Matthew H. Hulbert

In situ conditions and interactions between microbes and minerals in fine-grained marine sediments; a TEM microfabric perspective

Abstract Microbes, their exocellular secretions, and their impact on the mineralogy and microfabric of fine-grained continental margin sediments were investigated by transmission electron microscopy. Techniques were used that retained the in situ spatial relations of both bio-organic and mineralogical constituents. Photomicrographs were taken of characteristic mineral-microbe associations in the first meter of burial at conditions ranging from aerobic to anaerobic. Single-celled prokaryotes, prokaryotic colonies, and eukaryotic organisms were observed as were motile, sessile, and predatory species. Bacterial cells dominate the assemblage. The most commonly observed mineral-biological interaction was the surrounding, or close association, of isolated heterotrophic bacterial cells by clay minerals. Almost without exception, the external surfaces of the bacteria were covered with secreted exocellular slimes composed of cross-linked polysaccharide fibrils. These fibrils act to bind sediment grains into relatively robust microaggregates, roughly ≤ 25 μm in diameter. These exocellular polymers can significantly impact the interaction between microbes and minerals, as well as the chemical and physical transport of fluids and dissolved aqueous species through the sediment. Although pore water chemical profiles from the field sites studied have dissolved Fe and Mn, no close association was found between the microbes imaged and precipitated metal oxyhydroxides or other authigenic minerals, such as is commonly reported from laboratory cultures.

Interrelationships of organic carbon and submarine sediment geotechnical properties

Abstract Total organic carbon content (TOC) and selected geotechnical properties were measured in submarine sediments of the U.S. central east coast and the Mississippi Delta. TOC values in the near‐surface Delta sediments were approximately 1% (dry weight). TOC in surficial sediments from the U.S. east coast outer continental shelf, upper slope, and upper rise was generally less than 1%, but between the upper slope and the upper rise, values ranged from 1 to 3% and exceeded 3% in patches associated with Norfolk and Washington Canyons. TOC displayed positive linear correlations with water content, liquid limit, plastic limit, plasticity index, and the amount (percent) of fine‐grained material. Nevertheless, there appeared to be no strong dependence of geotechnical properties on TOC in these sediments. This was in accord with previously reported studies on terrestrial soils with TOC values of less than 5%. Carbohydrate content was strongly correlated with water content and plasticity index, suggesting that...

Geotechnical properties of a submarine slide area on the U.S. continental slope northeast of Wilmington canyon

Abstract A relatively large submarine slide (slump block) and apparent unstable surficial sediments undergoing creep have been delineated in bathymetric and seismic reflection profiles along the U.S. Atlantic continental margin northeast of Wilmington Canyon. A downslope core transect was made over selected areas to assess the geotechnical properties of the sediments associated with the slide. Sediments are predominantly silty clays and clayey silts rich in illite, with lesser quantities of feldspar, kaolinite, chlorite, quartz, and smectite minerals. Surficial sediments (cored up to 12 m) upslope from the slump block reveal typical variations in the mass physical properties with core depth. Shear strength and wet unit weight show a steady increase with depth below the mudline commensurate with a decrease in water content. In contrast, surficial sediments downslope overlying the slump block generally have low shear strength and relatively high variability in other mass physical properties with core depth....

In situ porosity and permeability of selected carbonate sediment: Great Bahama bank Part 1: Measurements

Abstract In situ porosity and permeability were measured on Great Bahama Bank sediments using electrical conductivity and permeability probes. Core samples were recovered at the probe measurement sites for laboratory determinations of porosity and permeability. Penetration depths of cores and probes were approximately 2.5 m subbottom. In situ porosities of the oolitic sands for depths of 0–2.5 m subbottom ranged between 36% and 50%, and at sites in the somewhat muddier oolitic sediments the porosities ranged from 42% to 61%. The in situ permeabilities ranged from 0.0032 cm/s (3.3 darcys) to 0.068 cm/s (71 darcys) at the sites where porosities were determined. Laboratory values of porosity are comparable to values obtained by in situ measurements; however, laboratory permeability values are approximately an order of magnitude lower than in situ values. The reduced permeability measured in the laboratory is attributed to disturbance of the microfabric during coring, transport, and laboratory sampling. A det...

In situ porosity and permeability of selected carbonate sediment: Great Bahama bank Part 2: Microfabric

Abstract Selected oolitic sediments from the Great Bahama Bank were studied to assess (1) the role of microfabric in determining porosity and permeability, and (2) particle packing relationships, i. e., grain support versus matrix support. Scanning electron microscopy and light microscopy revealed that the sediment consists of ooids, which are the major constituents of the sand‐size fraction, supported by a matrix composed predominantly of aragonite needles. The supporting matrix of aragonite needle clusters, which constitutes only about 10–20% of the total sediment dry weight, is the microstructural characteristic that increases the porosity and lowers the wet bulk density compared to a grain‐supported microfabric characteristic of clean sands. The presence of a fine‐grained matrix reduces the permeability of these sediments relative to clean sands. The influence of the microfabric is clearly reflected in the mass physical and depositional (particle packing) properties of the sediment. Laboratory values ...

Seabed geotechnical parameters from electrical conductivity measurements

Electrical conductivity measurements provide useful geotechnical information, particularly porosity data, and are well suited for use in conjunction with acoustic profiling techniques. A proposed conductivity measurement system for surveying the seabed is characterized by a towed inductive multifrequency probe operating underwater. It is integrated with a shipboard data acquisition and processing system.

Anomalous pore pressures in Mississippi delta sediments: Gas and electrochemical effects

Abstract Observed differences between the pore pressures in gassy Mississippi Delta sediments, indicated by transducers equipped with coarse filters and those equipped with fine filters, are demonstrated unlikely to be due to one transducer responding to the pore water pressure and the other to the pore gas pressure. Laboratory experiments suggest that part of the observed differences in indicated pore pressure may be due to electrochemical effects, either electroosmosis or electrolytic hydrogen generation.

Investigation of geotechnical and geochemical relationships by parameter cross‐correlation methods, oslofjorden and dramsfjorden, Norway

Abstract A cross‐correlation matrix was computer developed to investigate the statistical dependence of geotechnical properties on other properties as an aid to learning why such dependence exists. Linear correlation coefficients, based on 10,000 data values from borings in four major basins along the axis of the Oslofjorden, and one boring at the south end of the Dramsfjorden, are presented for 17 measured or calculated geotechnical and geochemical parameters. Confidence levels of 99 percent and 99.99 percent were calculated for all parameters, and causative and fortuitous relationships or linkages were investigated using regrouped matrices showing correlations significant at the 99.99 percent confidence level. A table summarizes parameters correlating in both fjords, only in the Oslofjorden, only in the Dramsfjorden, and in neither fjord. Generally, relationships were as expected. Examples of unexpected absence of correlations follow: In the Oslofjorden, the clay‐size fraction and the plastic limit corr...