Warren, Thomas. The Stratigraphy of the Southern End of Figure 8 Island, Wilmington, NC, Arendell Parrott Academy, Kinston, NC.

This project compared and contrasted cores from two parallel transects extending from the oceanward side to the back barrier side. Each transect consisted of eight cores, 1 meter in depth,  taken from the foreshore and backshore areas of Figure 8 Island.  It was hypothesized that the cores on the oceanward side of the island would contain higher concentrations of shells and shell particles, whereas the cores on the back barrier side would show evidence of both past and present marsh life and other organic materials.  The cores were split and examined, noting the sediment type, color, scent, and texture.  After the core sample data was transferred to computer, cores were datumed to sea level for further analysis of the island’s geological history.  Data indicate that, the oceanward side of the island contains a higher concentration of shell particles and the back barrier side contains more organic materials.  Wave energy dominates the oceanward side of the island is responsible for the higher concentration in shell particles.  Tidal energy dominates the back barrier side of the island, resulting in the development of salt marshes.