Foreshore Environments Research Articles

An Overview of Conservation Methods for Human Skeletal Remains Recovered in an Aquatic Context and Their Forensic Application

ABSTRACTThere is limited scientific literature describing forensic recovery operations in a maritime context, both underwater and coastal as it is not always possible to authorize the publication of such materials which is sensitive both to the victims and their surviving families. Recent scholarly work recognizes that materials recovered from marine settings require conservation processes and consolidation treatments, which can interfere with pathological, traumatic, and taphonomic evidence associated with human remains. I performed a systematic review of conservation and consolidation methods concerning organic material, specifically focusing on skeletal remains recovered in an aquatic environment. These were complemented by 50+ cases of human skeletal remains recovered in a waterlogged or foreshore environment and include both forensic and historic remains. Following that, I produced nuanced tabular data concerning the recovery context (historic vs. forensic remains), environment (submerged vs. foreshore), water conditions (saltwater vs. freshwater), consolidation and conservation methods used, and relevant references. The collected information demonstrated the preference to use less invasive methods. This allowed me to discuss possible solutions concerning the on‐site treatment of the remains, transportation medium and conditions, conservation, consolidation, and restoration methods which will not compromise the remains prior forensic analyses, and post‐forensic analyses storage conditions. This study has not been attempted before and aims to create a bridge from forensics into conservation of maritime finds which currently does not exist. Moreover, it will provide forensic practitioners with a basis to explore the featured cases, conservation methods and materials used, and push scientific boundaries further.

BIOSTRATIGRAPHY STUDY OF UQUO WELL 12, OML 13, OF UQUO FIELD, NIGER DELTA

Palynological analysis was carried out on twenty ditch cutting samples which were gotten from Uquo well 12 located at Uquo, Akwa Ibom state. The depth ranged from 1720ft to 2860ft. The aim of the study was to determine the age, depositional environment and paleoecology penetrated by the well. The palynological analysis yielded sufficient palynomorph (pollen, spores, Acritach). The most occurred palynomorphs recovered were Smooth monolete spore, Verrucatosporite tenellis, Foraminiferal test lining, Polypodiaceiosporites sp. The dominance of mangrove pollens; Zonocostites ramonae and Psilatricolporites crassus, this indicates that the sediments were likely deposited in a mangrove environment under a wet climate during the Pliocene. The age range penetrated by the well is late Miocene to Early Pliocene because of the co-occurrence of the index species of Cyperaceopollis spore, Nympheapollis lotus and Stereisporites spore seen at 1900ft and 2440ft. Since the study area is foreshore environment and the characteristics are: moderately low to moderately high coastal brackish water swamp community elements, moderately high hinterland fresh water swamp/forest elements, absence of sporadic of marine element therefore samples here has relatively few content

Delineation of the general framework and quantification of heavy minerals distribution at Durgarajupatnam coast, Nellore, East Coast of India

Delineation of the general framework and quantification of heavy minerals distribution at Durgarajupatnam coast, Nellore, East Coast of India

Deposition of sandstone (early Cambrian) above the Great Unconformity in the Sino-Korean Block, Gondwana: Control of antecedent topography

Deposition of sandstone (early Cambrian) above the Great Unconformity in the Sino-Korean Block, Gondwana: Control of antecedent topography

The influence of infragravity waves on the safety of coastal defences: a case study of the Dutch Wadden Sea

Abstract. Many coastlines around the world are protected by dikes with shallow foreshores (e.g. salt marshes and mudflats) that attenuate storm waves and are expected to reduce the likelihood and volume of waves overtopping the dikes behind them. However, most of the studies to date that assessed their effectiveness have excluded the influence of infragravity (IG) waves, which often dominate in shallow water. Here, we propose a modular and adaptable framework to estimate the probability of coastal dike failure by overtopping waves (Pf). The influence of IG waves on overtopping is included using an empirical approach, which is first validated against observations made during two recent storms (2015 and 2017). The framework is then applied to compare the Pf values of the dikes along the Dutch Wadden Sea coast with and without the influence of IG waves. Findings show that including IG waves results in 1.1 to 1.6 times higher Pf values, suggesting that safety is overestimated when they are neglected. This increase is attributed to the influence of the IG waves on the design wave period and, to a lesser extent, the wave height at the dike toe. The spatial variation in this effect, observed for the case considered, highlights its dependence on local conditions – with IG waves showing greater influence at locations with larger offshore waves, such as those behind tidal inlets, and shallower water depths. Finally, the change in Pf due to the IG waves varied significantly depending on the empirical wave overtopping model selected, emphasizing the importance of tools developed specifically for shallow foreshore environments.

Trace fossils, algae, invertebrate remains and new U-Pb detrital zircon geochronology from the lower Cambrian Torneträsk Formation, northern Sweden

ABSTRACT Nineteen ichnotaxa, together with algal and invertebrate remains, and various pseudo-traces and sedimentary structures are described from the Torneträsk Formation exposed near Lake Torneträsk, Lapland, Sweden, representing a marked increase in the diversity of biotic traces recorded from this unit. The “lower siltstone” interval of the Torneträsk Formation contains mostly simple pascichnia, fodinichnia and domichnia burrows and trails of low-energy shoreface to intertidal settings. The assemblage has very few forms characteristic of high-energy, soft-sediment, foreshore or upper shoreface environments (representative of the Skolithos ichnofacies). Uranium-lead (U-Pb) LA-ICPMS analysis of zircon from a thin claystone layer within the “lower siltstone” interval yielded a maximum depositional age of 584 ± 13 Ma, mid-Ediacaran. Most of the zircon is represented by rounded detrital grains that yield dates between 3.3 and 1.0 Ga. Although the age of the basal sandstone-dominated interval of the Torneträsk Formation remains elusive owing to the absence of fossils, the ichnofossil suite from the overlying “lower siltstone” interval lacks deep arthropod trackways, such as Rusophycus and Cruziana, and is suggestive of a very early (Terreneuvian, possibly Fortunian) Cambrian age. The ichnofauna is otherwise similar to early Cambrian trace fossil assemblages from other parts of Baltica, regions further south in modern Europe, and from Greenland.

Lithofacies Study of the Mesozoic Rocks of Wandhaya Area, Southwest of Bhuj, Kachchh Mainland, Gujarat

Abstract The stratigraphic sequence exposed in Wandhaya area comprises of marine clastic sediments of Mesozoic, which includes M-III and M-IV of Jumara Formation, Lower Member of Jhuran Formation and Upper Member of Bhuj Formation. Lithofacies erected from the study area are Shale Facies (SF), Oolitic Limestone Facies (OLF), Intercalated Shale Siltstone Facies (ISSF) and Massive Sandstone Facies (MSF). SF is developed in M-III and M-IV of Jumara Formation suggesting its deposition in transition zone. Oolitic Limestone Facies (OLF) occurs only in M-IV of Jumara Formation indicates its depositional environment as offshore region. Intercalated Shale Siltstone Facies (ISSF) is deposited in lower shoreface to transitional and Massive Sandstone Facies (MSF) in foreshore environment, are exposed in Lower Member of Jhuran Formation and also in Upper Member of Bhuj Formation. The sediment characteristics and association of trace fossils in the rocks indicate distinction in sedimentation from foreshore to offshore environments.

Crassostrea patagonica (d'Orbigny, 1842) shell concentrations from the late Miocene of Río Negro province, NE Patagonia, Argentina

The Río Negro Formation (late Miocene-early Pliocene) mainly consists of continental deposits, but it contains a middle member of marine origin. It represents a transgressive-regressive sequence that can be seen at several outcrops along the N Patagonian coast. The taphonomical approach to the El Espigón marine deposits permits the identification of four main layers containing different kinds of skeletal accumulation, which mainly consists of oyster shells [Crassostrea patagonica (d'Orbigny, 1842)]. These concentrations display three different morphologies (pouches, pavements and bouquets) with a different taphonomic signature. These deposits were formed in shallow marine environments influenced by wave activity that produced valve concentrations of different entities. They contain several shell beds that represent event, composite, hiatal to lag skeletal concentrations. Trace of bioturbation in the sediment (Thalassinoides, Teichichnus) and bioerosion on the shells (Entobia, Gastrochaenolites, Caulostrepsis), and encrusters (cirripeds, bryozoans), are also abundant in the outcroup and constitute common components of these Miocene materials. Layers 1 and 2 of the sequence were deposited in shoreface(foreshore environments at the beginning of a highstand systems tract, while layers 3 and 4 were deposited at the end, or at the beginning of a forced regression, in foreshore environments, A final erosional episode cut the top of layer 4, which truncated the abundant bioturbation developed there

Shallow Water Bathymetry Derived from Green Wavelength Terrestrial Laser Scanner

Shallow water bathymetry has proved to be a challenging task for remote sensing applications. In this work, Green-Wavelength Terrestrial Laser Scanning (GWTLS) is employed to survey nearshore bathymetry under clear atmospheric and water conditions. First, the obtained seabed points were corrected for refraction and then geo-registration, and filtering processes were exerted to obtain an accurate bathymetric surface. Terrain analysis was performed with respect to a reference surface derived from classical surveying techniques. The overall analysis has shown that the best results stem from 35° to 50° incident angles, whereas for angles higher than 65° measurements are not acceptable, although for the same angle in front and close to the instrument accuracy is considered acceptable due to the high laser power. Also, high resolution micro-topography, shallower than 1 m water depth, was managed to be captured. Systematic experimental approaches are expected to improve the GWTLS technique to detect bathymetry, which is anticipated to assist in mapping very shallow foreshore, tidal, and deltaic environments, to contribute conceptual into developing hybrid observation systems for coastal monitoring, and also to be applied in various maritime applications.

Macaronichnus and contourite depositional settings: Bottom currents and nutrients as coupling factors

Macaronichnus and contourite depositional settings: Bottom currents and nutrients as coupling factors

Mineral distribution and provenance of heavy mineral sands (zircon, ilmenite, rutile) deposits from the NW Murray Basin, far western NSW, Australia

There is significant economic interest in the Murray Basin of southeastern Australia as it is proving to be a major heavy mineral sands (HMS) province that will be one of Australia’s major source for production of rutile, zircon and ilmenite. The distribution and provenance of HMS resources in the Murray Basin is poorly understood because of its huge size, limited exploration and the complex depositional, structural and weathering mechanisms in their development. In this paper, we focus on the Copi North and Magic deposits some 130–180 km south of Broken Hill, NSW. The heavy mineral assemblages of the Copi North and Magic deposits are very similar, with the main economic minerals being ilmenite, leucoxene, pseudorutile, rutile and zircon. Intensive fracturing and brecciation are identified in many samples and are inferred to have been initially caused by multi-stage deformational processes associated with metamorphism and then further developed through alluvial and eolian transportation. Both deposits are classified as ‘medium sands, symmetrical, mesokurtic and moderately well-sorted’. The majority of economic minerals are of low to medium sphericity and subrounded, along with abundant polished eolian quartz grains. The Copi North deposit has coarser and more poorly sorted sediments with higher HMS grades and magnetics content than the Magic deposit, reflecting a higher energy depositional environment. The main source for the HMS for the Copi North and Magic deposits is largely ascribed to the Broken Hill Block. Previous studies have shown that the Broken Hill orebody underwent substantial sub-aerial weathering over hundreds of millions of years. In addition, the complex metamorphic events experienced by the Broken Hill Block were capable of forming the broad series of minerals identified within the Copi North and Magic deposits. The HMS were believed to have been transported through paleovalleys near the Mulculca Fault in a southeast direction representing a feeder system into the NW Murray Basin. Both deposits feature a relatively linear geometry (roughly parallel to the strike of the paleoshoreline), with high HMS grades, modest tonnages, and coarser sediments when compared to WIM-style offshore deposits. Compared to other strandline HMS deposits of the Murray Basin, they are smaller in size although have similar high grades of 3.7–6.9% THM and similar proportions of the HMS assemblage of ilmenite, leucoxene, rutile and zircon. Deposits of similar size and grade are likely to occur throughout the northern part of the Murray Basin.KEY POINTSBoth the Copi North and Magic deposits contain similar mineral assemblages with the provenance of the heavy minerals ascribed to the Broken Hill Block.A relatively high energy inshore environment is inferred for the Copi North deposit while a lower energy environment associated with either a foreshore or backshore environment is inferred for the Magic deposit.Deposits of similar mineralogy, grades and size are likely to occur elsewhere throughout the northern Murray Basin.

A wave‐dominated, tide‐modulated model for the Lower Ordovician of the Anti‐Atlas, Morocco

AbstractHybrid depositional systems are created by the interaction of two or more hydrodynamic processes that control facies distribution and their characteristics in terms of sedimentary structures and depositional geometry. The interaction of wave and tide both in the geological sedimentary record and modern environments has been rarely described in the literature. Mixed coastal environments are identified by the evidence of wave and tidal structures and are well identified in nearshore environments, while their recognition in lower shoreface–offshore environments lacks direct information from modern settings. Detailed field analyses of 10 stratigraphic sections of the Lower Ordovician succession (Fezouata and Zini formations; Anti‐Atlas, Morocco) have allowed the definition of 14 facies, all grouped in four facies zones belonging to a storm‐dominated, wave‐dominated sedimentary siliciclastic system characterized by symmetrical ripples of various scales. Peculiar sedimentary organization and sedimentary structures are observed: (i) cyclical changes in size of sedimentary structures under fair‐weather or storm‐weather conditions; (ii) decimetre‐deep erosional surfaces in swaley cross‐stratifications; (iii) deep internal erosion within storm deposits; (iv) discontinuous sandstone layers in most depositional environments, and common deposition of sandstones with a limited lateral extension, interpreted to indicate that deposition at all scales (metric to kilometric) is discontinuous; (v) combined flow–oscillation ripples showing aggrading–prograding internal structures alternating with purely aggrading wave ripples; and (vi) foreshore environments characterized by alternating phases of deposition of parallel stratifications, small‐scale and large‐scale ripples and tens of metres‐wide reactivation surfaces. These characteristics of deposition suggest that wave intensity during storm‐weather or fair‐weather conditions was continuously modulated by another controlling factor of the sedimentation: the tide. However, tidal structures are not recognized, because they were probably not preserved due to dominant action of storms and waves. A model of deposition is provided for this wave‐dominated, tide‐modulated sedimentary system recording proximal offshore to intertidal–foreshore environments, but lacking diagnostic tidal structures.

Erratum to: Neogene eastern Amazon carbonate platform and the paleoenvironmental interpretation

The Early Miocene Pirabas Formation represents extensive carbonate and siliciclastic belts deposited in marine coastal environments along the eastern Amazon coast. This formation was studied in its palynological, crustacean decapods and sedimentary facies, to develop a model of its depositional processes, faunal and floral assemblages and the sedimentary environments, as observed in the B17 mine (Capanema, Para). The sedimentary records consist mostly of light gray to greenish gray mudstones with tidal bedding, calciferous sandstones, stratified biocalcirudites and levels with conglomerates deposited in a carbonate/siliciclastic transitional system with lagoon, tidal flat, flood-tide delta and foreshore environments. 18 palynomorph species were identified in the tidal flat deposits including one alga, five pteridophytes and nine angiosperms. Among the latter, mangrove pollen and spores of Zonocostites ramonae, Zonocostites minor and Deltoidospora adriennis are reported. Nine species of crustacean decapods were recognized in the foreshore deposits, comprising one Callianassoidae, two Calappidae and six Portunidae, represented by Euphylax, †Necronectes, Portunus and Scylla, the ecology of which is associated with beaches of marginal lagoons. The main factor in the formation of these carbonate environments is assumed to have been related to the lack of a large-scale drainage system such as the Amazon River basin in the transition Oligocene–Miocene, which may also have influenced carbonate production and resulted in a strong decrease of paleodischarges from incipient river systems along the Amazon coast.

Taphonomic signatures, ichnofacies analysis and depositional dynamics of fossil macro-invertebrate assemblages of the San Juan Raya Formation, Zapotitlán Basin, Puebla, Mexico

In this paper, we describe the taphofacies and ichnofacies from Aptian strata of the San Juan Raya Formation in the Santa Ana Teloxtoc area, Puebla, Mexico. A composite stratigraphic section was analysed on a bed-by-bed scale up to a total thickness of 765.5 m. Our results show the presence of 10 taphofacies and 3 ichnofacies. The taphofacies and ichnofacies interpretation, and its correlation with the sedimentary lithofacies, enabled the determination of a palaeoenvironmental model for the study area that corresponds to a shallow marine, open-coast, clastic system with episodic sedimentation as a product of storm events. This system had several variations in sub-environments, from foreshore to offshore. Foreshore and shoreface environments are characterised by taphofacies Tf1, Tf2, Tf3 and Tf10 and PsI and SkI ichnofacies, representing lower faunal diversity moments (with the exception of Tf3 taphofacies). Meanwhile, taphofacies Tf4, Tf5, Tf6, Tf7, Tf8 and Tf9 were representative of shelf environments and are described as moments of medium-to-high faunal diversity (with the exception of Tf5 taphofacies).

Facies-Dependent Occurrence of Shrinkage Cracks in the Glauconitic Sandstone, Semri Group, Vindhyan Supergroup

This paper displays a relationship between shrinkage cracks and lithofacies occurring in the glauconitic sandstone of the Semri Group, Vindhyan Supergroup, and interprets origin of the shrinkage cracks. The glauconitic sandstone member contains cross- and thin- bedded, and laminated sandstone facies. The spindle-shaped cracks are associated with the thin-bedded sandstone and the polygonal cracks are associated with the laminated sandstone. The cross- and thin-bedded sandstones contain well rounded particles that suggest reworking of the sediments by waves and tides in the shoreface zone. The presence of wave-formed ripples and wavy bedding in the laminated sandstones is an indication of the wave-dominated foreshore environment. The occurrence of glauconite suggests that the glauconitic sandstone deposited during transgression as a condense sequence. In view of the fact that the sandstones are devoid of clay content, it is interpreted that both the spindle-shaped cracks and polygonal cracks developed as a result of compaction during the process of synaeresis and the microbial mat added cohesion to the sediments.

Intersection of exogenous, endogenous and anthropogenic factors in the Holocene landscape: A study of the Naples coastline during the last 6000 years

Intersection of exogenous, endogenous and anthropogenic factors in the Holocene landscape: A study of the Naples coastline during the last 6000 years

Neogene Eastern Amazon carbonate platform and the palaeoenvironmental interpretation

The Early Miocene Pirabas Formation represents extensive carbonate and siliciclastic belts deposited in marine coastal environments along the Eastern Amazon coast. This Formation was studied in its palynological, palaeocarcinological and sedimentary facies, in order to develop a model of its depositional processes, faunal and floral assemblages and the sedimentary environments, as observed in the B17 mine (Capanema, Pará). The sedimentary records consist mostly of light gray to greenish gray mudstones with tidal bedding, calciferous sandstones, stratified biocalcirudites and levels with conglomerates deposited in a carbonate/siliciclastic transitional system with lagoon, tidal flat, flood-tide delta and foreshore environments. Eighteen palynomorph species were identified in the tidal flat deposits including 1 alga, 3 fungi, 5 pteridophytes, and 9 angiosperms. Among the latter, mangrove pollen and spores of Zonocostites ramonae, Zonocostites minor, and Deltoidospora adriennis are reported. Nine species of crustacean decapods were recognized in the foreshore deposits, comprising 1 Callianassoidae, 2 Calappidae, and 6 Portunidae, represented by Euphylax, †Necronectes, Portunus, and Scylla, the ecology of which is associated with beaches of marginal lagoons. The main factor of the formation of these carbonate environments is assumed to have been related to the lack of a large-scale drainage system such as the Amazon River basin in the transition Oligocene–Miocene, which may also have influenced carbonate production and resulted in a strong decrease of palaeodischarges from incipient river systems along the Amazon coast.

First-Cycle Grain Weathering Processes: Compositions and Textures of Sea Glass from Port Allen, Kauai, Hawaii

Abstract Chemical and mechanical weathering textures on siliciclastic grains have provided important information concerning depositional processes and environments, yet understanding is limited by the multicycle origin of most sedimentary deposits. Sea glass grains sampled from a beach in Port Allen, Kauai, Hawaii, were analyzed for mechanical and chemical weathering features using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). As a result of a proximal dumping-ground source, the sea glass offers a unique opportunity to study first-cycle grain weathering processes in a moderate- to high-energy shoreline environment. Grain-size analysis indicates that the largest grains are located behind natural barriers, such as outcrops and boulders. The best-sorted samples are from the lower to middle foreshore environment, whereas moderately sorted deposits are located closer to the backshore where storm waves predominate. Although there is no preferred distribution of different-colored sea glass grains on the beach, nonfrosted grains predominate over frosted varieties, suggesting constant input of fresh material. Grain surface textures can be divided into mechanically dominated and chemically dominated weathering groups. Evidence of mechanical weathering is provided by conchoidal fractures, crescentic gouges, and straight grooves, whereas chemical weathering is indicated by c-shaped cracks, halite (salt) and silica precipitation, and solution pits. Combinations of these features demonstrate that both weathering processes work together to degrade the grains. XPS depth profiling of individual grains indicates that chemical weathering occurs at different grain depths, with leaching of sodium from the glass surfaces. This study provides a rare opportunity to relate grain compositions and textures with depositional and weathering processes, due to the first-cycle origin of the sea glass. The results show that using XPS and SEM techniques is a broadly applicable approach toward unraveling chemical and mechanical breakdown of sediment in beach environments.

Groundwater response to the tide in wetlands: Observations from the Gillman Marshes, South Australia

Groundwater response to the tide in wetlands: Observations from the Gillman Marshes, South Australia

Late Holocene tsunami traces on the western and southern coastlines of the Peloponnesus (Greece)

Late Holocene tsunami traces on the western and southern coastlines of the Peloponnesus (Greece)