Interpretation of Physical Properties of Marine Sediments Using Multi­Sensor Core Logger (MSCL): Comparison with Discrete Samples

Multi­Sensor Core Logger (MSCL) is a useful system for logging the physical properties (compressional wave velocity, wet bulk density, fractional porosity, magnetic susceptibility and/or natural gamma radiation) of marine sediments through scanning of whole cores in a nondestructive fashion. But MSCL has a number of problems that can lead to spurious results depending on the various factors such as core slumping, gas expansion, mechanical stretching, and the thickness variation of core liner and sediment. For the verification of MSCL data, compressional wave velocity, wet bulk density, and porosity were measured on discrete samples by Hamilton Frame and Gravimetric method, respectively. Acoustic impedance was also calculated. Physical property data (velocity, wet bulk density, and impedance) logged by MSCL were slightly larger than those of discrete sample, and porosity is reverse. Average difference between MSCL and discrete sample at both sites is relatively small such as 22­24 m/s in velocity, $0.02­-0.08\;g/\textrm{cm}^3$ in wet bulk density, and 2.5­2.7% in porosity. The values also show systematic variation with sediment depth. A variety of factors are probably responsible for the differences including instrument error, various measurement method, sediment disturbance, and accuracy of calibration. Therefore, MSCL can be effectively used to collect physical property data with high resolution and quality, if the calibration is accurately completed.