XLS and CSV tables containing grain-size data from 16 cores collected in 2008 by the U.S. Geological Survey from offshore Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands

Metadata also available as - [Outline] - [Parseable text] - [XML]

Frequently anticipated questions:

What does this data set describe?
Who produced the data set?
Why was the data set created?
How was the data set created?
How reliable are the data; what problems remain in the data set?
How can someone get a copy of the data set?
Who wrote the metadata?

What does this data set describe?

Title:

XLS and CSV tables containing grain-size data from 16 cores collected in 2008 by the U.S. Geological Survey from offshore Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands

Abstract:

In 2008, as a collaborative effort between Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and the U.S. Geological Survey, 20 giant gravity cores were collected from areas surrounding Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The regions sampled have had many large earthquake and landslide events, some of which are believed to have triggered tsunamis. The objective of this coring cruise, carried out aboard the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration research vessel Seward Johnson, was to determine the age of several substantial slope failures and seismite layers near Puerto Rico in an effort to map their temporal distribution. Data gathered from the cores collected in 2008 and 11 archive cores from the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory are included in this report. These data include lithologic logs, core summary sheets, x-ray fluorescence, wet-bulk density, magnetic susceptibility, grain-size analyses, radiographs, and radiocarbon age dates.

Supplemental_Information:

For more information on the USGS cruise, please see https://cmgds.marine.usgs.gov/fan_info.php?fan=2008-008-FA

How might this data set be cited?
U.S. Geological Survey, 2014, XLS and CSV tables containing grain-size data from 16 cores collected in 2008 by the U.S. Geological Survey from offshore Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands: Open-File Report 2014-1227, U.S. Geological Survey, Coastal and Marine Geology Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center, Woods Hole, MA.
Online Links:
This is part of the following larger work.
Hoy, Shannon K., Chaytor, Jason D., and Uri S. ten Brink, 2014, Core Data From Offshore Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands: Open-File Report 2014-1227, U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, VA.
Online Links:
- https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20141227
What geographic area does the data set cover?
West_Bounding_Coordinate: -67.0795
East_Bounding_Coordinate: -64.82283
North_Bounding_Coordinate: 19.17558
South_Bounding_Coordinate: 17.55293
What does it look like?
Does the data set describe conditions during a particular time period?

Beginning_Date: 18-Mar-2008

Ending_Date: 24-Mar-2008

Currentness_Reference:

ground condition; cores collected in 2008
What is the general form of this data set?
How does the data set represent geographic features?
1. How are geographic features stored in the data set?
2. What coordinate system is used to represent geographic features?

How does the data set describe geographic features?

Information unavailable from original metadata

Information unavailable from original metadata (Source: Information unavailable from original metadata)

FIELD_NO

Sample ID. Naming convention: SSS-CCCC-II (SSS= SHIP ID) (CCCC=Core ID, GGC stands for giant gravity corer) and (II=interval id) (Source: USGS) character string

PROJECT

Project group ID- Caribbean Hazards (Source: USGS)

Value	Definition
CARIBBEAN HAZARDS	Id for USGS project

CRUISE_ID

ID for the 2008 Seward Johnson Cruise (SJHN08008) (Source: USGS)

Value	Definition
SJHN08008	Cruise ID for 2008 Seward Johnson Cruise

CONTACT

Contact for samples = Jason D. Chaytor (Source: USGS)

Value	Definition
JCHAYTOR	Contact Jason D. Chaytor

AREA

General area where samples were taken (Source: USGS)

Value	Definition
CARIBBEAN	offshore Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands

LATITUDE

Latitude of core that grain-size data came from (Source: USGS)

Range of values
Minimum:	17.552933
Maximum:	19.175583
Units:	Decimal Degrees

LONGITUDE

Longitude of core that grain-size analysis came from (Source: USGS)

Range of values
Minimum:	-67.0795
Maximum:	-64.822833
Units:	Decimal Degrees

DEPTH_M

Water depth at location where core was collected (Source: USGS)

Range of values
Minimum:	1830
Maximum:	6945
Units:	Meters below sea level

T_DEPTH

Top of interval that was sampled for grain-size analysis (Source: USGS)

Range of values
Minimum:	0
Maximum:	225
Units:	centimeters

B_DEPTH

Bottom of interval being sampled for grain-size analysis (Source: USGS)

Range of values
Minimum:	1.5
Maximum:	226
Units:	centimeters

DEVICE

Device used to collect core (Source: USGS)

Value	Definition
WHOI GIANT GRAVITY CORER	type of corer used = WHOI giant gravity corer

MONTH_COLL

Month that core was collected (Source: USGS)

Value	Definition
3	March

YEAR_COLL

Year core was collected (Source: USGS)

Value	Definition
2008	2008

MONTH_ANAL

Month the sample was analyzed (Source: USGS)

Value	Definition
7	July
9	September
4	April

DAY_ANAL

Day sample was analyzed (Source: USGS)

Value	Definition
28	28th of the month
13	13th of the month

YEAR_ANAL

Year sample was analyzed (Source: USGS)

Value	Definition
2010	2010

WEIGHT

Weight of dry sample in grams. (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)

Range of values
Minimum:	12.6838
Maximum:	54.799
Units:	grams
Resolution:	.0001

GRAVEL_PCT

Gravel content in percent dry weight of the sample (particles with nominal diameters greater than 2 mm; -1 Phi and larger). (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)

Range of values
Minimum:	0
Maximum:	4.72
Units:	percent
Resolution:	.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). (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)

Range of values
Minimum:	0.02
Maximum:	97.86
Units:	percent
Resolution:	.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). (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)

Range of values
Minimum:	1.43
Maximum:	58.47
Units:	percent
Resolution:	.01

CLAY_PCT

Clay content in percent dry weight of the sample (particles with nominal diameters less than 0.004 mm; 9 Phi and smaller). (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)

Range of values
Minimum:	0.7
Maximum:	80.72
Units:	percent
Resolution:	.01

CLASSIFICATION

Sediment description based on a rigorous definition, usually Shepard (1954) as modified by Schlee (1973) and Poppe and others ( 2005). (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)

Value	Definition
CLAY	Sediment whose main phase is less than 0.004 mm.
CLAYEY SAND	Sediment whose main phase is sand, but with significant clay.
CLAYEY SILT	Sediment whose main phase is silt, but with significant clay.
SAND	Sediment whose main phase is less than 2 mm, but greater than or equal to 0.062 mm.
SAND SILT CLAY	Sediment with significant (over 20 percent) sand, silt, and clay
SANDY CLAY	Sediment whose main phase is clay, but with significant sand.
SANDY SILT	Sediment whose main phase is silt, but with significant sand.
SILTY CLAY	Sediment whose main phase is clay, but with significant silt.
SILTY SAND	Sediment whose main phase in sand, but with significant silt.

Median

Middle point in the grain size distribution in phi units. (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)

Range of values
Minimum:	1.72
Maximum:	9.22
Units:	phi
Resolution:	.01

MEAN

Average value in the grain size distribution in phi units. (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)

Range of values
Minimum:	1.81
Maximum:	9
Units:	phi
Resolution:	.01

STDEV

Standard deviation (root mean square of the deviations) of the grain size distribution in phi units (sorting). (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)

Range of values
Minimum:	1.08
Maximum:	3.56
Units:	phi
Resolution:	.01

SKEWNESS

Skewness (deviation from symmetrical form) of the grain size distribution in phi units. (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)

Range of values
Minimum:	-1.07
Maximum:	1.57
Units:	phi
Resolution:	.01

KURTOSIS

Kurtosis (degree of curvature near the mode) of the grain size distribution in phi units. (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)

Range of values
Minimum:	-1.69
Maximum:	18.82
Units:	phi
Resolution:	.01

PHIm5

-5 Phi - Weight percent of the sample in the -5 Phi fraction and larger (nominal diameter of particles greater than or equal to 32 mm); very coarse pebbles, cobbles, and boulders. (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)

Range of values
Minimum:	0
Maximum:	0
Units:	percent
Resolution:	.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. (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)

Range of values
Minimum:	0
Maximum:	0
Units:	percent
Resolution:	.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. (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)

Range of values
Minimum:	0
Maximum:	0
Units:	percent
Resolution:	.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. (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)

Range of values
Minimum:	0
Maximum:	1.6
Units:	percent
Resolution:	.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). (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)

Range of values
Minimum:	0
Maximum:	3.29
Units:	percent
Resolution:	.01

PHI_0

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. (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)

Range of values
Minimum:	0
Maximum:	4.69
Units:	percent
Resolution:	.01

PHI_1

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. (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)

Range of values
Minimum:	0
Maximum:	17.19
Units:	percent
Resolution:	.01

PHI_2

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. (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)

Range of values
Minimum:	0
Maximum:	44.71
Units:	percent
Resolution:	.01

PHI_3

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. (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)

Range of values
Minimum:	0
Maximum:	47.57
Units:	percent
Resolution:	.01

PHI_4

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. (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)

Range of values
Minimum:	0.01
Maximum:	49.17
Units:	percent
Resolution:	.01

PHI_5

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. (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)

Range of values
Minimum:	0.09
Maximum:	34.57
Units:	percent
Resolution:	.01

PHI_6

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. (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)

Range of values
Minimum:	0.43
Maximum:	22.55
Units:	percent
Resolution:	.01

PHI_7

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. (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)

Range of values
Minimum:	0.34
Maximum:	16.7
Units:	percent
Resolution:	.01

PHI_8

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. (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)

Range of values
Minimum:	0.24
Maximum:	18.09
Units:	percent
Resolution:	.01

PHI_9

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. (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)

Range of values
Minimum:	0.28
Maximum:	26.59
Units:	percent
Resolution:	.01

PHI_10

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. (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)

Range of values
Minimum:	0.26
Maximum:	38.13
Units:	percent
Resolution:	.01

PHI_11

11 Phi - Weight percent of the sample in the 11 Phi fraction and smaller (nominal diameter of particles less than 0.001 mm); fine clay. (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)

Range of values
Minimum:	0.16
Maximum:	23.71
Units:	percent
Resolution:	.01

ANALYST

Name (usually first initial and last name) of person who performed the grain size or physical properties analysis (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)

Value	Definition
KMCMULLEN	Kate McMullen

Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:

These individual do have geospatial locations and are related to the core location available in the PRcore_locations shapefile available from https://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2014/1227/data/1-CoreLocations/PRcore_locations.zip

Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation: U.S. Geological Survey

Who produced the data set?

Who are the originators of the data set? (may include formal authors, digital compilers, and editors)
- U.S. Geological Survey
Who also contributed to the data set?
To whom should users address questions about the data?

Jason D. Chaytor

U.S. Geological Survey

Research Geologist

384 Woods Hole Rd.
Woods Hole, MA

(508) 548-8700 x2351 (voice)

(508) 457-2310 (FAX)

jchaytor@usgs.gov

Why was the data set created?

To provide grain-size data for 16 cores collected during the USGS Field Activity 2008-008. The grain-size data are given in both XLS and CSV format.

How was the data set created?

From what previous works were the data drawn?
GGC (source 1 of 1)
U.S. Geological Survey, 2014, Core data from offshore Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands: Open-File Report 2014-1227, U.S. Geological Survey, Coastal and Marine Geology Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center, Woods Hole, MA.
Online Links:
- https://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2014/1227/
Type_of_Source_Media: physical samples
Source_Contribution:
The gravity cores collected during U.S. Geological Survey field activity 2008-008-FA. The Woods Hole Oceanographic Giant Gravity Corer (GGC) was used to collect the 20 cores in 2008. The gravity corer is a large diameter (10 centimeter) sampler that collects cores up to 6.5 meters in length. During field activity 2008-008-FA the corer was not rigged with liner longer than approximately 3 meters. Although cores were attempted at 40 core sites, core was recovered at only 20 sites. Seven additional sites yielded only samples (bagged) from the core catcher or cutting head. Of the 20 successful cores, three also have cutter/catcher bag samples.
How were the data generated, processed, and modified?
Date: 2008 (process 1 of 7)
Each core was cut into sections on the ship after collection. The cores were then split into halves back onshore. This process step, and subsequent process steps were performed by the same person until otherwise noted. Person who carried out this activity:

Jason D. Chaytor

U.S. Geological Survey

Research Geologist

384 Woods Hole Road
Woods Hole, MA

(508) 548-8700 x2351 (voice)

(508) 457-2310 (FAX)

jchaytor@usgs.gov

Data sources used in this process:
- GGC
Data sources produced in this process:
- Split_cores
Date: 2010 (process 2 of 7)
Subsamples (1- cm thick) of 16 cores from the SJ8 cruise were taken at approximately 20-cm intervals for grain-size analysis. In sandy sediment, subsamples were taken more frequently. Additional subsamples (each 1.5 to 2 cm thick) were taken above or below turbidite and other event intervals for grain-size analysis and foraminifera assemblage and dating. Data sources used in this process:
- Split_cores
Date: 2010 (process 3 of 7)
In total, 198 grain-size analyses were performed using the procedures outlined in Poppe and others (2005). The analyses were performed at the U.S. Geological Survey Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center Sediment Laboratory. The data were given in XLS format. Person who carried out this activity:

Kate McMullen

U.S. Geological Survey

Field and Laboratory Technician

384 Woods Hole Road
Woods Hole, MA

(508) 548-8700 x2277 (voice)

(508) 457-2310 (FAX)

kmcmullen@usgs.gov

Data sources produced in this process:
- Data
Date: 2013 (process 4 of 7)
Grain-size data were compiled into one spreadsheet using Microsoft Excel 2010. Some fields were deleted that weren't pertinent to these samples. The spreadsheet was exported as a CSV and XLS table. Person who carried out this activity:

Shannon K. Hoy

U.S. Geological Survey

Research Associate

384 Woods Hole Road
Woods Hole, MA

(508) 548-8700 x2297 (voice)

(508) 457-2310 (FAX)

shoy@usgs.gov

Data sources used in this process:
- Data
Date: 03-Oct-2017 (process 5 of 7)
Edits to the metadata were made to fix any errors that MP v 2.9.36 flagged. This is necessary to enable the metadata to be successfully harvested for various data catalogs. In some cases, this meant adding text "Information unavailable" or "Information unavailable from original metadata" for those required fields that were left blank. Other minor edits were probably performed (title, publisher, publication place, etc.). Added additional online links in the Identification section. The source information was incomplete and had to be modified to meet the standard. Fixed a link to data in the entity and attribute overview section. Minor fixes to the attribute format for some attributes were needed. The metadata date (but not the metadata creator) was edited to reflect the date of these changes. The metadata available from a harvester may supersede metadata bundled within a download file. Compare the metadata dates to determine which metadata file is most recent. Person who carried out this activity:

U.S. Geological Survey

Attn: VeeAnn A. Cross

Marine Geologist

384 Woods Hole Road
Woods Hole, MA

508-548-8700 x2251 (voice)

508-457-2310 (FAX)

vatnipp@usgs.gov

Date: 20-Jul-2018 (process 6 of 7)
USGS Thesaurus keywords added to the keyword section. Person who carried out this activity:

U.S. Geological Survey

Attn: VeeAnn A. Cross

Marine Geologist

384 Woods Hole Road
Woods Hole, MA

508-548-8700 x2251 (voice)

508-457-2310 (FAX)

vatnipp@usgs.gov

Date: 08-Sep-2020 (process 7 of 7)
Added keywords section with USGS persistent identifier as theme keyword. Person who carried out this activity:

U.S. Geological Survey

Attn: VeeAnn A. Cross

Marine Geologist

384 Woods Hole Road
Woods Hole, MA

508-548-8700 x2251 (voice)

508-457-2310 (FAX)

vatnipp@usgs.gov
What similar or related data should the user be aware of?
Poppe, L.J., Williams, S.J., and Paskevich, V.F., 2005, U.S. Geological Survey East-Coast Sediment Analysis: Procedures, Database, and GIS Data: Open-File Report 2005-1001, U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, VA.
Online Links:
- https://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2005/1001/

How reliable are the data; what problems remain in the data set?

How well have the observations been checked?
Attributes were double checked that they related the correct interval data to name.
How accurate are the geographic locations?
How accurate are the heights or depths?
Where are the gaps in the data? What is missing?
These data represent all the cores that had grain size analyses performed. In total 198 grain-size analyses were performed on 16 cores. Some cores did not have intervals that warranted grain-size analysis. Analyses are available for cores 5, 7, 8, 9, 13, 17, 18, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 28, 31, 33, and 38.
How consistent are the relationships among the observations, including topology?
Information unavailable from original metadata.

How can someone get a copy of the data set?

Are there legal restrictions on access or use of the data?

Access_Constraints: None.
Use_Constraints:
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.

Who distributes the data set? (Distributor 1 of 1)

Jason D. Chaytor

U.S. Geological Survey

Research Geologist

384 Woods Hole Road
Woods Hole, MA

(508) 548-8700 x2351 (voice)

(508) 457-2310 (FAX)

jchaytor@usgs.gov
What's the catalog number I need to order this data set? Downloadable Data
What legal disclaimers am I supposed to read?
Neither the U.S. Government, the Department of the Interior, nor the USGS, nor any of their employees, contractors, or subcontractors, make any warranty, express or implied, nor assume any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product or process disclosed, nor represent that its use would not infringe on privately owned rights. The act of distribution shall not constitute any such warranty, and no responsibility is assumed by the USGS in the use of these data or related materials. Any use of trade, product, or firm names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.

How can I download or order the data?

Availability in digital form:

Data format:	The zip file (WinZip version18) contains a CSV file containing the same information as the Excel spreadsheet with the grain-size information, along with FGDC metadata. in format CSV (version Excel 2010) comma separated values Size: 0.058
Network links:	https://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2014/1227/data/7-Grain-SizeData/2008PR_grainsize.zip

Data format:	The zip file (WinZip version18) contains the individual radiograph TIFF images of intervals from each core x-rayed, an Excel 2010 spreadsheet containing the order and information for the images, and a CSV file containing the same information as the Excel spreadsheet, along with FGDC metadata. in format XLS (version Excel 2010) MS Excel Format Size: 0.058
Network links:	https://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2014/1227/data/7-Grain-SizeData/2008PR_grainsize.zip

Cost to order the data: None.

What hardware or software do I need in order to use the data set?
The end user must be capable of uncompressing a zip file and read a XLS or CSV table.

Who wrote the metadata?

Dates:

Last modified: 16-Nov-2021

Metadata author:

U.S. Geological Survey

Attn: Shannon Hoy

384 Woods Hole Road

Woods Hole, MA

(508) 548-8700 x2297 (voice)

(508) 457-2310 (FAX)

whsc_data_contact@usgs.gov

Contact_Instructions:

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.

Metadata standard:

FGDC Content Standards for Digital Geospatial Metadata (FGDC-STD-001-1998)

This page is <https://cmgds.marine.usgs.gov/catalog/whcmsc/open_file_report/ofr2014-1227/2008PR_grainsizemeta.faq.html>