The number median diameter (NMD), geometric standard deviation

(o,), and average diameter (Davg) wére obtained for each sample

anilyzed.
The NMD is defined as that size such that 50 per cent of the
number of the particles are smaller and 50 per cent are larger than
the stated size. The value is obtained by interpolaticn of two vals

bracketing the 50 per cent line on a cumulative graph of number distribution.

The geometric standard deviation (¢ ) is a masure of the de-

gree of homogeneity of the sample.

following relationships .21/

It is defined by either of the

:

cumulative 84.14 percent particle size on log-probability plot

Og = cumilative 50 percent particle size on log-probability plot

(3.24)

°g= eumlative 50 percent particle size onlog-probability plot
cumulative 15.87percent particle size on ee Os plot
025
The range from 15.87 percent to 84.13 percent is cne standerd deviation. %g may theoretically be any valve from 1 to infinity. Values
neer 1 indicate a homogeneous sample, As the value increases, samples
are indicated as being more hetrogeneous. In practice, values rarely

are higher than 4 to 6 for field samples.
The average diameter Day, =

2Dn

Sn

(3.26)

where 2D, is the sum cf the diameter of all of the particles
2nis the sum of the number of particles
Particles as large as 3000 m were found during the analysis.

The procedure of separating each sample into two fractions eliminated

the requirement of a common exposure time for both small and large
particles and the smaller particles were mre easily distinguished
than they would be in an unfractionated sample. Since a gross particle
size distribution was not made, the data from both fractions of each
sample could not be recombined to give one NMD for each station. However, the number of particles in the larger fraction was found by

microscopic examination to be only a smll percentage of the number of
particles in the gross sample; hence, the small fraction NMD would not

be raised by any great extent, if it had been possible to combine the

two fractions.

Thus, the NMD of the small fraction may be considered

to be the approximte NMD of the entire sample. It should be pointed
out that the use of sieves in fractionating particles may have some
tendency to break up agglomerated particles into their smiller com
ponents, although some experimental evidence indicates that this effect
is minor. Particle size results are presented in Tables 3.12 and 3.13
and are summarized as follows:

SHOT 1: The NMD of the small fraction ranged from 5 to 17.5.
The NMD of the lerge fraction ranged fro: 61 to 8p.

86

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