It is commonly difficult to make accurate structural and textural descriptions of marine sediments because of the plasticity of the material and the significant but subtle property differences. Several methods, however, can be applied.

X-ray radiography, both stereo and normal, allows the nondestructive examination of the sample. Structures may be mapped and anomalous features identified before other tests are carried out.

Electric-logging procedures, both in the laboratory and "at sea," are used to correlate cores and relate sample sites. Spontaneous potential, resistivity, and other logging techniques also can be used.

Cholesteric liquid crystals are applied to the investigation of fine structural and textural changes. The ability of these solutions to delineate thermal conductivity differences is used to map structural, textural, and lithological differences. By changes in color in response to minor temperature changes, thermal resolution of 20 line pairs per millimeter is achieved.

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