0.01
PHI0
0 Phi - Weight percent of the sample in the 0 Phi fraction (nominal diameters of particles greater than or equal to 1 mm, but less than 2 mm); very coarse sand.
USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary
0.00
1.18
percent
0.01
PHIm1
-1 Phi - Weight percent of the sample in the -1 Phi fraction (nominal diameter of particles greater than or equal to 2 mm, but less than 4 mm); very fine pebbles (granules).
USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary
0.00
1.28
percent
0.01
PHIm2
-2 Phi - Weight percent of the sample in the -2 Phi fraction (nominal diameter of particles greater than or equal to 4 mm, but less than 8 mm); fine pebbles.
USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary
0.00
4.47
percent
0.01
PHIm3
-3 Phi - Weight percent of the sample in the -3 Phi fraction (nominal diameter of particles greater than or equal to 8 mm, but less than 16 mm); medium pebbles.
USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary
0.00
0.00
percent
0.01
PHIm4
-4 Phi - Weight percent of the sample in the -4 Phi fraction (nominal diameter of particles greater than or equal to 16 mm, but less than 32 mm); coarse pebbles.
USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary
0.00
0.00
percent
0.01
PHIm5
-5 Phi - Weight percent of the sample in the -5 Phi fraction and coarser (nominal diameter of particles greater than or equal to 32 mm); very coarse pebbles, cobbles, and boulders.
USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary
0.00
0.00
percent
0.01
ANALYST
Analyst who performed grain size laboratory analysiss
Producer Defined
ARP
Allison R. Paquette
Producer defined
DATA QUALITY GRADE
Samples are assigned a quality grade based on the examination of the analytical data. Data quality grades may be determined by several factors, and any comments or notes about the data for a particular sample are included in the results table for that sample under "comments". Quality grades for sample data that do not have any additional comments are assigned based on the calculated percent difference between the weights of the coarse fraction remaining after wet sieving and the sum of all of the weighed fractions after dry sieving the coarse fraction, indicating an estimated differing amount of material which could skew the calculated grain size results.
Producer Defined
A
Coarse fraction percent differences between 0% and ±1.5%
Producer defined
B
Coarse fraction percent differences between ±1.5% and ±3%
Producer defined
D
Coarse fraction percent differences between percent differences greater than ±4.5%
Producer defined
C
Coarse fraction percent differences between ±3% and ±4.5%
Producer defined
GRADE QUALIFIER
Scientist who determined the data quality grade of sample
Producer Defined
BJB
Brian J. Buczkowski
Producer defined
JDC
Jason D. Chaytor
Producer defined
COMMENTS
Information about percent difference between initial calculated coarse fraction (3 phi and coarser) weight and the sum of the sieved and weighed coarse material.
Producer Defined
<< empty cell >>
No comments given for sample by grade qualifier
Producer defined
character string; statement of justification for data quality grade
Finalized undrained grain size data was taken from a master table of calculations and compiled into three CSV (comma-separated value)spreadsheet files pertaining to each core type (piston, trigger, and acoustic cores).
U.S. Geological Survey
U.S. Geological Survey - ScienceBase
mailing and physical
Denver Federal Center, Building 810, Mail Stop 302
Denver
CO
80225
United States
1-888-275-8747
sciencebase@usgs.gov
The dataset includes the data files (EN577_GrainSize_PistonCores.csv, EN577_GrainSize_TriggerCores.csv, EN577_GrainSize_AcousticCores.csv), the browse graphic (MudPatchCores_BrowseGraphic.png) and the FGDC CSDGM metadata in XML format (EN577_GrainSize_Metadata.xml).
Unless otherwise stated, all data, metadata and related materials are considered to satisfy the quality standards relative to the purpose for which the data were collected. Although these data and associated metadata have been reviewed for accuracy and completeness and approved for release by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), no warranty expressed or implied is made regarding the display or utility of the data on any other system or for general or scientific purposes, nor shall the act of distribution constitute any such warranty.
CSV
Microsoft Excel 2008
Comma separated value spreadsheet
1.32
https://www.sciencebase.gov/catalog/file/get/60551970d34e1894882d0a38
https://www.sciencebase.gov/catalog/item/60551970d34e1894882d0a38
https://doi.org/10.5066/P9ZYK3PX
The first link is to download the data in a ZIP file. The second link is to the dataset landing page where files can be downloaded individually. The third link is to the main landing page of the data release.
None
20230522
Allyson A Boggess
U.S. Geological Survey, NORTHEAST REGION
Geologist
mailing address
384 Woods Hole Road
Woods Hole
MA
02543
US
508-548-8700 x2341
508-457-2310
whsc_data_contact@usgs.gov
The metadata contact email address is a generic address in the event the metadata contact is no longer with the USGS or the email is otherwise invalid.
FGDC Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata
FGDC-STD-001-1998