An integrated, non-destructive method for evaluating core quality from R/V Legend’s giant piston coring system (LGD-GPC)

Type Article
Date 2023-12
Language English
Author(s) Yu Pai-SenORCID1, Chen Ting-Ting1
Affiliation(s) 1 : Taiwan Ocean Research Institute, National Applied Research Laboratories, Kaohsiung, 852, Taiwan
Source Terrestrial Atmospheric And Oceanic Sciences (1017-0839) (Springer Science and Business Media LLC), 2023-12 , Vol. 34 , N. 17 , P. 14p.
DOI 10.1007/s44195-023-00048-0
Keyword(s) R/V Legend, Core disturbances, Giant piston coring, Non-destructive analyses, Curvature index, Visible color reflectance
Abstract

Despite technological advances, some core disturbances due to piston coring process still occur and can be extremely difficult to identify characteristics of sedimentary structures during qualitative visual core description and core lithologies. Few quantitative methods have offered plausible ways to define the exact magnitude of the distorted sedimentary structures in imperfect sedimentary records in the context of overly limited sedimentary records. In this study, an investigation was conducted on the Kaoping slope offshore southwestern Taiwan, a region known for its high sedimentation rate (> 0.9 g/cm2/year), using both the LGD-GPC (giant piston corer) and giant gravity corer techniques. To examine how GPC procedures have shaped the retrieval of sedimentary sequences and affected core quality, we apply well-developed, non-destructive analyses, including physical property measurements, visible color reflectance and digital core images with quantitative curvature index (CI), to recovered sediments. Cores at 22° 23′N, 120° 13′E were as the basis for non-destructive measurement comparison. Evidence from digital core imaging and the CI calculation further supports the mechanism of piston suction. We suggest that shear deformation of sediment against the core barrel would be the prominent factor that govern the observed core disturbances in LGD-GPC cores. Meanwhile, excessive pulling forcing from a modified TORI piston and a slowly lift speed during LGD-GPC coring process may further aggravate core disturbances at the revisited site. The sedimentary length of core LGD-T43-B-PC is overestimated by more than 200%. We further demonstrate that an integration of the CI and color reflectance is an effective way to evaluate the transformation and distorted sedimentary sequences. 

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Table S1. The depths, heights of the curvature and the calculation of CI values from core LGD-T43-B-PC are listed. Fig. S1. Digital images of core LGD-T43-B-PC. Fig. S2. X-ray images of core .... 3 1 MB Open access
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