Presque Isle Peninsula; a case study in beach cementation

Attempts to resupply the beaches of the Presque Isle Peninsula, Pennsylvania with new sand have resulted in problems with undesirable cementation of artificial beach nourishment material. Cementation of this material has resulted in the formation of high (8 ft), steep banks which are dangerous to beach-goers, inhibit access to the beach and are susceptible to undercutting and collapse. Calcareous coarse and fine materials were disclosed in source materials examined and were found to react with available sources of water to precipitate fine-grained carbonate cement in pore spaces of the previously unconsolidated material.--Modified journal abstract.