Sediments of Willapa Submarine Canyon

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Frequently-anticipated questions:

What does this data set describe?

Title: Sediments of Willapa Submarine Canyon
Abstract:
"A study of Willapa submarine canyon, located off the Washington coast, was undertaken in an attempt to define the type, distribution, and rate of deposition of sediment within the canyon. Well sorted sands are common on the continental shelf near the canyon head and green pelagic muds predominate within the canyon. The muds are thinly bedded and cores from the thalweg contain sand layers. Organic- and carbonate-carbon contents of sediments range between 0.2-2.9 and 0.05-1.5 per cent respectively. The clay-sized fraction of the average sediment consists of approximately 20 per cent Fe-chlorite, 30 per cent kaolinite, and 50 per cent illite with minor amounts of montmorillonoids and mixed-layer clays. Analyses of the heavy -mineral and clay-mineral suites show that the Columbia River is the most probable source of sand and mud in the canyon. The occurrence of graded sand layers containing shallow water foraminifera and heavy mineral suites similar to those of shelf sands indicate turbidity-current transport of shelf sediment along the canyon axis. The maximum rate of sedimentation on the upper slope is about 50 mg /cm2 /yr (41 centimeters per thousand years), but the total thickness of Holocene sediment in most of the canyon is only a few meters. Turbidity flows, originating on the upper slope and shelf, deposit the major portion of their sediment load west of the slope break in Cascadia Basin. Rock dredged from the canyon walls contains fossils which suggest Willapa Canyon has formed since early-Pliocene time."
Supplemental_Information:
Samples taken from the M.V. Brown Bear cruises 326; additional samples from Brown Bear cruises 291 and 312. Data digitized by the USGS for inclusion into usSEABED (<http://walrus.wr.usgs.gov/usseabed>)
  1. How should this data set be cited?

    Royse, Chester F. , 1964, Sediments of Willapa Submarine Canyon: Technical Report No. 111, University of Washington, Seattle, WA.

    Other_Citation_Details:
    Department of Oceanography; Reference: M64-60 U.S. Atomic Energy Commission Contract AT(45-1)-1725 and Office of Naval Research Contract Nonr-477(10) Project NR 083 012; Office of Naval Research Contract Nonr-477(37) Project RR 004-03-01;

  2. What geographic area does the data set cover?

    West_Bounding_Coordinate: -125.5783
    East_Bounding_Coordinate: -124.1500
    North_Bounding_Coordinate: 46.6667
    South_Bounding_Coordinate: 46.2433

  3. What does it look like?

    TechRep111 (JPG)
    Screen grab of GIS-produced sample distribution, with bathymetry and land for reference.

  4. Does the data set describe conditions during a particular time period?

    Beginning_Date: 1963
    Ending_Date: 1963
    Currentness_Reference: Publication date

  5. What is the general form of this data set?

    Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: paper

  6. How does the data set represent geographic features?

    1. How are geographic features stored in the data set?

      This is a Vector data set. It contains the following vector data types (SDTS terminology):

      • Point (68)

    2. What coordinate system is used to represent geographic features?

      Horizontal positions are specified in geographic coordinates, that is, latitude and longitude. Latitudes are given to the nearest 0.00028. Longitudes are given to the nearest 0.00028. Latitude and longitude values are specified in Decimal degrees.

  7. How does the data set describe geographic features?

    Point
    SDTS point (Source: Source report)

    Sample number
    Sample number (Source: University of Washington)

    Alpha numeric number based on cruise, site, sampler, and downcore depth information

    Gravel
    Amount of gravel in sample (Source: Wentworth, 1938)

    Assumed to be zero for all samples

    Sand
    Amount of sand in sample (Source: Wentworth, 1938)

    Range of values
    Minimum:0.1
    Maximum:91.4
    Units:Percent
    Resolution:0.1

    Silt
    Amount of silt in sample (Source: Wentworth, 1938)

    Range of values
    Minimum:8.0
    Maximum:72.6
    Units:Percent
    Resolution:0.1

    Clay
    Amount of clay in sample (Source: Wentworth, 1938)

    Range of values
    Minimum:0
    Maximum:63.0
    Units:Percent
    Resolution:0.1

    Mean
    Mean grain size (Source: Inman, 1952)

    Range of values
    Minimum:2.1
    Maximum:8.9
    Units:Phi
    Resolution:0.1

    Standard deviation
    Standard deviation of grain size distribution (Source: Inman, 1952)

    Range of values
    Minimum:0.4
    Maximum:3.7
    Units:Phi
    Resolution:0.1

    Skewness
    First skewness of grain size distribution (Source: Inman, 1952)

    Range of values
    Minimum:-0.4
    Maximum:0.7
    Units:Unitless
    Resolution:0.01

    Carbon (Calcium carbonate)
    Calcium carbonate (Source: LECO induction furnace and carbon determinator after reduction of CO2)

    Range of values
    Minimum:0.08
    Maximum:2
    Units:Percent
    Resolution:0.01

    Organic carbon (TOC)
    Organic carbon (TOC) (Source: LECO induction furnace and carbon determinator)

    Range of values
    Minimum:0.29
    Maximum:2.84
    Units:Percent
    Resolution:0.01

    Lithology
    Graphical representation of lithologic type (Source: Source report)

    Graphical key given in source report

    Sediment color
    Wet sediment color (Source: Geological Society of America, 1951, Color chart)

    Alpha numeric code based on Hue Value Chroma

    Amphibole
    Amphibole (Source: Grain count of 300 grains)

    Range of values
    Minimum:2
    Maximum:13
    Units:Percent
    Resolution:1

    Epidote
    Epidote (Source: Grain count of 300 grains)

    Range of values
    Minimum:Trace
    Maximum:2
    Units:Percent
    Resolution:1

    Garnet
    Garnet (Source: Grain count of 300 grains)

    Range of values
    Minimum:Trace
    Maximum:1
    Units:Percent
    Resolution:1

    Kyanite
    Kyanite (Source: Grain count of 300 grains)

    Range of values
    Minimum:Trace
    Maximum:Trace
    Units:Percent
    Resolution:1

    Lithic fragments
    Lithic fragments (Source: Grain count of 300 grains)

    Range of values
    Minimum:58
    Maximum:75
    Units:Percent
    Resolution:1

    Clinopyroxenes
    Clinopyroxenes (Source: Grain count of 300 grains)

    Range of values
    Minimum:3
    Maximum:9
    Units:Percent
    Resolution:1

    Mica
    Mica (Source: Grain count of 300 grains)

    Range of values
    Minimum:1
    Maximum:6
    Units:Percent
    Resolution:1

    Monazite
    Monazite (Source: Grain count of 300 grains)

    Range of values
    Minimum:Trace
    Maximum:Trace
    Units:Percent
    Resolution:1

    Opaque minerals
    Optically opaque minerals (Source: Grain count of 300 grains)

    Range of values
    Minimum:4
    Maximum:15
    Units:Percent
    Resolution:1

    Orthopyroxenes
    Orthopyroxenes (Source: Grain count of 300 grains)

    Range of values
    Minimum:1
    Maximum:5
    Units:Percent
    Resolution:1

    Pyrite
    Pyrite (Source: Grain count of 300 grains)

    Range of values
    Minimum:Trace
    Maximum:Trace
    Units:Percent
    Resolution:1

    Sillimanite
    Sillimanite (Source: Grain count of 300 grains)

    Range of values
    Minimum:Trace
    Maximum:Trace
    Units:Percent
    Resolution:1

    Sphene
    Sphene (Source: Grain count of 300 grains)

    Range of values
    Minimum:1
    Maximum:1
    Units:Percent
    Resolution:1

    Zircon
    Zircon (Source: Grain count of 300 grains)

    Range of values
    Minimum:Trace
    Maximum:Trace
    Units:Percent
    Resolution:1

    Heavy minerals in 2-phi class
    Heavy minerals in 2-phi class (Source: Fessenden, 1959)

    Range of values
    Minimum:8.70
    Maximum:33.61
    Units:Percent
    Resolution:0.01

    Heavy minerals in 3-phi class
    Heavy minerals in 3-phi class (Source: Fessenden, 1959)

    Range of values
    Minimum:3.03
    Maximum:29.16
    Units:Percent
    Resolution:0.01

Who produced the data set?

  1. Who are the originators of the data set? (may include formal authors, digital compilers, and editors)

  2. Who also contributed to the data set?

    Chester F. Royse at the University of Washington for the collection and analysis of data. For inclusion into usSEABED: digitization Mark Zimmermann (NMFS) and Jennifer Mendonca (USGS); Formatting corrections: Jane Reid (USGS); and Chris Jenkins (University of Colorado).

  3. To whom should users address questions about the data?

    University of Washington
    P.O. Box 357940
    Seattle, WA 98195

    206-543-5060 (voice)

Why was the data set created?

"The general scope of this investigation of Willapa submarine canyon is that of a reconnaissance with the following objectives: 1.) to define the general character and distribution of sediment; 2.) to determine the nature and rate of sediment deposition; and 3.) to determine the mode and extent of bottom transport within Willapa canyon."

How was the data set created?

  1. From what previous works were the data drawn?

  2. How were the data generated, processed, and modified?

    Date: Unknown (process 1 of 1)
    "Size analyses were made for each sample and statistical parameters of size distributions computed (Creager, McManus, and Collias, 1962). The statistical parameters of Folk and Ward (1957) and the second skewness and kurtosis of Inman (1952) could seldom be calculated because most sediment size distributions were open ended. No Inman values were calculated for samples in which the next to last accumulated percentages of size classes was less than 84. Inman mean, median, deviation, and skewness were obtained for most samples (Table 1) and are used in this study."

    Person who carried out this activity:

    University of Washington
    P.O. Box 357940
    Seattle, WA 98195

    206-543-5060 (voice)

    Data sources used in this process:
    • Inman, 1952
    • Folk and Ward, 1957
    • Creager, McManus, and Collias, 1962

    Data sources produced in this process:

    • TechRep111

  3. What similar or related data should the user be aware of?

How reliable are the data; what problems remain in the data set?

  1. How well have the observations been checked?

    No estimate made for the accuracy of the data in the original report. Data digitized by the USGS and partners were visually compared to the source data, and corrected. Where appropriate, data were tested for completeness using MS Excel. Locations checked using GIS.

  2. How accurate are the geographic locations?

    Navigation by Loran-A with an approximate accuracy of one percent between the ship and the transmitters; this gave an accuracy of 0.5 nautical miles (930 meters). Positions corrected for wind and current drift and adjusted to bathymety. Latitudes and longitudes given in degrees, tenths, minutes.

  3. How accurate are the heights or depths?

    Water depth determination by EDO AN/UNQ 2-B echo sounder and recorder; accuracy not noted in report. Water depths given in meters.

  4. Where are the gaps in the data? What is missing?

    For usSEABED: data digitized include (table 1): locations, granulometric analyses (sand, silt, clay), Inman statistics; (table 2): heavy mineral analyses for 2- and 3- phi class from selected cores; (table 4): heavy mineral analyses from selected cores; (appendix 1): Organic and carbonate carbon values, petrographic analyses, and core descriptions. Not digitized are table 3: water content for core #326-26; tables 6 & 7 (clay mineral XRD peak area ratios), and tables 7 & 8, foraminfera and summary of foraminifera.

  5. How consistent are the relationships among the observations, including topology?

    Data fall within normal ranges for the given parameters.

How can someone get a copy of the data set?

Are there legal restrictions on access or use of the data?

Access_Constraints:
Report is available at libraries and the University of Washington
Use_Constraints:
Cite Chester F. Royse, Jr. and the University of Washington as originators of the data.

  1. Who distributes the data set? (Distributor 1 of 1)

    University of Washington
    P.O. Box 357940
    Seattle, WA 98195

    206-543-5060 (voice)

  2. What's the catalog number I need to order this data set?

    University of Washington Department of Oceanography Technical Report 111

  3. What legal disclaimers am I supposed to read?

    Although this dataset has been used by the USGS, no warranty, expressed or implied, is made by the USGS as to the accuracy of the data. Users of the data should be aware of limitations of the data due to possible imprecision due to navigational inaccuracies and limitations of the statistical data.

  4. How can I download or order the data?

  5. What hardware or software do I need in order to use the data set?

    None

Who wrote the metadata?

Dates:
Last modified: 2005
Metadata author:
U.S. Geological Survey
c/o Jane A. Reid
Geologist
400 Natural Bridges Drive
Santa Cruz, CA 95060

831-427-4727 (voice)
jareid@usgs.gov

Contact_Instructions: email preferred
Metadata standard:
CSDGM Version 2 (FGDC-STD-001-1998)

Generated by mp version 2.8.17 on Sat May 20 20:48:55 2006