Textural Studies of Intertidal Sands, Bay of Fundy

Abstract

<p> Cobequid Bay is a macrotidal embayment with a large intertidal sand bar complex at the east end, located at the head of the Bay of Fundy. Two sand bars were sampled in order to observe variations in impact pit densities on the surfaces of quartz sand grains, and to identify the pattern of grain size distribution over two intertidal bedforms. </p> <p> V pit densities obtained by viewing the quartz grain surfaces at magnifications of 10,000 and 5,000X with a scanning electron microscope indicate a linear correlation with grain size. The number of small V's appears to be consistent for all grain sizes, with the result that V's larger than approximately 1/5 micrometer produce the linear variation noted. Two trends of V pits formation combine to produce a "plateau", in which two grain size classes have similar V pit densities. This plateau corresponds to the break-point between the traction population and the intermittent suspension population. Trend one consists of the bombardment of large, well exposed grains (transported in the traction layer), by smaller saltating grains, while trend two consists of grain impacts between smaller grains in the concentrated "rheological layer". </p> <p> Two different grain size patterns were discovered on the two sampled bedforms. A fining upward trend toward the crest on both the stoss and slip faces was observed on an ebb dominated megaripple on Selmah Bar. The exact opposite pattern was noted on an ebb dominated sandwave from East Noel Bar. On this bedform, an upward coarsening trend toward the crest was discovered on both the stoss and slip faces. These two patterns correspond to the patterns observed by Dalrymple (1977) in his studies of intertidal bedforms. </p>