Transportation and Dispersal of Biogenic Material in the Nearshore Marine Environment
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Louisiana State University LSU Digital Commons LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses Graduate School 1974 Transportation and Dispersal of Biogenic Material in the Nearshore Marine Environment. Macomb Trezevant Jervey Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.lsu.edu/gradschool_disstheses Recommended Citation Jervey, Macomb Trezevant, "Transportation and Dispersal of Biogenic Material in the Nearshore Marine Environment." (1974). LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses. 2674. https://digitalcommons.lsu.edu/gradschool_disstheses/2674 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at LSU Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses by an authorized administrator of LSU Digital Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. 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Xerox University Microfilms 300 North Zeeb Road Ann Arbor, Michigan 48106 75-1935 JERVEY, Macomb Trezevant, 1941- TRANSFORTATION AND DISPERSAL OF BIOGENIC MATERIAL IN THE NEARSHORE MARINE ENVIRONMENT. The Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, Ph.D., 1974 Geology Xerox University Microfilms, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48106 THIS DISSERTATION HAS BEEN MICROFILMED EXACTLY AS RECEIVED. TRANSPORTATION AND DISPERSAL OF BIOGENIC MATERIAL . IN THE NEARSHORE MARINE ENVIRONMENT A DISSERTATION Submitted to the Graduate Faculty of the Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in The Department of Geology by Macomb Trezevant Jervey A.B., Rutgers University, 1963 August, 1974 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Many persons contributed to the research effort set forth in this manuscript. Gratitude is expressed for their assistance and encouragement. Dr. Bob F. Perkins, Director of the School of Geoscience, served as committee chairman and provided continuing guidance in the preparation of this manuscript and in all phases of the investigation described herein. Dr. W. A. van den Bold, Dr. Donald H. Kupfer, Dr. Prentiss E. Schilling, and Dr. Donald R. Lowe, as members of the examining committee, reviewed the manuscript and offered helpful suggestions in its revision. Their time and effort in this regard is greatly appreciated. Special thanks are due Dr. Clyde H. Moore, Associate Professor, Department of Geology, for contributing camera and diving equipment for use in the project and for advice and assistance especially in the petro- graphic study of limestone samples. Thanks are also due Dr. George F. Hart who aided in the initial computer data analysis and in other quantitative aspects of the research. The assistance of Mr. Russell J. Adams, computer programmer for the School of Geoscience, is gratefully acknowledged. Mr. Adams wrote summation programs for tabular output of bivalve frequency data and provided general expertise in the field of computer application. The staff of the Department of Experimental Statistics is thanked for their help in the initial design of the research program and for the preparation and computer analysis of bivalve occurrence data. Mr. Donald Nugent, photographer in the School of Geoscience, con tributed to the preparation of plates and photographs of macroinverte brates. The contribution of several members of the professional staff of the National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C., is gratefully acknowledged. Dr. Alan H. Cheetham, Curator in the Division of Paleon tology, was kind enough to act as host during an enjoyable visit to the Museum and initiated contacts with other staff members on behalf of the author. Dr. Cheetham provided identifications for bryozoan species in collections made in the research area. Dr. Joseph Rosewater, Curator in the Division of Mollusks, arranged access to molluscan collections at the Museum and provided the author with a microscope and work area. Dr. Rosewater generously devoted time and knowledge to the identification of molluscan species not known to the author from the available literature. Dr. Maureen Downey, Associate Curator in the Division of Echino- derms, is thanked for granting access to echinoderm and coelenterate collections in the Museum. Dr. David L. Pawson, Curator, Division of Echinodezms, kindly identified an unusual species of holothurian. Dr. Klaus Ruetzler identified several species of sponges found in the research area. Of special significance is the contribution of Dr. Henry Kritzler of the Florida State University Marine Laboratory at Turkey Point, Florida. Dr. Kritzler undertook, at the author's request, a complete and careful study of collections of polychaete worms made by the author in the research area and offered helpful suggestions concerning collection and preparation techniques. Captain Richard Rosen of Destin, Florida, is to be thanked for navigational assistance, advice, and interest in the project from its iii inception. The friendship and encouragement of many others at Destin was welcome. Mr. Michael Tedford acted as field assistant for two summer field seasons. His diving skill and amiable companionship are greatly appre ciated. Finally, the research project could not have been undertaken with out the support of the Oceanographic Section of the National Science Foundation which provided funding (N.S.F. Grant GA-34105). TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS............................................. ii LIST OF TABLES.............................................. x LIST OF FIGURES............................................. X1 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS....................................... ^ LIST OF APPENDICES........... XV1 ABSTRACT........................................... XV11 INTRODUCTION..................................... ........... 1 General Statement........................................ 1 Research Area............................................. 3 Previous Biostratinomic Work.............. 8 Approach.................................................. 9 REGIONAL SETTING............................................. 12 Geology................................................... 12 General Sediment Distribution............................ 15 Holocene History......................................... 16 GENERAL PROCEDURES........................................... 19 SEDIMENTS.................................................... 24 Previous Work............................................. 24 Methods................................................... 27 Results................................................... 29 Terrigenous Component................................. 29 Biogenic Component.................................... 39 Limestone. ........................ 49 Discussion............................................... 52 v P53£ Terrigenous Sediment.................................. 52 Upper Shoreface Sands............... 52 Lower Shoreface and Offshore Sands......... 54 Limestone-derived Terrigenous Grains.............. 57 Lime Grainstone-Geologic History............... 58 Skewness........................................... 59 Biogenic Sediment..................................... 61 Biogenic Percentage................................ 61 Biogenic Sediment Texture.......................... 62 Relation of Terrigenous and Biogenic Sediment Textures 64 Evidence for Deep Water Sediment Movement............... 65 DYNAMICS OF SEDIMENT TRANSPORT.............................. 68 Transport Mechanisms ................................. 68 Wave Mechanics........................................... 71 Initiation of Sediment Movement.........................