Geological and Geochemical Analysis of Seabed Stability at the Norfolk Ocean Disposal Site. Part 1: Geological Analysis

• Main Author: Oertel,George F
• Format: Report
• Language: English
• Subjects: BATHYMETRY; DREDGED MATERIALS; GEOCHEMISTRY; GEOLOGICAL SURVEYS; Geology, Geochemistry and Mineralogy; GRAIN SIZE; Norfolk disposal site; OCEAN BOTTOM; OCEAN BOTTOM SAMPLING; OCEAN BOTTOM TOPOGRAPHY; Ocean disposal; Physical and Dynamic Oceanography; RADIOCHEMISTRY; RADIOGRAPHY; Seabeds; SEDIMENTS; Soil Mechanics; SOIL STABILIZATION; STABILITY; TEXTURE; WASTE DISPOSAL; Waste disposal sites

The seabed at the Norfolk Disposal Site (NDS) was analyzed to characterize its present stability. Geochemical Sampling and Analytical Methods used included: Bathemetric projection, box core retrieval and procressing, x-ray radiography, grain size analysis, textural analyses and composite analysis of seabed stability. General findings of this survey indicate that NDS does not have a spatially and temporarily homogeneous seabed with respect to stability. The surfaces of pinnacles on ridges may be unstable during the most quiescent summer periods. Fine grained material winnowed from these areas apparently migrates down slope and accumulates in the relatively deep and shielded areas between ridges. Therefore, as winnowed areas, ridges and pinnacles tend to become coarser and deep areas tend to become finer.