PREFACE 



This report provides data and information on the geomorphology, 

 geologic character, and sediment distribution on a part of the Inner 

 Continental Shelf of the Gulf of Mexico, with specific emphasis on locat- 

 ing, describing, and delineating marine sand deposits having potential 

 for use as fill material for beach nourishment projects. Seismic reflec- 

 tion data and sediment cores comprise the data base for the study which 

 is part of the Galveston County Shore Erosion Study. The work was carried 

 out under the coastal processes program of the U.S. Army Coastal Engineer- 

 ing Research Center (CERC) . 



The report was prepared principally by S. Jeffress Williams, a CERC 

 geologist, with assistance in all phases of the study from Dennis A. Prins 

 and Edward P. Meisburger. General supervision and review of this report 

 was provided by C.H. Everts, Chief, Geotechnical Engineering Branch. 



The authors acknowledge S. Tanner and C. McClenan, principal investi- 

 gators at the U.S. Army Engineer District, Galveston; M. Kieslich, the 

 former project engineer; G.R. Powledge and E.W. Schuldt, Foundations and 

 Materials Branch; and R. McCul lough, captain of the survey vessel Vollert. 

 The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) , Corpus Christi, provided copies of 

 existing seismic profiles as well as logistical help and facilities for 

 sampling the cores; H.L. Berryhill and G.L. Shideler of USGS were espe- 

 cially helpful in providing their time and geologic knowledge of the 

 Texas shelf. The authors also acknowledge J.H. McGowen and R. Morton, 

 University of Texas, Bureau of Economic Geology, for their permission to 

 use unpublished data on surficial sediment distributions derived from 

 their studies. 



The original copies of the seismic data, as well as sample splits of 

 representative sediment from the cores, are stored at CERC. The cores 

 are stored at the USGS in Corpus Christi. Request for information rela- 

 tive to all of the above should be directed to S.J. Williams, Coastal 

 Engineering Research Center, Kingman Building, Fort Belvoir, Virginia 

 22060. 



Comments on this publication are invited. 



Approved for publication in accordance with Public Law 166, 79th 

 Congress, approved 31 July 1945, as supplemented by Public Law 172, 88th 

 Congress, approved 7 November 1963. 



TED E. BISHOP 



Colonel, Corps of Engineers 



Commander and Director 



