A geotechnical correction for post-depositional sediment compression: Examples from the Forth valley, Scotland

Fine-grained sediments usually suffer post-depositional compression (compaction), which reduces bed thickness and lowers the elevations of sample positions and marker horizons. This reduction has been calculated for two general cases using geotechnical theory, and a correction (decompaction factor) is presented that can be applied to many field situations. Its use is illustrated by two examples from the clay sediments of the Claret Formation of the Forth valley. In the first, the correction is calculated for ¹⁴C samples from the Bothkennar research site near Grangemouth, and the effect on the reconstruction of water depths is discussed. In the second example, corrections are obtained for published sea-level index points from former shorelines in the Forth valley, using a method for a postiori estimation of geotechnical data. General conclusions are drawn between the size of the correction and the sample position relative to the local depocentre. Some applications to palaeotidal modelling are also suggested. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.