The concentration of 9 trace metals in sediment cores collected from the Continental Shelf off the northeastern United States are generally uniform with sediment depth and are low compared to average crustal abundances. No evidence for the accumulation of anthropogenic metals was found in these samples.
The sediment texture on Georges Bank is predominantly sand at essentially all sediment depths and at all locations. A larger concentration of silts and clays was found at some locations west of Great South Channel. The major clay mineral group in these sediments is illite with moderate amounts of chlorite and small amounts of kaolinite.
14C ages on total organic matter in sediments have given the first evidence that the area of fine—grained sediment south of Martha's Vineyard is a modern deposit. This area may be the only sink for fine sediments and sediment—related contaminants on the Continental Shelf exclusive of the Gulf of Maine. 14C ages on total organic matter in glacial till recovered south of Nantucket Island tentatively suggest the presence of Late Wisconsin ice at this location. Confirmation requires analysis of detrital coal in these samples.
