This document provides instructions for analyzing two marine sediment samples to determine if they are from neritic or pelagic environments. Students will separate the sediment grains by size using sieves and determine the percentage and Wentworth size of sediment in each sieve. They will then compare the samples to characteristics of neritic and pelagic sediments to identify the environment each sample came from. Materials needed are 3 beakers and sieves. Students will measure the sediment samples, separate them using the sieves, analyze the size and percentage of sediment in each sieve, and answer conclusion questions.

1. Lab: Analyzing Marine
Sediments
Oceanography

2. Typos…
 Materials – 3 beakers, NO spoons.
 #4 & #5 should say, “Put approximately 250 mL of
sample…

3. What are you doing?
 You will determine the environment of 2 samples of
marine sediment? Is on neritic? Pelagic?
 You will separate the grain sizes using sieves.
 You will determine Wentworth size of sediment in each
sieve.
 You will determine the percentage of each sieve/grain
size.

4. Review…
 Neritic sediment may have these characteristics:
-Coarse, may contain shell fragments, from environments
where water is moving rapidly, near the coastline.
 Pelagic sediment may have these characteristics:
-Fine, also may contain shell fragments, but not many,
from environments where water is moving slowly, usually
from deep-sea areas.

5. What do you need?

6. Overview
 Get approximately 250 mL of the 2 sediment samples..
 Measure mass of each sample. Remember to subtract the
mass of the beaker!
 Put sample 1 in sieve and shake for 5 minutes.
 Determine the % of sediment in each sieve.
 Using the Wentworth chart, identify each sediment in each
sieve (Boulder, pebble, gravel, sand, silt, or clay?).
 Repeat for sample 2.
 Answer conclusion questions and return materials where you
found them!