
%0 Journal Article
%A McLoughlin, RJ 
%A Young, PC 
%T Sedimentary provinces of the fishing grounds of the North West Shelf of Australia: Grain-size frequency analysis of surficial sediments
%J Marine and Freshwater Research
%D 1985/10/01
%V 36
%N 5
%P 671-681
%K 
%R https://doi.org/10.1071/MF9850671
%U https://www.publish.csiro.au/paper/MF9850671 
%X As part of a multidisciplinary study of the continental shelf of north-west Australia, 354 sediment samples were taken to describe the distribution of sedimentary provinces contained within the region. A grain-size frequency analysis and subsequent classification have revealed six principal sediment types roughly corresponding to an east-west and inshore-offshore distribution. The study area is characterized by coarse skeletal detritus in the south-west, with a transition to a significant accretionary carbonate component in the form of oolites, pellets and infilled biogenic particles in the north-east. Superimposed on this pattern is a decrease in grain size from shallow to deeper waters, culminating in carbonate muds on the shelf slope. Carbonate content of sediments is uniformly high, ranging from 60 to 100% of the total weight of all samples. Non-carbonate material is principally clay; however, small quantities (less than 1%) of fine sand-size angular quartz are present. 
