FOREWORD 



Oceanographers and engineers are becoming Increasingly 

 Inquisitive about the mass physical properties of deep-sea 

 sediments for academic and practical reasons. Although a 

 large amount of information exists on the mass physical and 

 engineering properties of terrestrial and shallow water marine 

 sediments, very little is known about these properties for 

 sediments of the continental slope and deep-sea floor. 



In 1958 an exploratory program to investigate soil 

 mechanics properties In a number of oceanic areas was Initi- 

 ated by the HydrographIc Office under the direction of 

 Dr. Richards. Results of this study are presented in this 

 report through the cooperation of three establishments within 

 the Department of the Navy, the HydrographIc Office, Bureau 

 of Yards and Docks, and Navy Electronics Laboratory. 



Rear Admiral, \J. S. Navy 

 Hydrographer 



