Discussion: Bulk sampling of coarse clastic sediments for particle‐size analysis

Gale and Hoare (1992) have provided a figure relating maximum particle diameter in a coarse clastic sediment to the size of sample required to generate a reproducible measure of the particle‐size distribution of that sediment. However, they fail adequately to justify the basis for the criterion of sample adequacy adopted in their proposal. Additionally, there is a range of separate issues neglected by Gale and Hoare (1992) which makes their conclusion inapplicable in many situations. A fundamental issue that they neglect is the purpose lying behind a grain‐size analysis: this issue determines what grain size measures are appropriate, rather than the empirical, seemingly purpose‐independent, approach of Gale and Hoare (1992).