An Analysis of Bioturbation and Ichnology in the Gulf of Papua, Papua New Guinea

Mud-dominant sediment dispersal systems are notoriously under-researched, mainly due to their susceptibility to weathering and homogeneity in hand sample. The study of modern continental shelf systems is vital to understanding mud deposition and quantifying the degree of reworking acting in the system. This research investigates the sediment reworking and bioturbation in the Gulf of Papua continental shelf. Using x-ray images of two cores taken from the foreset of a shelf clinoform, a detailed analysis of lithology, ichnology and bioturbation trends was undertaken. Trends found in grain size distribution and ichnology provide evidence for components of reworking via seasonal winds and bioturbation. This research allows for further insight into the mechanisms that control sediment distribution on continental shelves and to what extent it is affected by reworking.