Mass‐physical and geotechnical properties of superficial sediments of the lagoon of Guarapina‐state of Rio de Janeiro‐Brasil

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Abstract
The water content, bulk density, shear strength and Atterberg limits have been measured on 4 cores of 55 to 115 cm in length, collected in the lagoon of Guarapina (State of Rio de Janeiro). The results presented here are the first of their type in this zone. The sediments settle at a high deposition rate in quiet brackish waters and are organic‐rich fine kaolinite dominated muds. The ability of organic matter to absorb water and to cause clay‐size particles to aggregate (greatly higher than 200% by dry weight) and plasticity, as well as low bulk densities and a shear strength of OkPa. Strong relationships exist between the amount of organic carbon, the water content and the liquid limit. All increase with increasing organic content over the studied range (0.2 to 13% organic carbon). Water content has a curvilinear correlation (R = 0.97) and a liquid limit a linear relation (R = 0.93).