Bottenprover

Bottenprover is a term used in geology, geotechnical engineering, and environmental science to refer to samples taken from the bottom layers of a soil profile, lake bed, or seabed for laboratory analysis. The purpose of collecting bottenprover is to examine the composition, stratigraphy, and history of the buried material, as well as to assess factors such as contamination, grain size, moisture, and organic content. The information gained from these samples supports civil engineering, environmental assessments, and scientific research.

Common sampling methods include borehole coring and soil augering for onshore investigations, and grab samplers, piston cores, gravity cores, vibrocores, or dredges for aquatic or marine environments. In boreholes, samples may be retrieved as intact cores or disturbed material, depending on the project requirements. After collection, bottenprover are preserved, labeled, and transported to laboratories for analysis. Analyses may cover grain size distribution, moisture content, Atterberg limits, pH, total organic carbon, mineral composition, and trace metals, among others. Dating techniques such as radiocarbon or other stratigraphic methods may be used to establish a timeline for sediment layers.

Applications of bottenprover include informing foundation design and stability assessments for buildings, bridges, and dams; evaluating groundwater flow and contamination risk; studying sediment transport and environmental changes in lakes and seas; and contributing to archaeological or paleontological investigations by providing material from the bottom layers. The term is often used in Swedish-speaking contexts and is generally understood within broader sediment sampling and geotechnical disciplines.