Causes of silt inside wrecks

[Jared0425]

As the title addresses, what causes silt deep inside wrecks? Here in the Great Lakes, the water inside the wreck is so still, that not even zebra and quagga mussels can survive. That means that no dead, living, or decaying organisms can get inside the wreck, but yet when you get inside of them, there is 6 inches to 2 ft of silt on the bottom. I understand that when a hull slams into the floors of lakes and seas that some sediment cannget inside, but can't be that great of an amount. Also decaying metal flakes off at varying rates, but again not in such a great amount to cover the "bottom" with inches of silt. So does anyone have an answer to this? Interesting thought at least to me.

 

[DevonDiver]

No water is perfectly still, and all natural water bodies contain some degree of particulate matter, organic, mineral and other. Over time some particulate matter comes out of suspension and settles on the floor. In wrecks, that particulate matter can accumulate quicker than the open sea-floor, as it is less likely to be 'moved along' as it would on the open sea bed.

Even in very 'clean' or still waters, this process will still occur... just at a slower pace.

Wrecks themselves also release a large amount of particulates as they degrade. Not just rust, but also particulate from other materials inside the wrecks.