samples in distilled water and a def locculant , then conducting 

 a standard hydrometer analysis [29]. After the 24-hour reading 

 these same samples were then wet-washed through sieves [29]. Figure 

 1 1 is typical of the lack of agreement between hydrometer and sieve 

 analyses found; this lack of agreement is believed due primarily 

 to the misuse of Stokes' equation in the hydrometer analysis data 

 reduction. Stokes' equation assumes solid, spherical grains [29] 

 whereas the silt size material of this calcareous ooze is composed 

 of hollow, near-spherical foraminifera tests. The use of the specific 

 gravity of the mineral components (true specific gravity) to calculate 

 the fall time of a given size particle, whose bulk specific gravity 

 (including the enclosed voids) is considerably less than the true 

 value, must therefore produce erroneous results. Development of 

 a simple correction procedure is being examined outside of this 

 study. The hydrometer samples were exposed as little as possible 

 to the atmosphere, and no difficulty was encountered with floating 

 grains in the hydrometer settling tube, as noted by others [10]. 



Specific Gravity and Carbonate Content 



True specific gravities were measured (as described in Reference 

 30) on powdered material in an air comparison pycnometer; values 

 ranged from 2.65 to 2.69. The calcium carbonate content calculated 

 from the measured inorganic carbon content (obtained as described 

 in Reference 30) , assuming the inorganic carbon is in the form of calcium 

 carbonate, ranges from 56 to 75% with a mean of 63%. The organic 

 carbon content [31] ranged from 0.16 to 0.33% with an average of 

 0.26%. The specific gravity determinations and carbon determinations 

 were not corrected for the weights of the initial pore water salt 

 content. 



Atterberg Limits and Soil Classification 



Atterberg limit determinations were conducted as described 

 in Reference 29. The liquid limit, wl, was found to range between 

 66 and 70, and the plastic limit, wp, between 42 and 57. 



The Atterberg limit determinations on this calcareous ooze 

 are questionable because the samples appeared to become wetter 

 during each trial as the sample was manipulated, even though every 

 care was taken to minimize crushing of the hollow tests. It is 

 possible that water can be drawn out of the tests, through the 

 sieve-like surface, and replaced by air, thus providing surficial 

 lubrication without grain crushing. The results of Atterberg limit 

 determinations on such calcareous ooze sediments can be expected 

 to vary considerably between test operators. 



In addition to such operator error, error arises from two 

 other sources. First, as the specimens are dried from the natural 

 water content (see Figures 7 and 8) down to the Atterberg limits, 

 the salt concentration of the pore fluid obviously increases; this 

 concentration change affects the sediment interparticle forces 



