Accession Number:

ADA279251

Title:

Sediment Properties Off Broome, Port Headland and Darwin

Descriptive Note:

Technical rept.

Corporate Author:

MATERIALS RESEARCH LABS ASCOT VALE (AUSTRALIA)

Personal Author(s):

• Mulhearn, P. J.
• Cerneaz, A.

Report Date:

1994-02-01

Pagination or Media Count:

50.0

Abstract:

To investigate the likelihood of mine burial by various mechanisms in northern and north-western port approaches, sea floor sediment samples were obtained on a number of research cruises off Broome, Port Hedland and Darwin. In this report the results of analyses on these samples, to obtain a range of relevant sediment properties, is presented. The mine burial estimates derived from these results will appear in a companion, classified report. The sea floor in the approaches to both Broome and Port Hedland consists predominantly of carbonaceous sand, and off both these ports the bottom is so hard at a significant number of locations that only small sediment samples were obtainable, even after several attempts with a grab. In the approaches to Darwin the most common surface sediment type is muddy sand, however there are also broad areas of sandy gravel, gravelly sand and sand, and at some locations there is a shallow surface sand layer underlain by a more muddy one.

Descriptors:

• *MINE DETECTION
• *OCEAN BOTTOM SOILS
• *UNDERWATER MINES
• DENSITY
• GRAVEL
• SAND
• BURIED OBJECTS
• SEDIMENTS
• PORTS(FACILITIES)
• OCEAN BOTTOM
• AUSTRALIA
• POROSITY
• GRAIN SIZE
• LAYERS

Subject Categories:

• Physical and Dynamic Oceanography
• Underwater Ordnance

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE