Sediment Properties Off Broome, Port Headland and Darwin
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.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 01, 1994
- Accession Number
- ADA279251
Entities
People
- A. Cerneaz
- P. J. Mulhearn
Organizations
- Defence Science and Technology Group