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Simulation of pebble abrasion on coastal benches by transgressive waves
Author(s) -
Bigelow Gordon E.
Publication year - 1984
Publication title -
earth surface processes and landforms
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.294
H-Index - 127
eISSN - 1096-9837
pISSN - 0197-9337
DOI - 10.1002/esp.3290090411
Subject(s) - abrasion (mechanical) , basalt , pebble , geology , clastic rock , rock fragment , silt , seawater , volume (thermodynamics) , mineralogy , calcareous , quartz , geochemistry , sedimentary rock , geomorphology , materials science , composite material , paleontology , oceanography , physics , quantum mechanics
Tumbler simulations of abrasion processes affecting rocks on basaltic marine benches have clarified the effects of mass and volume of rock fragments on their rate of wear. Several experiments indicate that rate of basalt wear increases with mass in the interval 1 g to 8 g, but is not related to volume of fragments abraded in seawater. Relatively small quantities of rock flour suspended in the immersant seawater substantially reduced the rate of basalt wear. Basalt and calcareous beachrock responded differently in systems with both rock types tumbling together. Examination of the cuttings from these low‐energy encounters suggests that abrasion on elevated benches along exposed seacoasts reduces virtually all clastic material to particles of silt size or smaller, producing essentially no sand.