no evidence of sample layering. The soil is classified as an inorganic 

 silt of moderately high compressibility (MH) . The Trilinear System 

 defines the material as a silty clay. The material has a median diameter 

 equal to 0.0031 millimeter. The percentages of sand, silt, and clay size 

 particles are 9, 30, 61, respectively. Carbonate carbon and organic car- 

 bon account for less than 2.0? o of the sample. 



Vgne Shear Strength and Index Properties . Vane shear strengths and 

 index properties are plotted in Figure 5. Since only two increments 

 were evaluated, the trends established by the results are questionable. 

 The decrease in original strength with depth probably suggests some form 

 of sample disturbance. Although the L/D is 25, the strength loss prob- 

 ably arises from sample handling. The similarity in Atterberg limits 

 indicates that no major mineralogic changes occurred. 



Station D 



Geologic Considerations . Station D is located in the central 

 portion of the South Fiji Basin. Water depth at the site is 2,400 fathoms 

 Fairbridge (1966) finds that calcareous oozes made up of foraminiferal 

 test dominate the sediments above 2,500 fathoms, while red clays usually 

 occur below that depth. The high volcanic activity contributes minute 

 particles of glass and shard to most surface sediments. Menard (1964) 

 believes the abyssal plain of the basin is underlain by turbidities; 

 however, recent ages find pelagic sedimentation dominating the deposi- 

 tional process. 



Sediment Identification . The gravity corer obtained 137 centi- 

 meters of homogenous deep-sea red clay. No layering was found when the 

 core was visually examined. The sediment is classified as an inorganic 

 silt of high compressibility (MH) (Unified Classification System) and a 

 silty clay (Trilinear System). The material has a median diameter of 

 approximately 0.0026 millimeter. The percentages of sand, silt, and 

 clay size particles are 4, 34, and 62, respectively. Carbonate carbon 

 and organic carbon contents are less than 1.0%. 



Vane Shear Strength and Index Properties . The strength and index 

 properties are plotted in Figure 6. None of the plots exhibits unusual 

 trends. The low original strength at the shallowest increment may reflect 

 some sample disturbance; however, if the line between the first and second 

 original strength readings were extended, the line would approximately 

 pass through the origin (zero shear strength) . 



Station E 



Geologic Considerations . Station E is located in the Tasman Sea, 

 a marginal sea lying between Australia and New Zealand. The Sea 

 correlates roughly with a deep basin known as the Tasman Basin. The site 



24 



