Abstract
Gravity core samples provide the basic data source for a wide range of geological, geotechnical and geochemical studies. However, the length of the core recovered is often less than the penetration achieved by the corer, such cores being described as “shortened”. If the penetration of the corer has been measured, and it is assumed that no dropout of the core occurs as the barrel is withdrawn from the seabed, it is present practice to reconstruct in situ dimensions using an overall correction factor based on this penetration and the length of core recovered. However, measurements, reported here, have been made of corer penetration and sample entry and these show that the entry deficit (penetration minus sample entry) develops in some instances continuously, and in others intermittently. These results indicate that an overall correction factor is unlikely to be appropriate to any given section of the core.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Emery K. O. and Hulsemann J., 1964, Shortening of Sediment Cores Collected in Open Barrel Gravity Corers, Sedimentology 3, 144–154.
Emery K. O. and Deitz R. S., 1941, Gravity Coring Instrument and Mechanics of Sediment Coring, Bull. Geol. Soc. Amer. 52, 1685–1714.
Hvorslev, M. J., 1949, Subsurface Exploration and Sampling of Soils for Civil Engineering Purposes, US Corps Engs. Waterways Expt. Sta. Tech. Repts.
Karnes, C. H., Burchett, S. N., and Dzwilewski, P. T., 1980, Optimised Design and Predicted Performance of a Deep Ocean 50 m Piston Coring System, I.E.E.E. Publication No. 80CH1572-7, pp. 231–239.
Kershaw P. J., Swift D. J., Pentreath R. J., and Lovett M. B., 1983, Plutonium Redistribution by Biological Activity in Irish Sea Sediments, Nature 306, 774–775.
Kershaw P. J., Swift D. J., Pentreath R. J., and Lovett M. B., 1984, Science of the Total Environment 40, 61–81.
Kirby R., Parker W. R., Pentreath R. J., and Lovett M. B. 1983, Sedimentation Studies Relevant to Low-level Radioactive Effluent Dispersal in the Irish Sea, Rep. No. 178, Institute of Oceanographic Sciences, Taunton.
Lebel J., Silverberg N., and Sundby B., 1982. Gravity Core Shortening and Pore Water Chemical Gradients, Deep Sea Research 29, 1365–1372.
McCoy P. W., 1971, An Analysis of Piston Coring through Corehead Camera Photography, Underwater Soil Sampling, Testing and Construction Control, A.S.T.M., STP 501, 90–105.
Pantin, H. M., 1978, Quaternary Sediments from the North-east Irish Sea: Isle of Man to Cumbria, Bulletin of the Geological Survey of Great Britain, No. 64.
Parker, W. R., Sills, G. C., and Paske, R. A. E., 1975, In situ Bulk Density Measurement in Dredging Practice and Control, First Intl. Symp. Dredging Technology, BHRA, Cranfield.
Ross D. A. and Riedel W. R., 1967, Comparison of Upper Parts of some Piston Cores with Simultaneously Collected Open-Barrel Cores. Deep Sea Research 14, 285–294.
Weaver P. P. E. and Schultheiss P. J., 1983, Detection of Repenetration and Sediment Disturbance in Open-Barrel Gravity Cores, Jour. Sed. Pet. 53(2), 649–654.
Williams S. J., Kirby R., Smith T. J., and Parker W. R., 1981, Sedimentation Studies Relevant to Low-Level Radioactive Effuent Dispersal in the Irish Sea. (Part II), Rep. No. 120, Institute of Oceanographic Sciences, Taunton.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Parker, W.R., Sills, G.C. Observation of corer penetration and sample entry during gravity coring. Marine Geophysical Researches 12, 101–107 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00310566
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00310566