2008PR_grainsize: XLS and CSV tables containing grain-size data from 16 cores collected in 2008 by the U.S. Geological Survey from offshore Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Metadata also available as

Frequently-anticipated questions:

What does this data set describe?

Title:
2008PR_grainsize: XLS and CSV tables containing grain-size data from 16 cores collected in 2008 by the U.S. Geological Survey from offshore Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Abstract:
In 2008, as a collaborative effort between Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and the U.S. Geological Survey, 20 giant gravity cores were collected from areas surrounding Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The regions sampled have had many large earthquake and landslide events, some of which are believed to have triggered tsunamis. The objective of this coring cruise, carried out aboard the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration research vessel Seward Johnson, was to determine the age of several substantial slope failures and seismite layers near Puerto Rico in an effort to map their temporal distribution. Data gathered from the cores collected in 2008 and 11 archive cores from the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory are included in this report. These data include lithologic logs, core summary sheets, x-ray fluorescence, wet-bulk density, magnetic susceptibility, grain-size analyses, radiographs, and radiocarbon age dates.
Supplemental_Information:
For more information on the USGS cruise, please see <http://woodshole.er.usgs.gov/operations/ia/public_ds_info.php?fa=2008-008-FA>.
  1. How should this data set be cited?

    U.S. Geological Survey, 2014, 2008PR_grainsize: XLS and CSV tables containing grain-size data from 16 cores collected in 2008 by the U.S. Geological Survey from offshore Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.: Open-File Report 2014-1227, U.S. Geological Survey, Coastal and Marine Geology Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center, Woods Hole, MA.

    Online Links:

    This is part of the following larger work.

    Hoy, Shannon K. , Chaytor, Jason D. , and Uri S. ten Brink, 2014, Core Data From Offshore Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands: Open-File Report 2014-1227, U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, VA.

    Online Links:

  2. What geographic area does the data set cover?

    West_Bounding_Coordinate: -67.0795
    East_Bounding_Coordinate: -64.82283
    North_Bounding_Coordinate: 19.17558
    South_Bounding_Coordinate: 17.55293

  3. What does it look like?

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

    Beginning_Date: 18-Mar-2008
    Ending_Date: 24-Mar-2008
    Currentness_Reference: ground condition; cores collected in 2008

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

  6. How does the data set represent geographic features?

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

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

  7. How does the data set describe geographic features?

    FIELD_NO
    Sample ID. Naming convention: SSS-CCCC-II (SSS= SHIP ID) (CCCC=Core ID, GGC stands for giant gravity corer) and (II=interval id) (Source: USGS)

    character string

    PROJECT
    Project group ID- Caribbean Hazards (Source: USGS)

    ValueDefinition
    CARIBBEAN HAZARDSId for USGS project

    CRUISE_ID
    ID for the 2008 Seward Johnson Cruise (SJHN08008) (Source: USGS)

    ValueDefinition
    SJHN08008Cruise ID for 2008 Seward Johnson Cruise

    CONTACT
    Contact for samples = Jason D. Chaytor (Source: USGS)

    ValueDefinition
    JCHAYTORContact Jason D. Chaytor

    AREA
    General area where samples were taken (Source: USGS)

    ValueDefinition
    CARIBBEANoffshore Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands

    LATITUDE
    Latitude of core that grain-size data came from (Source: USGS)

    Range of values
    Minimum:17.552933
    Maximum:19.175583
    Units:Decimal Degrees

    LONGITUDE
    Longitude of core that grain-size analysis came from (Source: USGS)

    Range of values
    Minimum:-67.0795
    Maximum:-64.822833
    Units:Decimal Degrees

    DEPTH_M
    Water depth at location where core was collected (Source: USGS)

    Range of values
    Minimum:1830
    Maximum:6945
    Units:Meters below sea level

    T_DEPTH
    Top of interval that was sampled for grain-size analysis (Source: USGS)

    Range of values
    Minimum:0
    Maximum:225
    Units:centimeters

    B_DEPTH
    Bottom of interval being sampled for grain-size analysis (Source: USGS)

    Range of values
    Minimum:1.5
    Maximum:226
    Units:centimeters

    DEVICE
    Device used to collect core (Source: USGS)

    ValueDefinition
    WHOI GIANT GRAVITY CORERtype of corer used = WHOI giant gravity corer

    MONTH_COLL
    Month that core was collected (Source: USGS)

    ValueDefinition
    3March

    YEAR_COLL
    Year core was collected (Source: USGS)

    ValueDefinition
    20082008

    MONTH_ANAL
    Month the sample was analyzed (Source: USGS)

    ValueDefinition
    7July
    9September
    4April

    DAY_ANAL
    Day sample was analyzed (Source: USGS)

    ValueDefinition
    2828th of the month
    1313th of the month

    YEAR_ANAL
    Year sample was analyzed (Source: USGS)

    ValueDefinition
    20102010

    WEIGHT
    Weight of dry sample in grams. (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)

    Range of values
    Minimum:12.6838
    Maximum:54.799
    Units:grams
    Resolution:.0001

    GRAVEL_PCT
    Gravel content in percent dry weight of the sample (particles with nominal diameters greater than 2 mm; -1 Phi and larger). (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)

    Range of values
    Minimum:0
    Maximum:4.72
    Units:percent
    Resolution:.01

    SAND_PCT
    Sand content in percent dry weight of the sample (particles with nominal diameters less than 2 mm, but greater than or equal to 0.0625 mm; 0 Phi through 4 Phi). (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)

    Range of values
    Minimum:0.02
    Maximum:97.86
    Units:percent
    Resolution:.01

    SILT_PCT
    Silt content in percent dry weight of the sample (particles with nominal diameters less than 0.0625 mm, but greater than or equal to 0.004 mm; 5 Phi through 8 Phi, inclusive). (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)

    Range of values
    Minimum:1.43
    Maximum:58.47
    Units:percent
    Resolution:.01

    CLAY_PCT
    Clay content in percent dry weight of the sample (particles with nominal diameters less than 0.004 mm; 9 Phi and smaller). (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)

    Range of values
    Minimum:0.7
    Maximum:80.72
    Units:percent
    Resolution:.01

    CLASSIFICATION
    Sediment description based on a rigorous definition, usually Shepard (1954) as modified by Schlee (1973) and Poppe and others ( 2005). (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)

    ValueDefinition
    CLAYSediment whose main phase is less than 0.004 mm.
    CLAYEY SANDSediment whose main phase is sand, but with significant clay.
    CLAYEY SILTSediment whose main phase is silt, but with significant clay.
    SANDSediment whose main phase is less than 2 mm, but greater than or equal to 0.062 mm.
    SAND SILT CLAYSediment with significant (over 20 percent) sand, silt, and clay
    SANDY CLAYSediment whose main phase is clay, but with significant sand.
    SANDY SILTSediment whose main phase is silt, but with significant sand.
    SILTY CLAYSediment whose main phase is clay, but with significant silt.
    SILTY SANDSediment whose main phase in sand, but with significant silt.

    Median
    Middle point in the grain size distribution in phi units. (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)

    Range of values
    Minimum:1.72
    Maximum:9.22
    Units:phi
    Resolution:.01

    MEAN
    Average value in the grain size distribution in phi units. (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)

    Range of values
    Minimum:1.81
    Maximum:9
    Units:phi
    Resolution:.01

    STDEV
    Standard deviation (root mean square of the deviations) of the grain size distribution in phi units (sorting). (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)

    Range of values
    Minimum:1.08
    Maximum:3.56
    Units:phi
    Resolution:.01

    SKEWNESS
    Skewness (deviation from symmetrical form) of the grain size distribution in phi units. (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)

    Range of values
    Minimum:-1.07
    Maximum:1.57
    Units:phi
    Resolution:.01

    KURTOSIS
    Kurtosis (degree of curvature near the mode) of the grain size distribution in phi units. (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)

    Range of values
    Minimum:-1.69
    Maximum:18.82
    Units:phi
    Resolution:.01

    PHIm5
    -5 Phi - Weight percent of the sample in the -5 Phi fraction and larger (nominal diameter of particles greater than or equal to 32 mm); very coarse pebbles, cobbles, and boulders. (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)

    Range of values
    Minimum:0
    Maximum:0
    Units:percent
    Resolution:.01

    PHIm4
    -4 Phi - Weight percent of the sample in the -4 Phi fraction (nominal diameter of particles greater than or equal to 16 mm, but less than 32 mm); coarse pebbles. (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)

    Range of values
    Minimum:0
    Maximum:0
    Units:percent
    Resolution:.01

    PHIm3
    -3 Phi - Weight percent of the sample in the -3 Phi fraction (nominal diameter of particles greater than or equal to 8 mm, but less than 16 mm); medium pebbles. (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)

    Range of values
    Minimum:0
    Maximum:0
    Units:percent
    Resolution:.01

    PHIm2
    -2 Phi - Weight percent of the sample in the -2 Phi fraction (nominal diameter of particles greater than or equal to 4 mm, but less than 8 mm); fine pebbles. (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)

    Range of values
    Minimum:0
    Maximum:1.6
    Units:percent
    Resolution:.01

    PHIm1
    -1 Phi - Weight percent of the sample in the -1 Phi fraction (nominal diameter of particles greater than or equal to 2 mm, but less than 4 mm); very fine pebbles (granules). (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)

    Range of values
    Minimum:0
    Maximum:3.29
    Units:percent
    Resolution:.01

    PHI_0
    0 Phi - Weight percent of the sample in the 0 Phi fraction (nominal diameters of particles greater than or equal to 1 mm, but less than 2 mm); very coarse sand. (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)

    Range of values
    Minimum:0
    Maximum:4.69
    Units:percent
    Resolution:.01

    PHI_1
    1 Phi - Weight percent of the sample in the 1 Phi fraction (nominal diameter of particles greater than or equal to 0.5 mm, but less than 1 mm); coarse sand. (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)

    Range of values
    Minimum:0
    Maximum:17.19
    Units:percent
    Resolution:.01

    PHI_2
    2 Phi - Weight percent of the sample in the 2 Phi fraction (nominal diameter of particles greater than or equal to 0.25 mm, but less than 0.5 mm); medium sand. (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)

    Range of values
    Minimum:0
    Maximum:44.71
    Units:percent
    Resolution:.01

    PHI_3
    3 Phi - Weight percent of the sample in the 3 Phi fraction (nominal diameter of particles greater than or equal to 0.125 mm, but less than 0.25 mm); fine sand. (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)

    Range of values
    Minimum:0
    Maximum:47.57
    Units:percent
    Resolution:.01

    PHI_4
    4 Phi - Weight percent of the sample in the 4 Phi fraction (nominal diameters of particles greater than or equal to .0625 mm, but less than 0.125 mm); very fine sand. (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)

    Range of values
    Minimum:0.01
    Maximum:49.17
    Units:percent
    Resolution:.01

    PHI_5
    5 Phi - Weight percent of the sample in the 5 Phi fraction (nominal diameter of particles greater than or equal to 0.031 mm, but less than 0.0625 mm); coarse silt. (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)

    Range of values
    Minimum:0.09
    Maximum:34.57
    Units:percent
    Resolution:.01

    PHI_6
    6 Phi - Weight percent of the sample in the 6 Phi fraction (nominal diameter of particles greater than or equal to 0.016 mm, but less than 0.031 mm); medium silt. (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)

    Range of values
    Minimum:0.43
    Maximum:22.55
    Units:percent
    Resolution:.01

    PHI_7
    7 Phi - Weight percent of the sample in the 7 Phi fraction (nominal diameter of particles greater than or equal to 0.008 mm, but less than 0.016 mm); fine silt. (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)

    Range of values
    Minimum:0.34
    Maximum:16.7
    Units:percent
    Resolution:.01

    PHI_8
    8 Phi - Weight percent of the sample in the 8 Phi fraction (nominal diameter of particles greater than or equal to 0.004 mm, but less than 0.008 mm); very fine silt. (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)

    Range of values
    Minimum:0.24
    Maximum:18.09
    Units:percent
    Resolution:.01

    PHI_9
    9 Phi - Weight percent of the sample in the 9 Phi fraction (nominal diameter of particles greater than or equal to 0.002 mm, but less than 0.004 mm); coarse clay. (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)

    Range of values
    Minimum:0.28
    Maximum:26.59
    Units:percent
    Resolution:.01

    PHI_10
    10 Phi - Weight percent of the sample in the 10 Phi fraction (nominal diameter of particles greater than or equal to 0.001 mm, but less than 0.002 mm); medium clay. (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)

    Range of values
    Minimum:0.26
    Maximum:38.13
    Units:percent
    Resolution:.01

    PHI_11
    11 Phi - Weight percent of the sample in the 11 Phi fraction and smaller (nominal diameter of particles less than 0.001 mm); fine clay. (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)

    Range of values
    Minimum:0.16
    Maximum:23.71
    Units:percent
    Resolution:.01

    ANALYST
    Name (usually first initial and last name) of person who performed the grain size or physical properties analysis (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)

    ValueDefinition
    KMCMULLENKate McMullen

    Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:
    These individual do have geospatial locations and are related to the core location available in the PRcore_locations shapefile available from <https://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2014/1227/1-CoreLocations/PRcore_locations.zip>.

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?

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

    Jason D. Chaytor
    U.S. Geological Survey
    Research Geologist
    384 Woods Hole Rd.
    Woods Hole, MA 02543-1598

    (508) 548-8700 x2351 (voice)
    (508) 457-2310 (FAX)
    jchaytor@usgs.gov

Why was the data set created?

To provide grain-size data for 16 cores collected during the USGS Field Activity 2008-008. The grain-size data are given in both XLS and CSV format.

How was the data set created?

  1. From what previous works were the data drawn?

    GGC (source 1 of 1)
    U.S. Geological Survey, 2014, Core data from offshore Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands: Open File Report 2014-1227, U.S. Geological Survey, Coastal and Marine Geology Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center, Woods Hole, MA.

    Online Links:

    Type_of_Source_Media: physical samples
    Source_Contribution:
    The gravity cores collected during U.S. Geological Survey field activity 2008-008-FA. The Woods Hole Oceanographic Giant Gravity Corer (GGC) was used to collect the 20 cores in 2008. The gravity corer is a large diameter (10 centimeter) sampler that collects cores up to 6.5 meters in length. During field activity 2008-008-FA the corer was not rigged with liner longer than approximately 3 meters. Although cores were attempted at 40 core sites, core was recovered at only 20 sites. Seven additional sites yielded only samples (bagged) from the core catcher or cutting head. Of the 20 successful cores, three also have cutter/catcher bag samples.

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

    Date: 2008 (process 1 of 4)
    Each core was cut into sections on the ship after collection. The cores were then split into halves back onshore. This process step, and subsequent process steps were performed by the same person until otherwise noted.

    Person who carried out this activity:

    Jason D. Chaytor
    U.S. Geological Survey
    Research Geologist
    384 Woods Hole Road
    Woods Hole, MA 02543-1598

    (508) 548-8700 x2351 (voice)
    (508) 457-2310 (FAX)
    jchaytor@usgs.gov

    Data sources used in this process:
    • GGC

    Data sources produced in this process:

    • Split_cores

    Date: 2010 (process 2 of 4)
    Subsamples (1- cm thick) of 16 cores from the SJ8 cruise were taken at approximately 20-cm intervals for grain-size analysis. In sandy sediment, subsamples were taken more frequently. Additional subsamples (each 1.5 to 2 cm thick) were taken above or below turbidite and other event intervals for grain-size analysis and foraminifera assemblage and dating.

    Data sources used in this process:

    • Split_cores

    Date: 2010 (process 3 of 4)
    In total, 198 grain-size analyses were performed using the procedures outlined in Poppe and others (2005). The analyses were performed at the U.S. Geological Survey Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center Sediment Laboratory. The data were given in XLS format.

    Person who carried out this activity:

    Kate McMullen
    U.S. Geological Survey
    Field and Laboratory Technician
    384 Woods Hole Road
    Woods Hole, MA 02543-1598

    (508) 548-8700 x2277 (voice)
    (508) 457-2310 (FAX)
    kmcmullen@usgs.gov

    Data sources produced in this process:
    • Data

    Date: 2013 (process 4 of 4)
    Grain-size data were compiled into one spreadsheet using Microsoft Excel 2010. Some fields were deleted that weren't pertinent to these samples. The spreadsheet was exported as a CSV and XLS table.

    Person who carried out this activity:

    Shannon K. Hoy
    U.S. Geological Survey
    Research Associate
    384 Woods Hole Road
    Woods Hole, MA 02543-1598

    (508) 548-8700 x2297 (voice)
    (508) 457-2310 (FAX)
    shoy@usgs.gov

    Data sources used in this process:
    • Data

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

    Poppe, L.J., Williams, S.J., and Paskevich, V.F., 2005, U.S. Geological Survey East-Coast Sediment Analysis: Procedures, Database, and GIS Data: Open-File Report 2005-1001, U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, VA.

    Online Links:

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

  1. How well have the observations been checked?

    Attributes were double checked that they related the correct interval data to name.

  2. How accurate are the geographic locations?

  3. How accurate are the heights or depths?

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

    These data represent all the cores that had grain size analyses performed. In total 198 grain-size analyses were performed on 16 cores. Some cores did not have intervals that warranted grain-size analysis. Analyses are available for cores 5, 7, 8, 9, 13, 17, 18, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 28, 31, 33, and 38.

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

How can someone get a copy of the data set?

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

Access_Constraints: None.
Use_Constraints:
The Public domain data from the U.S. Government are freely redistributable with proper metadata and source attribution. Please recognize the U.S. Geological Survey as the originator of the dataset.

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

    Jason D. Chaytor
    U.S. Geological Survey
    Research Geologist
    384 Woods Hole Road
    Woods Hole, MA 02543-1598

    (508) 548-8700 x2351 (voice)
    (508) 457-2310 (FAX)
    jchaytor@usgs.gov

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

    Downloadable Data

  3. What legal disclaimers am I supposed to read?

    Neither the U.S. Government, the Department of the Interior, nor the USGS, nor any of their employees, contractors, or subcontractors, make any warranty, express or implied, nor assume any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product or process disclosed, nor represent that its use would not infringe on privately owned rights. The act of distribution shall not constitute any such warranty, and no responsibility is assumed by the USGS in the use of these data or related materials. Any use of trade, product, or firm names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.

  4. How can I download or order the data?

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

    The end user must be capable of uncompressing a zip file and read a XLS or CSV table.

Who wrote the metadata?

Dates:
Last modified: 13-Mar-2014
Metadata author:
U.S. Geological Survey
c/o Shannon Hoy
384 Woods Hole Road
Woods Hole, MA 02543-1598

(508) 548-8700 x2297 (voice)
(508) 457-2310 (FAX)
shoy@usgs.gov

Metadata standard:
FGDC Content Standards for Digital Geospatial Metadata (FGDC-STD-001-1998)

Generated by mp version 2.9.6 on Tue Oct 28 13:57:33 2014