ISSN.

0110-0408

SOUTH PACIFIC
MARINE GEOLOGICAL NOT,ES
TECHNICAL SECRETARIAT Vol. 2 No. 10
CCOP-SOPAC ESCAP
..-e F b ruary 1983
SUVA
,

!
c

GEOPHYSICAL AND SEA'BED SAMPLING SURVEYS FOR

CONSTRUCTIONAL SAND IN NUKU'ALOFA LAGOON,
TONGA TAPU, KINGDOM OF TONGA
" r G.A. Gauss
~
./
~ Offshore Mineral Prospecting
c/o Mineral Resoutces Department
,Private Mail Bag
GPO Suva
.' Fiji

J. Eade and K. Lewis

New Zealand Oceanographic Institute

P.O. Box 12.346
Wellington North
New Zealand

ABSTRACT

A reconnaissance side scan sonar, diving and of shelly sand present is estimated at over
sea bed sampling survey of the nearshore area north 4,000,000m3. Tests carried out on samples of the
of Nuku'alofa was undertaken in June 1978 as part sand at the Concrete Research Association,
of an exploration programme for submerged deposits Wellington, indicate that it could be used for
of constructional sand. This was followed in concrete making, although it is not an ideal
September 1980 by more detailed surveys of selected material. It will produce a harsh mortar and a
areas using continuous seismic profiling, echo high cement demand.
sounding and sea bed sampling techniques.'
South of Pangaimotu Island on the east side of
The major part of the lagoon north of the lagoon, the sea bed slopes up quite steeply
Nuku'alofa is floored by silty or muddy sediments. from the lagoon floor at a depth of about 20m to
;;, Talus slopes of reef debris occur adjacent to the the reef flat lying at about the datum level.
,i! fringing reefs and patch reefs are developed in Sediments on the lagoon floor and much of the slope
", places, particularly in the main shipping channel are too silty for concrete making but shelly sand
.east of Atata Island. occurs on the reef flat here. Although the survey
.j' terminated on the edge of the shallow water, and
A large deposit of fine, shelly sand occurs in therefore thicknesses of the sand formation were
a reef embayment on the south side of Fafa and not determined, the reef flat is quite extensive
Velitoa islands about 6km north of Nuku'alofa. The and the volume of material present may be
deposit lies in between 2.5 and 30m of water, considerable. Live coral heads are developed in
covers an area measuring 2.5km in length and places and the flats are colonised by eel grass
between 200m and lkm in width, and has a thickness beds. Tests indicate that the suitability of this
of between 1.5 and 9m. The surface is covered by sand material for concrete making is similar to
eel grass in the shallow water areas. The volume that from the Fafa-Velitoa area.

155
 INTRODUCTION and embayed and gives lI/ay northll/ards to a broad
lagoon dotted lI/ith small sand cays and 1011/islands.
Extensive sand and mud flats occur off the
TonaataDu northll/est of the island behind the reefs that mark
, the northern limits of the lagoon here. In its
central part the lagoon off Nuku'alofa is open to
Tongatapu is the largest island of the Tongan the north and reefs are not present. On the
group, measuring some 35km by 20km and having an eastern side, holl/ever, a complex arrangement of
area of about 260km2 (Fig. 1). It contains the shalloll/ reefs and islands occurs II/hich extends up
capital and largest population centre, Nuku'alofa. to 15km north of the Tongatapu coast.
The island is formed of uplifted coral limestone of
mainly Quaternary age. It has been differentially
uplifted and tilted toll/ards the north and the Predominant lI/inds in Tongatapu are the
maximum elevation of 61m occurs in the southeast of southeast trades from May to November. Betll/een
the island. Loll/ cliffs and fairly narroll/ fringing December and April lI/inds are commonly from the east
reefs occur around the southern, eastern and lI/ith occasional northerlies. Violent squalls and
western shores, whereas the northern shore is flat hurricanes occur from time to time.

175O20'W 175°15' 175°10' 175°05' 175°00'W

21000'S C>

/]0
,...""" l r
a ~.-"-l.../ ~~ :." t...~ ~ '\
0 .~toto )/0)

21°05' I
,,/
Euaiki

~
21°10'

21°15'S ~

TONGATAPU
5., , , ,
0..., 5 10 15

SCALE KILOMETRES

Fig. 1. Map of Tongatapu and Nearshore Areas.

156
 Construction Material~ In the eastern part of the survey area between
the Fafa-Velitoa reef on the north side and the
Until very recently supplies of sand for Manuafe Island reef on the south side the sea bed
, construction of concrete buildings and roads, and forms a shallow, irregular basin with a maximum
for general uses, were predominantly taken from water depth of 10m.. South of Fafa Island, the sea
the beaches on the southeast and west coasts of bed drops off fa~rly steeply towards the main
Tongatapu, with a subordinate amount being obtained la~oon in which water depths are in excess of 30m
from the crushing of quarry rock. Sand (F~g. 10).
requirements, exclusive of some of the major .
planned developments, are estimated at about 8000 ~n the bas~s of the seismic profiling and
tons per year (Duphorn, 1981). It has become evi- s~m~l~ng. results the .survey area can be broadly
dent during the last few years that the rate of d~v~~ed ~nto two sect~ons. These are a northern
extraction of sand from the beaches has reached a sect~on of between 200m and 1000m width lying
level far greater than the rate of natural immediately to the south of the reef joining Fafa
replenishment. Radke (1981) quotes an average and V.elitoa Islan~s, and a southern section which
total carbonate production for a reef complex in occup~es the rema~nder of the survey area to the
latitudes of between 120 and 240 as 1.5kg CaC03 south. In ~he northern section the sea bed is
m2/yr. Using this figure, the Tongatapu windward generally fa~rly smooth, although isolated patch
fringing reefs which are about 125m in width would reefs do occur, as well as more extensive areas of
produce 187.5 tonnes/km length/yr. This figure coral or "hard grounds" (mixtures of coral, coral
includes material locked up in reef growth and lost rubb~e.and other c~ar~e sediment). The sub-bottom
to the reef system by transport down the reef front prof~l~ng records ~nd~cate that over most of this
into deep water. Apart from potential damage to northern section a layer of uncemented sediment
the tourist industry, removal of beach sand at between 4 and 15m thick underlies the sea bed.
rates much in excess of the replenishment rate This is underlain by a reflector that is considered
greatly increases the risk of erosion of the back to represent the top of a cemented or semi-cement
beach areas. Consequently, it is a matter of some formation which is here called bedrock. To the
urgency to the Tongan Government to find south of the northern section the sea bed is gen-
alternative sources of constructional sand. It was erally rougher and the sub-bottom profiling records
considered that certain parts of the Nuku'alofa and grab samples indicate that coral or "hard
lagoon would be sites of accumulation of sand gr~unds" occurs at, or very close to, the sea bed.
particles washed off the adjacent reefs and the (F~gs. 11,13,14 and Appendix 2).
surveys described in the present paper were
undertaken in order to investigate some of these The s~b-bottom profiling records further indi-
sites. The initial CCOP/SOPAC reconnaissance cate that ~n the northern section the sea bed layer
survey, carried out in June 1978 identified some of uncemented sediment consists stratigraphically
sand floored lagoonal areas usi~g sidescan sonar of an upper a~d a lower formation which are sepa-
diving and sea bed sampling methods (Eade et al: rated by a fa~rly strong, continuous reflector in
1978~. This was followed in September 198O-by-a most pl~ces. This ha.sb.eendes.ignated ~eflector A
deta~led geophysical and sea bed sampling survey of on the ~nterpreted se~~m~c prof~le~ of F~gs. 13 a.nd
selected areas. A description of survey methods is 14. The upper format~on has few ~nternal reflect-
contained in Appendix 1. ors, and sea bed samples indicate that it consists
mainly of a fine to medium carbonate sand with a
high proportion of shell material up to several
RESULTS centimetres across. The formation varies in thick-
ness from about 1.5m to 9m (Fig. 12). The maximum
thickness occurs on the northern side of the area
where the sea bed rises towards the shallow bank
1978 Survey connecting Fafa and Velitoa Islands. The surface
of this sand formation is colonised by eel grass
The side scan sonar records, diver reports and beds down to water depths of at least 10m.
grab samples from this survey indicate that most of ..
the inner lagoon floor off Nuku'alofa which lies The format~on ly~ng beneath Reflector A is
at depths of between about 20 and. 35m is muddy best developed in the area to the west of Line 9
(Fig. 2). Along.the reef fronts coral t~lus spills ~Fig. 9). To t.he east of. this lin~ the formation
down on to this muddy floor (Figs. 3 and 4). In ~s genera~ly th~nner and ~n places ~s absent alto-
the main shipping channel east of Atata Island gether, w~th the upper sediment formation directly
numerouspatch reefs occur on a muddyand sandy sea overlying bed~ock (Fig. 14).. Whe.rebest dev~loped
floor (Fig. 5). Patch reefs also occur west of the lower sed~mentary format~on d~splays prom~nent,
Makaha'a Island (Fig. 6). In The Narrows north internal, prograded bedding on the sub-bottom pro-
and east of Makaha'a Island, the current sw~pt sea filing records, ~ith apparent dips towards ~he
floor is composed of coral and coral debris (Fig. south and west (F~gs. 14 to 16). Reflector A d~ps
7). To the south of Fafa Island a sandy sea bed ~ently to the south and west in the north, where it
area occurs adjacent to the main reef (Fig. 8). ~s .developed.most strongly, then steepens over a
hor~zontal d~stance of about 150m, before flat-
tening to dip gently to the south and west in the
1980 Survey southwest. The reflector weakens in strength
F f V l.t A towards the south and west and the prograded
a a- e ~ oa rea bedding occurring in the lower sedimentary
..formation dies out in the same direction (Figs.
The sand depos~t o.ccurr~.ng to the south. of 13 to 16). It wes not possible to sample this
Fafa Is~and was furth.er ~nvest~gat.edby a deta~led lower formation with the sampling techniques
geophy~~cal and sampl~ng survey (F~gs. 9 and 11 and available at the time of the survey and therefore
Append~x 1). the nature of the material making up the lower

157
 175°15' 175° 10'

/If f~ Co
"""- j ~<Q,~ lI) LEGEND:
I ~~
~(i ~~
~-..,.> \, l «'uo\ ~ Run 18th June \978
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""Atata q,qj.
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~ '\\' Figs 3-8 Locotlon of sIdescan sonar record photographs
t! ~v
~\~ SCALE
1 ~v 1000 0 I 2
3 ~\ METRES '1"""'" I I KILOMETRES

Tufa,ka \ "o~

) ~~
f /
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~Manima
a Oneata

.i\:.\Of:l
'-'-"
Nuku Nuku
uno ar \\ '<..,..,>
V

Nuku'alofa

175°15' 175° 10'

Fig. 2. Nuku'a1ofa Lagoon. 1978 Survey Sidescan Sonar Tracks with Interpretation of
Sea 8ed Sediment Type.

156
 ..of Dual Channel
near Queen Salote Wharf.

Fig. 4. Photograph of Dual Channel Sidescan Sonar Record off Polo'a Island. Approx.
cover 300m width x 400m length.

159
Fig. 5. Photograph of Dual Channel Sidescan Sonar Record in outer Main Shipping Channel.

Fig. 6. Photograph of Dual Channel Sidescan Sonar Record Northwest of Makaha'a Island.

160
 ~g. .Photograph of Dual Channel Sidescan Sonar Record from The Narrows.

fig. 8. Photograph of Dual Channel Sidescan Sonar Record from west of fafa Island.

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167
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 -
formation is not known for certain. However, the voids content will result in a high cement demand
a~p~arance of the formation on the sub-bottom pro- and during mechanical mixing a proportion of the
f~l~ng record.s suggests that it .may constitute a large fraction will break up changing the grading
wedge of sed~ment formed at a t~me of lower sea of the material.
level by the prograding of a shallow water bank
in~o deeper. wat~r lying to the south and west. In Approximate quantities of the upper sand for-
th~s case ~t m~ght be expected that the material mation present in the two sub-areas outlined on
making up the formation is fairly coarse in the Fig. 12 are as follows:-
upper levels and in the north, and becomes finer
with depth and to the south. Following deposition Sub-area A: 2,295,000m3
of this bank, a sea level rise appears to have Sub-area B: 1,963,000m3
resulted in burial of the earlier bank by the upper
sea bed formation which is still being deposited at In Sub-area A water depths are generally less
the present time here. than 10m. In many places the lower formation is
generally thin or absent, and the upper formation
South Panqaimotu Area in places directly overlies bedrock. In Sub-area B
water depths range from about 30m in the southwest
From the reef flat lying to the southeast of corner to ab.out 6.m in the northeast. .The upper
Pangaimotu Island, which is at approximately the s~nd. :ormat~on. ~s ge~erall't underla~n by. a
level of chart datum the sea bed descends fairly s~gn~f~cant th~ckness of the lower tormat~on.
steeply to the lagoon'floor at a depth of about 20m Since the n~ture of this l.ower .formation has not
(Figs. 18 to 20). Although small isolated coral ~een det~rm~ned by sampl~ng. ~t has not. ~een
heads occur in the shallow water areas the ~ncluded ~n the above calculat~ons of quant~t~es.
sub-bottom profiling records indicate that 'along A map sh.owin~. total sedi.ment thickness above
all the lines surveyed a significant thickness of bedroc~, ~~clud~ng the th~ckness of the lower
uncemented material occurs beneath the sea bed format~on, ~s presented as F~g. 17.
(Figs. 19 and 20). This is underlain by what ap-
pears to be a cemented or semi-cemented formation South Panqaimotu Area
which is here called bedrock. On the lagoon floor
along survey line 11 the thickness of uncemented ..
material averages about 9m (Fig. 20). Beneath the. The Concrete Res.earch Assoc~at~on report con-
slope up.from the lagoon floor to the shallow water f~rms that the sed~ment ?ccurr~n~ on the lagoon
area the thickness of uncemented material varies floor south of Panga~motu ~s too f~ne for use as a
from about 3 to 6m. Bedrock rises towards the bank concret~ aggregate (Appendix 2). Coarser material
to the east and in the shallow water area of the occurs ~n the shallow water area to the southeast
bank itself the sub-bottom profiling records of .the island but, since. most survey lines
suggest that the bedrock surface may level out at ter~~nated on th~ ~dge of ~h~s are~, no accurate
about 5m beneath datum although few of the lines est~mate of quant~t~es of th~s mater~al present can
were extended into the ~hallowest areas here. be made here. However, bedrock may lie at a general
depth of about 5m beneath chart datum. If this
Fourteen grab samples were taken on the slope is so then s.ubstantial depos.its of predomi~antly
and in the shallow water areas south of Pangaimotu sandy mater~al would underl~e the sea bed ~n the
and two were taken on the lagoon floor further west shallow water area bet~een Pangaimotu, Manima and
(Fig. 18 and Appendix 2). These indicate that the O~e~ta Islands. Cons~derable numbers. of sma~l
shallow water sea bed material is a coarse l~v~ng coral heads occur at the sea bed ~n certa~n
carbonate sand with finer grained material occur- parts .of this ~rea and the sand surface is
ring in the downslope direction. On the lagoon extens~vely colon~sed by eel grass beds. Tests on
floor i tsel f the sediment consists of a very fine sampl~s fro.m .the shallow. water ~rea. sou~h. of
grained silty muddy sand Panga~motu ~nd~cate that th~s mater~al ~s s~m~lar
,. to that occurring south of Fafa Island in its suit-
ability as a concrete aggregate (see above) (Fig.
Material Quality and Quantity 21, Table.l and Appendix 2).

Fafa-Velitoa Area

The upper formation is a fine to medium CONCLUSIONS

carbonate sand with a high content of coarse shell
material up to several centimetres across (Appendix
2). Tests to determine the suitability of this THe inner lagoon floor off Nuku'alofa is main-
material for constructional purposes were carried ly composed of silty sediment at its surface. Coral
out on selected samples of the Concrete Research talus and sand spill down onto this floor from the
Association at Wellington, New Zealand (de Bock and surrounding reefs. Patch reefs are extensively
Woodhouse, 1980). The results of these tests are developed in the main shipping channel east of
summarised in Table 1 and in Fig. 21. Extracts Atata. The current swept sea floor in The Narrows
from the Concrete Research Association report are is composed of coral and coral debris.
included in Appendix 2. The grain size analyses
confirm the visual observations that the sands are About 4 million cubic metres of mainly fine to
rather poorly sorted and are from very fine to medium, shelly, carbonate sand occurs in water
coarse. The Concrete Research Association report depths of between about 6m and 30m immediately to
concludes that, although not ideal, the material the south of Fafa and Velitoa Islands
can be used as a concrete aggregate. The mortar approximately 6km to the north of Nuku'alofa '
made with .the mater~l will be harsh, causing a Laboratory tests indicate that, although not ideai
problem with surface finishing of the concrete. The this material can be used as a concrete aggregate:

169
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LEGEND
~ Boat track and fix position/number ~ Bed rock reflector
/'" Seabed/Strong seismic reflector ~ Uncemented sediment

"'",.."'" Weak/discontinuous reflector SCALE: Horizontal: I 5000 Vert. 1:500

Fig. 19. Interpreted Seismic Profiles, Lines 1 to 7, South Pangaimotu Area.

172
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173
 Table 1. 5ummary of CRAtest results on sample batch 1/086. Tonaa

TEST 1/086
ABC D E

Sand equivalent 60 89 75 84 88
Unit weight (L.P.), kg/m3 1200 1270 1310 1330 1330
Voids content, ~ 51 49 48 47 49
Flow time, secs 29.7 --27.6 -
Density (55D), kg/m3 2540 2550 2580 2580 2660
Density (OD), kg/m3 2460 2480 2520 2500 2600
Absorption, ~ 3.0 2.7 2.2 3.2 2.1
Fineness modulus 1.35 2.01 2.29 1.98 2.88
Median size diameter (mm) 0.19 0.37 0.5 0.36 0.8
(fine) (medium) (medium/ (medium) (coarse)
coarse)
Organic impurities not
present

A: Combined hand samples obtained at airlift sample stations

ALl (surface and 1.Om); AL3 (surface and 0.5m); AL4 (l.Om); AL5 (surface and 0.6m); AL7 (surface
and 0.6m); ALIO (0.6m)

B: Bulk sample from sea bed surface at station ALIO

C: Combined grab samples 5510,5513,5528,5536,5540,5544 and 5547 from the Fafa-Velitoa area

D: Combined grab samples 5559 and 5560 from 50uth Pangaimotu area

E: 5ea bed surface sample from airlift station AL6

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174
 Phi units
4 3 2 1 0 -I -2 -3
100 100

90 90

~ 80 80
:E
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+q;
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Grain Diameter (millimetres)

silt fine .BRITISH s e sand gravel CLASSIFICATION STANDARD

'. very coarse WENTWORTH

silt very fine sand sand pebbles CLASSIFICATION

Fig. 21. Cumulative Curves for Grain Size Analyses on Samples from Fafa-Velitoa and
South Pangaimotu Areas.

Notes: Sample batch 1/086 analysed by the Concrete Research Association, Welling-
ton, New ZeAland.

1/086A: Combined hand samples obtained at airlift sample stations

ALl (surface and 1.Om); AL3 (surface and 0.5m); AL4 (l.Om);
AL5 (surface and 0.6m); AL7 (surface and 0.6m); ALIO (0.6m)
1/086B: Bulk sample from sea bed surface at station ALIO
1/086C: Combined grab samples 5510,5513,5528,5536,5540,5544 and
5547 from the Fafa-Velitoa area
1/08.60: Combined grab samples 5559 and 5560 from South Pangaimotu area
1/086E: Sea bed surface sample from airlift drilling station AL6

175
 Considerable volumes of uncemented sediment REFERENCES
also occur beneath the lagoon floor off the eastern
part of the Nuku'alofa waterfront and beneath the
steep slope up to th~ reef flat lying to. the DUPHORN, K. 1981: Interim Report on Applied Coral
southeast of Panga~motu Island. V~sual Sand Investigations in and off Tongatapu. Con-
observations and laboratory tests indicate that the sultant's Report prepared for the Institute of
lagoon floor and lower slope material is too fine Marine Resources, University of the South
for construction purposes. Coarser sand deposits Pacific, Suva, Fiji.
occur in the shallow water area to the southeast of
Pangaimotu Island and on the reef flat itself.
Although no accurate estimate of the volume of this
material can be made from the present work, this
volume may be considerable. Laboratory tests de BOCK J.F. and WOODHOUSE, T.L. 1980: Report on
indicate that this material too can be used as a sampies 1/086 from Nuku'alofa Lagoon, Tonga.
concrete aggregate, although it is not ideal. Concrete Research Association, Wellington, New
Zealand Report.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

~he bathymetric map (Fig. .10), is b~sed on a Eade, J. ~i!. 1978: Nearshore Surveys off Tonga-
sound~ngs plot prepared by S~one Soaka~ of the tapu Tonga for Precious Corals and Sand
Lands, Surveys and Natural Resources .Departme~t, TG-78(1). CCOP/SOPACCruise Report 15.
Nuku'alofa as part of his bathymetr~c draft~ng
training ~ourse at the office of the CCOP/SOPAC
Technical Secretariat in Suva. Figures lI/ere dra~n
by Phillip Woodward and Chandra Singh. The contr:-
bution of the New Zealand Concrete Research Assoc~- ..
ation is gratefully acknowledged. James Eade of RADKE, B.M. 1981: Reef Sed~mentat~on. ££QEL
the New Zealand Oceanographic Institute commented SOPAC Report on the Insho_re a~~ ..Nea~~h~,e
on a draft of this Note. Resources Traininq Workshop. Suva. F~.l~: :5 -.

t ;
.--" Lr
" ..

'"iE'"

.,
,°, "!:. 1 ,,~r, 5s.2

3R8H ~je'I:O11OJ erl:t ~(

,'-~"'.,,"-"'-
"' h~H' L,t..

176
 APPENDIX 1

SURVEY METHODS

Naviqation and Position Fixinq

During the 1978 study the approximate position of the survey vessel was determined by reference to fixed
markers such as buoys, islands. shore points etc. and by dead reckoning between such markers.

The position of the survey vessel during the 1980 work was determined by the simultaneous measurement of
two ranges from suitably situated shore stations of known co-ordinates using a Del Norte Trisponder Radio
Positioning system. This gives a continuous readout of the two ranges on board the survey vessel and in the
mobile mode gives a best positional accuracy of about :!:3.om with optimally sited shore stations. At the
moment of recording of each position fix, all survey records are marked electronically and these fix marks are
consecutively numbered for subsequent relation to the navigation plot. A data printer was linked to the
Trisponder unit on board the vessel for automatic recording of position fix data. On-line navigation was
aided by the preparation of circle charts with range circles from each shore station constructed over the
areas of interest at 100m intervals.

Sidescan So~~r
A Klein 520 sidescan sonar system was used to produce records which are effectively "acoustic photogra-
phs" of the sea bed surface either side of 1978 survey vessel tracks. These records enable areas of different
sea bed surface sediment type to be differentiated and clearly show areas of coral outcrop.

Bathymetry

Accurate water depths were recorded along all survey lines during the 1980 survey using a Raytheon DE-719
chart recording survey echo sounder. The echo sounder was calibrated daily by the bar-check method and accu-
racies of water depths obtained are better than :!:0.5m.

Tidal reductions have been applied to the recorded water depths to relate them to Admiralty Chart Datum
by means of data from the automatic tide gauge located at Touliki harbour, Nuku'alofa.

Sub-bottom Seismic ReflectionP!:of.i!i_~q

A multi-electrode sparker and a precision boomer operated at between 200 and 300 joules were the acoustic
sources used for the seismic profiling work. Energy was supplied by an EG & G model 231A capacitor bank
linked to a model 232A power supply, giving a switchable output of between 100 and 1000 joules. Returning
acoustic signals were picked up by a multi-element hydrophone, filtered, amplified and recorded using a
Krohn-Hite model 3700 filter and EPC model 4100 graphic recorder. This profiling system commonly gives an
effective sub-bottom penetration in the order of 5Om with a vertical layer resolution of better than 1m in
suitable geological conditions. All sediment depths and thicknesses measured from the seismic profiling
records were calculated using an acoustic velocity of l5oom/sec., the approximate velocity in sea water here.

Lines 2, 4, 6,8 and 12 (Fig. 9) in the Fafa-Velitoa area were run using the sparker acoustic source and
all other survey runs were run using the boomer.

177
Sea Bed Samplinq

Sea bed sampling. during the 1980 survey was by two methods.

In both the Fafa-Velitoa and South Pangaimotu areas samples were obtained by means of. a Shipek grab
dropped by wire with a winch from the survey vessel. The Shipek grab samples the sea bed surface sediment to
a maximum depth of about 10cms. Samples obtained may be small where the sea bed material is firm sand of
fine to medium grade.

In addition, in the Fafa-Velitoa area, attempts were made to obtain samples from beneath the sea bed
surface by means of an airlift drilling device. This consisted of a plastic tube 2m in length into one end
of which compressed air was introduced from a low pressure compressor situated on the survey vessel. The
tube is held vertically by a diver and sediment is lifted up the tube by the rising compressed air to be dis-
persed in the water above the tube. The plastic tube gradually drills itself into the sea bed until it meets
an obstruction. It can be removed when required for down-hole sampling by hand. By this means ten drilling
stations were undertaken in the Fafa-Velitoa area with depths of sub-bottom penetration ranging from 0.2 to
1.6m in sediment floored areas.

Sea bed sampling during the 1978 survey was by Dietz grab.

Survey Vessel

The vessel used primarily for all survey work was the government pilot boat, MV UNGA, which was highly
suitable for the operations being undertaken. In addition, an inflatable dinghy provided by-the UNDP Techni-
cal Secretariat was used for the diver operated airlift drilling work of the 1980 survey.

i;" ; ~.;
')0",1:1 \,1J.2!Jr1l"

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178
 ,. ..1111 APPENDIX
2

GRAB
SAMPLE
DESCRIPTIONS
-FAFA-VELITOA
AREA

SAMPLE
NO. DESCRIPTION
55 1 light grey coloured, mainly medium to coarse carbonate sand with some pebble sized shell
material.
55 2 small sample of medium to coarse carbonate sand with coral and shell fragments (grab
appears to have landed on small coral knoll). Organic material present.
55 3 trace of sand in sample bucket.
554 trace of sand in sample bucket.
55 5 small sample of silty, fine to medium, light greyish sand with some pebble sized shell
material. Organic material present.
55 6 light grey coloured, fine silty sand with some pebble sized shell material.
55 7 small sample of fine to medium, brown-grey, silty sand with some pebble sized shell mat-
erial. Organic material present.
55 B fine to medium silty sand with abundant coarse sand and pebble sized shell material.
Organic material present.
55 9 medium to coarse, grey-brown sand with pebble sized shell material. Organic material
present.
5510 fine to medium, silty, grey sand with pebble sized shell material. Organic material
present.
5511 fine to medium, silty grey sand and pebble sized shell material. Organic material
present.
5512 medium to coarse, grey sand with abundant pebble sized shell material. Organic material
present.
5513 mainly silty, medium, grey sand, with pebble sized shell material. Organic material
present.
5514 fine to medium, light grey sand with pebble sized shell material. Organic material
present.
5515 fine to medium, brown-grey, silty sand with pebble sized shell material.
5516 medium to coarse, silty, grey sand with pebble sized shell material. Organic material
present.
5517 medium to coarse, silty, grey sand with pebble sized shell material. Organic material
present.
551B medium to
present. coarse, silty, grey
. sand with pebble sized shell material. Organic material

5519 medium to coarse, silty, grey sand with pebble sized shell material.
5520 mainly fine to 'medium, brown-grey, silty sand with a little organic material.
5521 medium to very coarse, brownish sand with some pebble sized shell material.
5522 fine to medium, brown-grey silty sand.
5523 medium to very coarse, brown sand with some pebble sized shell material.
: 5524 fine, grey-brown, silty sand.
I
5525 small sample of light grey, silty, fine sand.
5526 mainly medium to coarse, grey sand.
5527 fine to medium, light grey sand with some pebble sized shell material.
552B mainly medium grey sand with some pebble sized shell material.
5529 medium to very coarse, grey, silty sand with some pebble sized shell material.
553q grey, silty, medium sand.
5531 silty, fine to medium, grey sand with some pebble sized shell material. Organic
material present.

179
.. ;~
!:'i~
SAMPLE NO. DESCRIPTION

5532 small sample of silty, fine to medium, grey sand with some pebble sized shell material.
Organic material present.
5533 silty, fine to medium, grey sand with some pebble sized shell material. Organic mat-
erial present.
5534 silty, fine to medium, grey sand with some pebble sized shell material. Organic mat-
erial present.
5535 grey-brown, silty, fine sand.
5536 grey-brown, silty, fine sand with a little pebble sized shell material.
5537 mainly medium to very coarse, grey-brown sand with some pebble sized shell material.
5538 medium to very coarse, brown sand with some pebble sized shell material.
5539 medium to very coarse, grey-brown sand with some pebble sized shell material.
5540 medium to very coarse, grey-brown sand with abundant pebble sized shell material.
5541 medium to coarse, grey, silty sand with abundant pebble sized shell material.
5542 medium to coarse, grey, silty sand with some pebble sized shell material. Organic mat-
erial present.
5543 medium to very coarse, grey-brown sand with some fine material and some pebble sized
shell material.
5544 mainly medium to very coarse, grey-brown sand with some pebble sized shell material.
5545 small sample of light grey-brown, silty, fine sand with pebble size shell or algal mat-
erial.
5546 mainly fine, grey-brown sand with some coarse shell material up to pebble size.
5547 mainly very coarse, brown sand with some pebble sized shell and coral material.
5548 trace of coarse sand in grab bucket.
5549 mainly medium to very coarse, grey-brown sand with abundant pebble sized shell material.
5550 very coarse, brown sand with some pebble sized shell and coral material.
5551 small sample of mainly fine, brown sand with a few pebble sized shell fragments.
5552 grey-brown, silty, fine sand.
5553 sample of living coral/algal rock.
5554 medium to very coarse, grey-brown sand with some pebble sized shell material.

180
 APPENDIX 2

GRAB SAMPLE DESCRIPTIONS -SOUTH PANGAIMOTU AREA

SAMPLE NO. DESCRIPTION

SS55 mainly very coarse, shell sand with some fine sand and some pebble size shell
fragments. Small sample.
SS56 no sample.
SS57 mainly medium to very coarse, brown sand with some pebble sized shell material.
SS58 mainly medium to coarse, grey silty sand. Organic material present.
SS59 mainly very coarse, brown sand with some pebble sized shell material.
SS60 mainly medium to coarse, grey sand with some pebble sized shell material. Organic mat-
erial present.
SS61 small sample of medium to very coarse, grey-brown sand with some pebble sized shell
material.
SS62 small sample of medium to coarse, grey-brown, silty sand with some pebble sized shell
material.
SS63 fine to very coarse, brown sand.
SS64 very fine, silty, grey sand.
SS65 very fine, silty, grey sand.
SS66 very fine, silty, grey sand.
SS67 very fine, silty, grey sand.
SS68 mainly medium to coarse, grey sand with some pebble sized shell material.
SS69 very fine, silty, grey sand (small sample).
SS70 very fine, silty, grey sand.

181
 APPENDIX 2

AIRLIFT SAMPLE STATION DESCRIPTIONS -FAFA-VELITOA AREA

STATION NO. DESCRIPTION bEPTH BENEATH

I SEABED

AL 1 fine to medium li9ht grey sand with some coarser shell fragments -
divers hand sample. seabed surface
fine to very coarse grey sand with pebble sized shell material. 1m
as above. 1.6m

~:
Maximum penetration of the airlift drill was 1.6m. Representa-
tive samples could not be obtained from below about 1m (arms length).
However, divers observations indicate that the material consisted of
fine to medium sand with a high proportion of shell material up to
pebble size over the entire depth of penetration. A steady rain of
shell material was caused by the airlift during drilling. The drill
hole was self supporting.

AL 2 mainly coarse, brown sand with some shell fragments up to pebble size. seabed surface

~:
Airlift drill penetration was negligible. Thin surface sand
covering cemented substrate.

AL 3 fine/medium/coarse grey sand with some shell fragments up to pebble

size. seabed surface
fine to medium grey sand with shell fragments up to pebble size. 50cm

~:
Airlift penetrated about 50cm before stopping. Material seemed
similar throughout drilling and fallout of shell fragments from the
drill was continuous. Drill hole self supporting.

AL 4 mainly fine, grey sand with abundant shell material up to pebble

size. Organic material present. seabed surface
fine grey sand with abundant shell material up to pebble size. 1m

~:
Airlift drill penetrated about 1m before stopping. Material
seemed similar throughout drilling and fallout of shell fragments
from the drill was continuous. Drill hole self supporting.

AL 5 mainly fine to medium grey sand with some shell fragments up to

pebble size. seabed surface
mainly fine to medium grey sand with some shell fragments up to
pebble size. 60cm

~:
Airlift drill penetrated 60cm before stopping. Material seemed
similar throughout drilling and fallout of shell fragments from the
drill was continuous. Drill hole self supporting.

182
STATION NO. DESCRIPTION DEPTH BENEATH
SEA BED

AL 6 mainly coarse to very coarse brown sand with shell material up to

pebble size. seabed surface

~:
Sample was taken approximately 60m north of a large patch reef.
About 30cm of similar material overlay a cemented coral substrate.

AL 7 fine to medium grey sand with some shell fragments up to pebble

size. seabed surface
fine, grey, silty sand with some shell material up to pebble size. 60cm

~:
Sea bed here was sandy, flat and barren. Airlift drill pene-
trated about 1m. Material seemed similar throughout and fallout
of shell material was continuous throughout drilling. Drill hole
self supporting.

AL 8 mainly fine, grey silty sand. seabed surface

fine, grey silty sand. 20cm

~:
Sea bed here was silty sand, flat and barren. Airlift stopped
after 20cm in similar material on unknown substrate.

AL 9 fine to very coarse grey sand. seabed surface

~:
Sample taken approx. 50m west of a small knoll composed of ce-
mented substrate with small coral growths. Sea bed at sample site
was smooth and sandy and airlift penetrated about 40cm in similar
material.

AL 10 medium to very coarse, grey sand with abundant shell fragments up

to pebble size. Organic material present. seabed surface
fine to very coarse, grey sand with shell fragments up to pebble
size. 60cm

~:
Sample station near edge of Fafa/Velitoa reef on sandy, flat,
eel grass covered sea bed. Airlift penetrated 1m. (Two bulk sam-
ples of sea bed surface material also collected here). Drill hole
self supporting.

183
 APPENDIX 2 o r.. 1'1C'!T,',T"
~::~~~l
!illA
(, r:. I
EXTRACTS FROM CONCRETE RESEARCH ASSOCIATION "
--~--~
REPORT ON TONGA T APU SAND SAMPLES
(de Bock & Woodhouse, 1980) .,

Material Source: Nukulalofa Lagoon Survey, Tonga, 1980.

Material Supplied: Numerous small samples from various areas. These were too small for individual testing
anirwerecombined as follows:-
Sample Code 1/086A
Airlift samples from Fafa/Velitoa area. AL 1 (surface), AL 1 (1m), AL 3 (50cm), AL 3 (surface), AL 4
(surface), AL 4 (1m), AL 5 (surface), AL 5 (60cm), AL 7 (60cm), AL 7 (surface) and AL 10 (60cm).

Sample Code 1/086B

Bulk sample AL/IO. Airlift sample Fafa/Velitoa area.

Sample Code 1/086C

Grab samples from Fafa/Velitoa area. 5510,5513,5528,5536 (very silty), 5540, 5544 & 5547.

Sample Code 1/086D

Grab samples from South Pangaimotu area. 5559 and 5560 only. 5570 was excluded as it was very silty and
taken remote from the other two samples. It would be quite unsuitable for use as a concrete aggregate.

Sample Code 1/086E

Airlift sample AL6 from Fafa/Velitoa area.

~:
(i) 2 samples of AL 5 (surface) submitted but only one was included in sample 1/086A.
(ii) Sample AL 6 was vastly different from the other samples and therefore tested separately as 1/086E.

Comments on the test results of sample 1/086 from Nuku'alofa Lagoon survey, Tonga, summarised in Fig. 21
and Table 1 above, are:-

The 5 samples are all rather similar, the few differences are partly due to the sampling method. All
samples consist mainly of skeletal elements and fragments of the Lagoon fauna. The fineness modulus is low
with the exception of 1/086E in which the fines are partly washed away by the sampling method. The large
fraction of the samples consists of shell material and disc shaped Foraminifera. Due to shape and vesicular
charac~eristics of the fragments the voids content and absorption is rather high, and density is down. For
no apparent reason the density of 1/086E is 49~higher than the other ones.

Although not ideal the material can be used as a concrete aggregate. The mortar made with the material will
be harsh, causing a problem with surface finishing of the concrete. The voids content will result in a high
cement demand. During mechanical mixing a proportion of the large fraction will break up changing the
grading of the material.

184