Particle‐Size Analysis by Pipette and SediGraph

Abstract

Abstract The pipette and SediGraph methods of particle size analyses were compared on 55 samples. The best agreement between the two methods was on 12 of the 55 samples treated to remove organic matter and soluble salts. The correlation for all sizes combined from the 55 samples was 0.97 with a standard deviation from regression of 5.54%. The agreement between the two methods was good at all individual sizes except the % < 50 µ m where the correlation was 0.12. Neither method is well suited to particle size analysis of suspended sediment samples with low concentrations or limited quantities of sediment. The major differences between the two methods are the time and labor required to perform the actual analysis and to calculate the analytical results.