Clay fabric of fluid-mud deposits from laboratory and field observations: Potential application to the stratigraphic record

Nishida, Naoshi; Itô, Makoto; Inoue, Atsuyuki; Takizawa, Shigeru

doi:10.1016/j.margeo.2012.12.006

Cited by 30 publications

(39 citation statements)

References 39 publications

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“…5). Previous studies have reported clay microaggregates in soils and continental margin sediments (e.g., Edwards and Bremner 1967;Ransom et al 1997Ransom et al , 1998Kawamura 2010;Nishida et al 2013). The present observation of clay microaggregates in pelagic sediments indicates that such microstructure is a common characteristic of clay in various environmental sediments.…”

Section: Implications For Clay Microstructuresmentioning

confidence: 97%

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An improved sample preparation method for imaging microstructures of fine‐grained marine sediment using microfocus X‐ray computed tomography and scanning electron microscopy

Uramoto

Morono

Uematsu³

et al. 2014

Limnology & Ocean Methods

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Marine sediments are composed of various mineral species and are characterized by micro‐scale grain fabric. The arrangements and interactions of component particles place critical constraints on the physical, chemical, and biological processes that occur in subseafloor environments. However, the observation of nearly intact microstructures is difficult, especially in soft, muddy sediments because of their high water content and the presence of organic molecules. In this study, a modified version of the resin‐embedding method generally used for biological samples was applied to marine sediment sample preparation. The new method was compared with the conventional t‐butyl alcohol freeze‐drying method using microfocus X‐ray computed tomography (µXCT) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The µXCT and SEM results showed that all t‐butyl alcohol freeze‐dried sediment samples contained microstructural disturbances (e.g., cracks). In contrast, no cracks were observed in the samples prepared using the new resin‐embedding method, and the microstructural arrangement of the sediment particles were clearly visible. In addition, the porosity visible from SEM images of the resin‐embedded samples was similar to that measured using the moisture and density method, providing additional evidence that the microstructures of the resin‐embedded samples were well preserved. The resin‐embedding method allowed observation of the limited contact of the fine particles in clayey sediments, the clay microaggregates throughout the continental margin to pelagic sediments, and the presence of organic materials in environmental sediments. This modified biological resin‐embedding method is suitable for the detailed observation and characterization of fine‐grained marine sediment microstructure.

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Section: Implications For Clay Microstructuresmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…However, during the current sediment t-butyl alcohol freeze-drying method (Kawamura 2010;Nishida et al 2013), samples are dehydrated directly and then freeze-dried without pretreatment. These processes lead to substantial changes in sample microstructures, making them unsuitable for sediment microstructure observations.…”

Section: Assessmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

An improved sample preparation method for imaging microstructures of fine‐grained marine sediment using microfocus X‐ray computed tomography and scanning electron microscopy

Uramoto

Morono

Uematsu³

et al. 2014

Limnology & Ocean Methods

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“…Schematic illustration of the formation of microstructures of hemipelagic and turbiditic muddy deposits. In the case of relatively low turbulence hemipelagic settling, individual flocs are indistinguishable from one another after settling, and show a randomly‐oriented structure (after Partheniades, ; Nishida et al ., ). In contrast, settling from turbulent fluids, results in aggregates of clay particles ( ACP s) forming as a result of the active collision of loosely bounded flocs.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Nishida et al . () conducted a detailed examination of the clay fabric of samples, prepared using both methods, and evaluated the quality and preservation of microstructures in the two types of samples. The present study basically followed the procedures of Nishida et al .…”

Section: Sample Preparation For Scanning Electron Microscope Observationmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The use of microstructures for discriminating turbiditic and hemipelagic muds and mudstones

et al. 2016

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The microstructures of turbiditic and hemipelagic muds and mudstones were investigated using a scanning electron microscope to determine whether there are microstructural features that can differentiate turbiditic from hemipelagic sedimentary processes. Both types of muddy deposits are, in general, characterized by randomly-oriented clay particles. However, turbiditic muds and mudstones also characteristically contain aggregates of 'edge to face' contacts between clay particles with long-axis lengths of up to 30 µm. Based on observations of the clay fabric of the experimentally-formed muds settled from previously agitated muddy fluids, these types of aggregates, hereafter referred to as 'aggregates of clay particles', are interpreted to have been formed by the collision of component flocs in turbulent fluids. Furthermore, some aggregates of clay particles have 'face to face' contacts between clay particles; this is similar to face to face aggregates characteristically developed in fluid-mud deposits that are commonly recognized only in turbiditic mudstones, indicating the possibility of a final stage of deposition under highly-dense conditions, such as temporary fluid muds. In conjunction with earlier proposed lithofacies-based and ichnofacies-based criteria, aggregates of clay particles should be useful for the differentiation of turbiditic and hemipelagic muddy deposits, particularly with limited volumes of non-oriented samples from deep-water successions.This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

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Silt- and Bioclastic-Rich Flocs and Their Relationship to Sedimentary Structures: Modern Observations from the Petitcodiac River Estuary

Shchepetkina

Gingras

Zonneveld

et al. 2016

Estuaries and Coasts

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Clay fabric of fluid-mud deposits from laboratory and field observations: Potential application to the stratigraphic record

Cited by 30 publications

References 39 publications

An improved sample preparation method for imaging microstructures of fine‐grained marine sediment using microfocus X‐ray computed tomography and scanning electron microscopy

An improved sample preparation method for imaging microstructures of fine‐grained marine sediment using microfocus X‐ray computed tomography and scanning electron microscopy

The use of microstructures for discriminating turbiditic and hemipelagic muds and mudstones

Silt- and Bioclastic-Rich Flocs and Their Relationship to Sedimentary Structures: Modern Observations from the Petitcodiac River Estuary

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