The sedimentary environment of an arctic lagoon

Abstract

The sediments of Simpson Lagoon are sandy muds and sandy silts. Skewness and kurtosis appear to be functions of the mixing of sand and silt populations by seasonal energy fluctuations. Westward sediment transport is predominant as indicated by sand mode analysis and regional clay mineral variations. General statistical parameter variations are north-south apparently relating to the topography of the lagoon floor. No definitive characteristic of an arctic lagoon has been found and neither seasonal ice cover nor ice rafting are discernable in sedimentologic parameters.