Impact of Biology on Particle Crushing in Offshore Calcareous Sediments

Abstract

© 2019 American Society of Civil Engineers. Sandy hemipelagic calcareous sediments are quite complex soils. In some instances, they can consist entirely of the skeletal remains of microorganisms, such as foraminifera tests. These calcium carbonate test (shell) producing protozoa are common in marine environments, accounting for the majority of the calcium carbonate in the open ocean. Foraminifera come in a variety of species, each with unique test morphological adaptation suited to their local environment. For example, planktic species have relatively low density tests and live in the water column, while benthic species have dense shells and live on the seafloor. This paper explores the impa..