Other calcareous sand grains are bcntlionic foraminifera, fecal pellets, and oolitic sand 

 grains. Meisburger and Duane (1971) recorded similar abundances in the Fort Pierce area. 

 Pellets are more common than in other major sediment types and are calcareous. Except for 

 color, ooids are similar in size, shape, layer thickness, and types of nuclei as those from 

 Type A sediments. Type E ooids are white, creamy white, or gray; red-brown and black 

 grains are absent. 



Core samples indicate that Type E sediment is commonly semiconsolidated to 

 unconsoHdated. (See Figure 15.) Associated with the loose sand, however, are fragments of 

 well-cemented quartz-rich calcarenite. Petrograjjhic analysis of thin sections of 

 representative rocks revealed that framework grains are the same composition in roughly the 

 same abundances as the surrounding unconsolidated sand. Grains cemented together by 

 blocky mosaic calcite cement (called drusy mosaic by Friedman, 1964) normally indicates 

 formation during subaerial exposure and reprecipitation of low magnesian calcite. 

 (Friedman, 1964, 1968.) Submarine Uthification is now recognized as a major process. 

 (Alexandersson, 1969), (Allen, et al., 1969), (Shinn, 1969), (Maclntyre, Mountjoy, and 

 d'Anglejan, 1971.) However, rocks from this area do not exhibit the mineralogic 

 characteristics, such as acicular aragonite, described by these investigators. Additionally, the 

 cementation appears as a widespread continuous layer, as discussed below. It is more likely, 

 therefore, that Type E sediments were cemented during subaerial conditions. 



Type E sediments are throughout the Cape Canaveral grid, with the exception of 

 Canaveral Bight. Locations of cores are plotted on the isopachous map. (See Figure 10.) All 

 cores containing Type E sediments were collected in areas with less than 30 feet of sediment 

 on the blue reflector, and most with less than 10 feet of overburden. Several cores on the 

 outer edge of the grid are associated with rock outcrops, ledges, and a hard bottom. (Moe, 

 1963.) Core 133, in the northeast part of the grid, contains Type E sand from the surface to 

 —10 feet. In this area the blue reflector and presence of semilithified material is clear cut; an 

 acoustic contrast exists between overlying unconsolidated Types A, C and H sediments and 

 the locally cemented Type E sediment. Degree of cementation appears to increase with 

 depth in Type E deposits. Therefore, the regional blue reflector probably does not correlate 

 with the exact stratigraphic contact between unconsolidated Type E and overlying 

 sediments but rather with a point several feet below the contact where consolidation 

 increases. 

 2. Canaveral Bight and Reconnaissance Area. 



Uppermost shelf sediments in the southeastern part of the Cape Canaveral grid (Canaveral 

 Bight) and south along the reconnaissance line to Vero Beach are distinct and subtle 

 variations in sediment hthology of a mappable, lateral continuity. In general, the sediments 

 are gray in color and consist of biogenous gravels, terrigenous sands and admixtures of 

 terrigenous and calcareous silts and clays. As a result of high mud content, most of the 

 sediments are poorly sorted. Medium-grained, well-sorted to moderately well-sorted sands 

 are present locally, but their distribution is limited. 



Gravel-size particles greater than 2 millimeters are chiefly pelecypod shells; minor 

 contributors include other mollusk shell debris and fragments of semiconsolidated 

 calcarenite. Shells are characteristically creamy white, white, and light gray. Shell fragments 

 contained in clean quartz sands generally are well rounded; elsewhere they are angular. 



37 



