Figure 18. 



Trench excavated in the edge of a sand dune, eastern Alabama near 

 Alabama/Florida state line 



environment and the physical processes during the time of sedimentation. 

 Depending upon the information required, the types of analysis that can be 

 performed on the core include grain size, sedimentary structures, identification 

 of shells and minerals, organic content, microfaunal identification (pollen 

 counts), X-ray radiographs, radiometric dating, and engineering tests. If only 

 information regarding recent processes is necessary, then a box corer, which 

 samples up to 0.6-m depths, can provide sufficient sediment. Because of its 

 greater width, a box corer can recover undisturbed sediment from immediately 

 below the seafloor, allowing the examination of microstructure and 

 lamination. These structures are usually destroyed by traditional vibratory or 

 rotary coring. 



44 



Chapter 3 Field Data Collection and Observation 



