The settling velocity experiment, performed in a rapid sand analyzer, was conducted by sieving quartz and oolitic aragonite samples into narrow size ranges and subjecting these fractions to subsequent fall velocity tests. These results were attributed primarily to an initial unintentional oolitic aragonite profile slope which was considerably milder than the quartz test section, and increased fall velocities of the oolitic aragonite sediment associated with a slightly larger grain size (0.30 mm) than that of quartz (0.25 mm) resulting in less transportability. Analysis of the sediment transport experiment demonstrated that the alongshore sediment transport magnitudes for oolitic aragonite were substantially lower than those for quartz, and the direction of cross-shore sediment transport was found to be landward for the oolitic aragonite and seaward for the quartz test sections, respectively. The sediment transport experiment was also carried out in a partitioned configuration of the wave basin with one segment containing a quartz beach and the other an oolitic aragonite beach. The proportion of fill material remaining within project limits was determined to be, on average, 10% higher for the oolitic aragonite nourishment section. The results revealed that the average profile, shoreline, and volumetric density equilibration of the oolitic aragonite nourishment are comparable with, and somewhat superior to, compatible quartz nourishments. The nourishment sand sizes for the two projects were well matched. Both nourishment projects were constructed on an otherwise quartz beach. Each project consisted of a trapezoidal planform configured to induce rapid planform evolution. For the beach nourishment experiment, the wave basin was partitioned into two beach segments with a quartz project in one beach segment and an oolitic aragonite project in the other segment. The three experiments conducted during this study include a beach nourishment experiment, sediment transport experiment, and a settling velocity test.
Oolite aragonite sand series#
This paper documents a series of laboratory experiments designed to compare the evolution and transport characteristics of quartz and oolitic aragonite sediments. Oolitic aragonite is present in large deposits and is located approximately 60 miles offshore of the lower east coast of Florida in the Caribbean, and is considered to be an excellent candidate as a material for beach nourishment. Oolitic Aragonite Sand is the ideal grain size for reef tanks, fish tanks, plenum systems and refugiums.This study was prompted by the scarcity of quality offshore borrow areas and increased environmental concerns associated with offshore dredging, primarily along the South Florida coast, and the possible use of alternate materials and methods for beach nourishment. cm of surface area providing a huge space for housing ammonia, nitrate and nitrite reducing bacteria. One kg of Oolitic Aragonite Aquarium Sand offers over 1 million sq. This aquarium sand has unsurpassed buffering capability and helps maintain a natural pH balance of 8.2 without the constant addition of chemicals. It is a pure Oolitic Aragonite sand collected from the crystal clear oceans of The Bahamas, with no harmful tar, organics or impurities. Combined with its near chemical purity, size consistency, and small grain structure, Bahamas aragonite possesses numerous advantages making it a superior source of calcium carbonate.īahamian Aragonite Aquarium Sand is the ideal substrate for marine, reef or African Cichlid aquariums.
It is tasteless, odorless, dustless and sustainable. The grains are OOLITIC (egg-shaped) and smooth. Protect the reef by using this superior and sustainable substrate.īahamas sand is raw, naturally renewable oolitic aragonite sand that is up to 98% pure calcium carbonate. Pisces Aqua Natural Coarse Aragonite 20 lbsĬalcium carbonate derived from oolitic aragonite is biogenic (created by living organisms) and naturally re-occurring.