Introduction

Many factors influence the size frequency distribution (SFD) of natural sediment populations. Solohub & Klovan (1970) list:

1. distribution of the source material;

2. mineralogy and texture of the source material;

3. the type and amount of energy at a depositional site;

4. the rate of sediment supply;

5. the possibility of sediment removal;

6. the mixing, sorting, and remixing of separate populations; and

7. digenetic alterations.

The scale and nature of sampling can also be very important (Grace et al., 1978). Analysis of the SFD of sedimentary particles remains an important tool for understanding sedimentary processes despite the varying degrees of success achieved by its application. Methods include interpreting bivariate plots of “statistical” parameters derived from SFD, or the shape of individual SFD, to more complex multivariate methods, such as factor or discriminate analyses.

Despite the potential pitfalls of the method (Ehrenberg, 1962; Matalas & Reiher, 1967; Glaister & Nelson, 1974; Temple, 1978), Q-mode factor analysis has provided useful geologic information (Klovan, 1966; Yorath, 1967; Beall, 1970; Allen et al., 1971; Clague, 1976; Dal Cin, 1976; Chambers & Upchurch, 1979). Its application, as with most of the other techniques involving size frequency data, has been based on empirical evidence; the results seem to make “sense.”