Grain Size Distribution of Sediments and its Environmental Implications on Ubulu Okiti, Ogwashi-Asaba Formation
Acra, E. J.
Department of Geology, University of Port Harcourt, Choba, Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
Ihunda. C. E. *
Department of Geology, University of Port Harcourt, Choba, Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
ILOLOH. O. J.
Department of Geology, University of Port Harcourt, Choba, Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The research area's depositional surroundings, energy, and method of movement were exposed through an investigation of the dispersion of sediments and their patterns of transportation. In all, 10 ditch cutting samples were taken in the investigation location and presented for granulometric testing to a lab. The findings of the investigation indicated how highly sensitive the relationships between multiple statistical measurements of size of particles (mean size, sorting, skewness, and kurtosis) were to small modifications in the composition formula of the sediment mixture. The particle size circulation findings were then utilised to determine statistical and textural features. The results reveal that the spectrum of particle sizes is 2φ – 3φ (very fine sand) to -3φ – -2φ (granules). With a modal category in the 1φ – 2φ size grade, the sample's average mean is 0.79φ. A population that has been improperly sorted is represented by an average sorting value of 1.34σ. The change from coarse to fine skewed sediments under leptokurtic to platykurtic nature, as well as from moderately well-sorted to well-sorted sediments, was discovered to occur in distinct sites with important environmental repercussions. A wide range of discriminating instruments, which includes the means of transport (C-M diagram), bivariate cross plot of grain size parameters, Linear Discrimination Functions (LDF), skewness and kurtosis connection as a non-dimensional representation of sediment/energy simulations, and Energy Process illustration, indicate the marine signature, which follows the riverine input as a function of the sediments locality. The constant power activities of the marine environment acted as the principal hydraulic mechanism for control over depositional processes. The fluvial nature of the silt indicated the graded suspensions and salt formation modes, which are the key elements impacting movement in a shallow, turbulent aquatic setting impacted by coastal and turbidity environment activities.
Keywords: Grain-size distribution, depositional processes, turbidity, marine environment, depositional environment