Sediments of the Kermadec Trench
Here is an artist's rendition of a Calcareous Ooze.
By: Eric Dellaratta
Sediments are particles of organic or inorganic matter that form floors for planet earths oceans. There are many different kind of sediments, but the Kermadec Trench mostly features biogenous deposits. The main deposit is Calcareous oozes. Calcareous oozes are comprised of calcium-containing material and decomposed organisms from the past.
There is an interesting process that happens as far as sediments are concerned in our assigned region. Since the Kermadec Trench is located at the intersection of two tectonic plates (Indo-Austrailian, and Pacific), some of the sediments are the result of underwater volcanoes. These are called Terrigenous sediments. When a underwater volcano erupts, it spews out material that is later formed into the sediments at the bottom of the ocean floor. This is made up of sands, clays, and mud.
The sediments on the floor of the Kermadec Trench are not very thick in comparison to other ocean basins around the world. The ocean floor in the Kermadec Trench ranges from 200-500 meters in thickness. The Sediments on the floor in the Kermadec are fine and there is a larger proportional value compared to other places in Earth's oceans.
Sediments are particles of organic or inorganic matter that form floors for planet earths oceans. There are many different kind of sediments, but the Kermadec Trench mostly features biogenous deposits. The main deposit is Calcareous oozes. Calcareous oozes are comprised of calcium-containing material and decomposed organisms from the past.
There is an interesting process that happens as far as sediments are concerned in our assigned region. Since the Kermadec Trench is located at the intersection of two tectonic plates (Indo-Austrailian, and Pacific), some of the sediments are the result of underwater volcanoes. These are called Terrigenous sediments. When a underwater volcano erupts, it spews out material that is later formed into the sediments at the bottom of the ocean floor. This is made up of sands, clays, and mud.
The sediments on the floor of the Kermadec Trench are not very thick in comparison to other ocean basins around the world. The ocean floor in the Kermadec Trench ranges from 200-500 meters in thickness. The Sediments on the floor in the Kermadec are fine and there is a larger proportional value compared to other places in Earth's oceans.