The distal end of Southeast Shoal (Fig. 29) contains 91.6X10* cubic yards of 

 unconsolidated sand on the blue horizon. (See Figure 30.) Of this volume a minimum 

 15.2 X 10* cubic yards are highly suitable for beach nourishment, as shown by sediments 

 from 10, 7, and 11 feet below bottom recovered in Cores 102, 103, and 114, respectively. 

 Judging from sediment characteristics from this part additional large volumes of suitable 

 sand are probably available elsewhere in the shoal. Proximity of these regions to the beach 

 and shallow depths precluded collection of core or seismic data; the character of these 

 additional reserves is not known. 



The BuU (Figs. 31 and 32) contains sand volumes in excess of 112.4 X 10* cubic yards 

 overlying the blue horizon, and at least 31.6 X 10* cubic yards are usable. Core 176 from 

 the crest of The Bull, and Core 122 from the flank contain well-sorted, medium-to-coarse 

 sand to subsurface depth of —13 and —10 feet. The character of sediment lying between the 

 blue horizon, which lies 40 feet below the crest and the core bottom at —10 feet below the 

 crest, is not known. Homogeneity in sonic characteristics and absence of internal 

 stratification, and the fresh polished nature of subbottom sands (Fig. 13) suggest that 

 Type A sands extend under the shoal to near the surface of the blue. The maximum volume 

 of 112 X 10* cubic yards may be suitable for placement on adjacent beaches. 



The combined volume of suitable sand in Ohio-Hetzel- Shoal (Fig. 33) is 76.1 X 10* cubic 

 yards; the total volume of unconsolidated material potentially available exceeds 350 X 10* 

 cubic yards. Core 139A on the crest, and Core 148 on the flank show suitable sand to 

 subbottom depths of 11 feet. Changes in the sonic character of sediments between the blue 

 horizon and the crest (line H, Fig. 34) are not continuous beneath the shod and sediment 

 hthology may not change significantly. 



These four shoal areas provide a viable and economic volume of sand that may be used as 

 a borrow source for beach nourishment and other needs. Different sources of sand are 

 available to a given coastal area for borrow, but removal from offshore regions probably 

 provides the least ecological changes. (U.S. Army, Corps of Engineers, 1971a, 1971b), and 

 as inland sources diminish, offshore sand is becoming an increasingly attractive source. 

 Utilization of these sand bodies should be planned and monitored carefully and in 

 accordance with guidelines for shore management established by the Corps of Engineers. 

 (U.S. Army, Corps of Engineers, 1971a.) 



V. SUMMARY 



The Continental Shelf off Cape Canaveral, Florida is a submerged plain extending the 

 entire width of the shelf and underlain by Miocene strata to at least —500 feet MLW, as 

 correlated by seismic reflection data with coastal boring logs. An apparent unconformity lies 

 at —160 to —180 feet MLW which is judged to mark the Pleistocene— pre-Pleistocene 

 surface. 



The shallow subbottom is characterized by two continuous mappable acoustic horizons 

 which lie nearly parallel to the present surface. The lower reflector lies at about —80 to 

 — 120 feet MLW and is interpreted as mid-to late Pleistocene in age. The upper sonic 

 reflector lies between —40 to —110 feet MLW; this depth correlates with a marked lithologic 

 change from overlying unconsolidated sediments to deposits partially lithified by blocky 

 mosaic calcite cement. Carbon-14 dates of shells from this upper horizon and overlying 

 peats indicate this iithologic and acoustical horizon marks the pre-Holocene surface. Oolite 

 bearing sediments of the layer represent a coastal complex quartzose-calcareous deposited 

 during a late Pleistocene high sea level (mid-Wisconsin interstadial.) 



68 



