Sediment sampling and the interpretation of properties measured using samples are among the most challenging tasks in geo-engineering. A sample is expected (1) to represent the sediment constitution (grain size, mineralogy, and fluids), (2) to cap­ture the statistics of the sediment characteristics, and (3) to preserve its physical properties. Unfortunately, most of these characteristics are seriously compromised in the sampling of HBS because of (a) unavoidable changes in effective stress and ensuing strains, (b) SH changes during sample recovery, handling, and storage, and

(c) discrepancies between GH feature scale and scale of sampling [127].

There are several initiatives to overcome or circumvent these difficulties. New technology developed at the Georgia Institute of Technology makes possible pres­sure core testing to characterize HBSs without ever exposing them outside the PT-stability field [222]. A significant effort is in progress to relate index properties to the bounds of HBS properties [31,45, 221], and to further complement the analy­sis with geomechanical and geophysical testing [31, 70, 101, 113]. We can antici­pate that further developments in sediment characterization will include more extensive developments in in situ testing. Finally, proper formation characterization will combine information gathered using index-property-based bounds, reconsti­tuted specimens, pressure cores, and in situ testing data.