1. ERDC Knowledge Core
2. Pre - Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC)
3. Coastal Engineering Research Center (CERC) - (1963 - 1996)
4. Publication
5. Miscellaneous Paper

Title:	Oolitic aragonite and quartz sand: laboratory comparison under wave action
Authors:	Monroe, Frederick F.
Keywords:	Oolitic Aragonite Quartz Sand Beach Nourishment Sandbars Hydraulic Models
Publisher:	Coastal Engineering Research Center (U.S.) Engineer Research and Development Center (U.S.)
Series/Report no.:	Miscellaneous paper (Coastal Engineering Research Center (U.S.)) ; no. 1-69.
Description:	Miscellaneous Paper Abstract: Oolitic aragonite (or oolite) occurs naturally in the Bahama Islands in deposits estimated at 50 billion tons. Because this supply is tremendous and nearby, oolite has been suggested as a material for nourishing eroding beaches in the southeastern United States. CERC tested deformation of an oolite beach under laboratory wave conditions, comparing it with deformation of a beach of quartz sand having the same hydraulic size characteristics. CERC's 96-foot tank was split into two parallel flumes so that both beach materials would experience practically the same wave action. Wave heights varied from 0.18 to 0.53 foot; wave periods varied from 1.19 to 5.06 seconds. Early tests indicated that both materials behave similarly under such wave conditions. In a final test which simulated beach nourishment, the behavior of the two materials was almost identical. The results of this test generally indicate that from a hydraulic standpoint the oolitic aragonite is as good a beach nourishment material as sand of the same hydraulic size distribution, at least within the limitations of the laboratory facilities and test arrangement. Since the materials used had prototype size characteristics and were tested in a small-scale laboratory test, no accurate correlation to a prototype wave climate can be projected. The softness of oolite (about 4 on Mohs scale) could be a significant factor in a high-energy wave climate, especially if mixed with quartz sand (7 on Mohs scale). Also, from an ecological view, the possibility of biological contamination exists if a large amount of oolite were transported from its natural environment. A small field test of oolite conducted jointly by St. Lucie County, Florida, and Union Carbide Corporation produced no conclusive results.
Rights:	Approved for Public Release, Distribution is Unlimited
URI:	http://hdl.handle.net/11681/12901
Appears in Collections:	Miscellaneous Paper