BULK SEDIMENT PROPERTIES INTERPRETED IN LIGHT OF QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE MICROFABRIC ANALYSIS

Sediments from Eckernforde Bay, Germany, are characterized by an aggre gate and channel microstructure, with channel dimensions about two ord ers of magnitude larger than interparticle distances within aggregates . Porosity within aggregates as determined by image analysis of transm ission electron micrographs was about 12% less than bulk porosity. Ill ite and smectite formed the bulk of most aggregates, while numerous bi ogenic particles generally occurred outside or on the periphery of agg regates. Microfabric analysis provides insights into permeability and consolidometer behavior of this sediment, reveals characteristics not apparent from bulk analyses, and may have implications for geochemistr y and physical behavior of the sediment.