sedimentpak

Sedimentpak is a standardized field packaging system used for collecting, preserving, and transporting sediment samples for laboratory analysis. The term refers to both the physical packaging and the accompanying metadata protocol that ensures sample integrity and traceability from field collection to analysis.

Physical design typically includes a rigid outer container or case, inert internal liners, and compartments for holding sample cores or tubes. Containers are sealed with tamper-evident seals and labeled with unique identifiers, barcodes or QR codes, and weather-resistant tags. Materials are chosen for chemical inertness to avoid altering sample composition.

Alongside the physical pack, Sedimentpak defines a standardized data sheet or digital record specifying geographic location, date and time, depth or stratigraphic context, sampling method, sediment type, grain size distribution, and planned analyses. A chain-of-custody log documents handling from field to laboratory.

Applications include stratigraphic correlation, geochemical and mineralogical analyses, grain-size analysis, and paleoenvironment reconstruction. It is used in field surveys, sediment cores, river and marine deposits, and contaminated-site investigations. Standard procedures cover sample collection, packing sequence to minimize cross-contamination, sealing, labeling, and transport to the laboratory under specified storage conditions (for example, cool or room temperature depending on analyses).

Benefits include improved reproducibility, reduced risk of contamination, and streamlined logistics. Limitations include upfront cost, need for training, and the requirement that laboratories align with the packaging standard.

See also sedimentology, core sampling, sample preservation, and chain of custody.