Comparison Of Grain Size Analysis Methods And Results Of Marine Sediments

The grain-size distribution results of the 223 marine sediments from the Shenhu area of the South China Sea were respectively determined by Mastersizer 2000 laser particle size analyzer and traditional(sieving and pipette) methods. According to these results ,correlation analysis and regression equations(x:the results of traditional methods,y:the results of laser method) for particular size percentage and definite statistical parameters (mean,sorting,skewness , kurtosis and median) were established as follows:The silt content (0.063-0.004mm): y=0.387x+46.520(r=0.833,n=223)The clay content (<0.004mm): y=0.329x+11.611(r=0.883,n=223)Mean(φ): y=0.405x+3.702(r=0.744,n=223)Sorting(φ): y=-0.126x+2.094(r=-0.171,n=223)Skewness: y=0.309x+0.042(r=0.541,n=223)Kurtosis: y=0.385x+0.648(r=0.434,n=223)Median(φ) : y=0.395x+3.844(r=0.836,n=223)Difference in the results of determined on natural marine sediments between the traditional methods and the laser mothod may be due to the various principles of the methods and the particle property(e.g. non-sphericity of the particles).