SEDIMENTARY ROCKS FROM THE CONTINENTAL SHELF
AND SLOPE OFF THE CENTRAL COAST OF OREGON
By
Neil J. Maloney and John V. Byrne
Reprinted from: The ORE BIN, vol. 26, no. 5, May 1964
Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries
1069 State Office Building, Portland , Oregon 97215
The ORE BIN
Volume 26, No. 5
May, 1964
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS FROM THE CONTINENTAL SHELF
AND SLOPE OFF THE CENTRAL COAST OF OREGON
By
Neil J. Maloney and John V. Byrne*
During the period from July 1961 to September 1963, rocks were collected
from 138 different locations on the continental shelf and slope off the central coast of Oregon by the Department of Oceanography, Oregon State
University. The sample locations, types of samplers, and general lithologies for all of the samples are listed in Table 1. The sample positions are
plotted in Figure 1.
In Table 1 the samples are numbered consecutively according to their
geographic position. The OSU Sample Number, by which the sample is
filed at the Department of Oceanography, is given also. Two locations are
listed for those samples collected by dragging a dredge along the bottom
for some distance. The two positions indicate the start and finish of the
dredge haul . Other types of samples have only one location listed. Positions are based on navigation by loran or by radar. The approximate
depths from which the samples were taken can be estimated from the contours in Figure 1.
Gravity corers, grab samplers, and a variety of dredges were used to
collect the rocks. The gravity corer was allowed to fall free into the bottom. The weight of the instrument (about 59 pounds) was sufficient to
drive the core barrel 3 to 4 inches into soft rock. The grab sampler used
was a Dietz-Lafond "snapper" type and was successful in collecting rocks
lying loose on the bottom. Four types of dredges were employed: The
anchor dredge and the otter trawl are primarily biological dredges; the
frame or Agassiz dredge is used both by geologists and biologists; and the
pipe dredge, designed for collecting rocks, is employed almost solely by
geologists. In essence, ail of the dredges aresimply open frames to which
is attached some type of collecting bag or container. As the dredge is
dragged across the sea floor, it scoops up whatever it enc ,- inters.
General lithologies are listed in Table 1 . The rocks are predominantly
si I tstones, with a few samples of sandstone and limestone. Limestone sampl es
* Department of Oceanography, Oregon State University, Corvallis,
(77)
TABLE 1. Rock Samples - Oregon Continental Terrace
No.
OSU Sample
No.
6308-1
2
OC-0023
3
4
5
6
7
6306-2
6306-3
6301-16
6306-4
6306-10
Latitude
Longitude
43 48.1
43 50.0
43 49.8
124 53.8
124 55.0
124 46.5
124 55.5
124 53.1
124 25.0
124 56.0
124 47.1
12447.6
124 54.2
124 56.0
124 47.7
124 42.2
124 25.4
124 43.0
124 47.2
124 55.4
124 40.0
124 41 .6
125 08.3
12509.0
124 42.8
124 46.9
124 47.7
124 51.0
124 56.7
124 53.9
124 51.6
124 56.8
124 47.4
124 51.5
124 55.5
124 51.9
Type of 1/
Sampler
P
OT
Rock Type
Silty limestone
P
P
F
P
P
Calcareous siltstone with vugular
aragonite
Silty limestone
Shaley mud
Siltstone
Green pellet, calcareous siltstone
Limestone
P
P
F
P
G
C
C
C
F
Silty limestone
Silty limestone
Limestone
Limestone
Siltstone
Stiff, gray, silty clay
Clayey siltstone
Limestone pebbles
Siltstone
P
Silty limestone
G
C
F
C
C
F
F
P
C
C
C
F
Calcareous siltstone pebble
Friable clayey siltstone
Silty limestone
Friable clayey siltstone
Diatomaceous clayey siltstone
Diatomaceous siltstone
Siltstone
Diatomaceous siltstone
Friable clayey siltstone
Friable clayey siltstone
Friable clayey siltstone
Diatomaceous siltstone, calcareous
pebble
Calcareous fine sandstone and
siltstone
Stiff clay and shale chips
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
6308-15
6306-8
6209-23
6306-9
6301-2-100
6301-2-96
6301-2-95
6301-2-93
6301-17
17
6308-16
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
6301-2-89
6301-2-90
6209-24
6301-2-91
6301-2-92
6209-25
6209-21
6306-11
6301-2-73
6301-2-72
6301-2-71
6209-20
43 50.1
43 50.3
43 51.0
43 52.0
43 54.6
4355.0
43 55.1
43 55.1
43 55.4
43 55.4
43 56.0
43 56.0
43 56.0
43 56.0
43 57.7
43 58.4
43 58.5
4359.8
43 59.0
43 59.0
43 59.0
43 59.0
43 59.0
43 59.3
43 59.8
44 00.0
44 02.0
44 02.0
4402.0
4402.1
30
6209-19
44 04.0
124 51.5
F
31
6308-18
6306-15
6301-2-69
6301-2-67
6301-2-68
6209-18
125 14.4
125 14.2
125 01.0
124 50.5
124 42.2
124 46.3
124 54.3
P
32
33
34
35
36
44 04.5
4404.3
44 04.9
44 05.1
44 05.2
44 05.5
44 05.5
P
C
C
C
F
Pebbles
Friable clayey siltstone
Limestone pebbles
Friable clayey siltstone
Silty limestone cobble, diatomaceous
siltstone
Type of Sampler C-Corer,F-Frame Dredge, G-Grab Sampler, OT-Otter Trawl, P-Pipe Dredge,
AD-Anchor Dredge.
Compiled November 1%3, Department of Oceanography, Oregon State University.
(78)
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TABLE 1. Rock Samples - Oregon Continental Terrace, Continued
No.
OSU Sample
No.
Latitude
Longitude
Type of
Sampler
37
38
39
40
6301-2-51
6301-2-50
6301-2-49
6301-2-48
44 08. 0
44 08..)
44 08.0
44 08.0
124 39.2
124 43.5
124 47.5
124 51.6
C
C
C
C
Limestone pebbles
Friable clayey siltstone
Friable clayey siltstone
Friable clayey siltstone
41
6209-17
Siltstone
0C-0048
OT
Calcareous fine sandstone
43
6306-18
P
Clayey siltstone
44
45
6209-16
6209-14
F
F
46
6209-12
12448.5
124 48.9
124 39.2
124 39.7
12459.3
124 59.7
124 48.5
124 48.8
124 49.1
124 46.6
F
42
4408.1
44 08.1
44 09.2
44 12.7
44 09.7
44 09.5
44 09.8
44 10.5
44 10.7
44 10.8
47
6209-13
44 10.8
124 51 .4
F
48
49
50
51
52
53
6301-2-43
6301-2-44
6301-2-45
6301-2-41
6301-2-42
6209-15
6308-23
P
Stiff, gray clay
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
6209-11
6301-2-28
6301-2-27
6301-2-26
6301 -2-25
6301-2-24
6301 -2-23
6301-15
F
G
C
G
C
C
G
F
Siltstone, calcareous siltstone
Limestone pebble, friable siltstone
Calcareous siltstone, friable sandstone
Siltstone
Friable clayey siltstone
Friable silty clay
Limestone pebble
Sandstone
63
6301-14
F
Silty limestone
64
65
66
67
68
69
6301-2-17
6301-2-18
6301-2-19
6301-2-21
6209-7
6209-8
124 44.4
124 48.4
124 52.6
124 35.8
124 40.0
124 49.5
124 49.9
125 14.1
125 14.1
124 43.5
124 35.3
124 39.5
124 43.6
124 47.7
124 52.0
124 56.2
124 52.5
12451.2
124 55.0
124 54.3
124 35.5
124 37.9
124 42.0
124 50.3
124 35.5
124 39.8
G
G
C
G
G
F
54
44 11.1
44 11.1
44 11.1
44 11.3
4411.3
44 12.4
44 12.6
44 13.0
44 13.9
44 14.1
44 14.2
44 14.2
44 14.2
44 14.2
44 14.2
44 14.2
44 14.8
4415.1
44 14.9
44 15.0
44 17.0
44 17.0
44 17.0
44 17.0
44 17.2
44 17.2
Clayey siltstone, calcareoussiltstone
Green pellet sandstone, calcareous
siltstone, diatomaceoussiltstone
Siltstone, calcareous siltstone, green
pellet sandstone, breccia
Siltstone, calcareous siltstone, green
pellet sandstone, breccia
Clayey siltstone, limestone pebble
Clayey siltstone
Clayey siltstone
Calcareous siltstone pebble
Siltstone
Green pellet sandstone, siltstone
G
G
G
G
F
F
70
6209-9
44 17.3
124 43.4
F
71
OC-0018
6308-28
125 13.2
12515.4
125 07.7
125 07.7
OT
72
4418.1
4429.7
44 19.0
44 20.0
Limestone pebbles
Si itstone
Siltstone
Siltstone, gravel
Siltstone, calcareous siltstone
Green pellet sandstone, diatomaceous
siltstone
Diatomaceol- siltstone, silty limestone
boulckr
Mudstone, diatomite
P
Pebbles, shale chips
( 79
F
Rock Type
TABLE 1 . Rock Samples - Oregon Continental Terrace, Continued
No.
OSU Sompie
No.
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
6301 -2-4
6301-2-5
6301-2-3
6209-10
6301-2-2
6212-18
OC-0022
80
OC-0002
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
0C-0015
0C-0021
0C-0032
OC-0024
OC-0012
0C-0028
0C-0026
0C-0033
6209-4
6209-5
91
OC-0017
92
93
94
95
96
97
OC-0005
0C-0014
OC-0027
0C-0043
6212-17
6301-4
98
99
100
6212-8
6212-9
6212-10
101
102
103
6301-1
0C-0021
6301-2
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
0C-0016
6212-6
6212-16
6212-7
0C-0036
6212-2
0C-0025
6212-15
6212-4
0C-0001
OC-0035
OC-0047
Latitude
Longitude
44 19.7
44 19.9
44 20.0
44 20.0
44 20.0
44 20.6
44 21.9
4421.0
44 22.5
44.24.0
124 30.0
124 28.3
124 41.0
124 41.0
124 45.2
124 34.4
124 43.6
1 24 43.6
125 13.8
125 14.2
44 22.7
44 22.7
44 22.8
44 23.0
44 23.9
44 25.6
44 25.6
44 25.8
44 26.3
44 26.3
4426.7
44 27.0
44 35.8
44 27.6
44 28.3
44 28.8
44 28.8
44 28.9
44 29.5
44 30.0
44 30.0
44 30.0
44 30.0
124 38.8
124 39.3
124 35.4
124 31.0
124 40.1
124 26.8
124 31.2
124 39.3
124 50.6
124 42.8
12444.1
125 15.6
125 15.6
125 14.2
125 13.4
124 31.2
124 48.1
124 39.5
124 56.0
124 56.0
124 20.5
124 24.0
124 25.5
44 30.0
44 30.2
4430.2
44 30.6
44 31.7
44 32.4
4432.4
44 32.5
44 33.5
44 34.7
44 34.7
44 34.8
44 35.3
44 37.2
44 37.5
44 37.0
44 37.8
124 41.6
124 22.6
12449.3
124 49.4
124 22.8
124 24.5
124 30.0
124 26.4
125 14.5
124 23.7
124 27.5
124 31.5
124 27.2
124 26.4
124 26.7
125 01.5
125 00.6
Type of
Sampler
Rock Type
G
G
C
F
C
F
OT
Gravel
Limestone pebbles
Friable Fine sandstone
Siltstone
Clayey siltstone
Clayey siltstone
Clayey siltstone
OT
Silty limestone
OT
G
G
G
OT
G
G
G
F
F
Silty mudstone
Diatomaceous siltstone
Siltstone, limestone, pebbles
Silty limestone, diatomaceous siltstone
Diatomaceous siltstone
Siltstone
Si Itstone
Siltstone
Siltstone
Calcareous siltstone
OT
Mudstone, clinker
OT
OT
G
Wood, clinker, clayey siltstone
Clinker
Calcareous siltstone
Siltstone
Calcareous siltstone
Siltstone
F
F
F
F
F
F
OT
F
Silty limestone, siltstone
Diatomaceous siltstone
Siltstone, calcareous siltstone with
green pellets
Silty limestone, calcareous siltstone
Siltstone, calcareous siltstone
Silty limestone, calcareoussiltstone
F
F
F
AD
F
G
F
F
F
G
AD
Clayey siltstone with diatoms
Calcareous sit tstone
Calcareous siltstone, siltstone
Siltstone, calcareous siltstone
Friable fine sandstone
Siltstone
Diatomaceous siltstone
Siltstone
Calcareous siltstone
Diatomaceous siltstone
Calcareous siltstone, siltstone pebbles
Coal, clinker
(80)
TABLE 1. Rock Samples - Oregon Continental Terrace, Continued
No.
051.1 Sample
No.
Latitude
Longitude
124 22.5
124 51 .8
124 51.8
125 19.3
125 19.5
124 50.7
124 20.1
124 25.6
116
117
118
119
0C-0031
OC-0004
0C-0042
OC-0040
120
121
122
0C-0046
0C-0045
OC-0019
44 37.7
44 38.1
44 38.1
44 38.3
44 38.8
44 38.5
44 38.6
44 38.6
123
124
0C-0009
OC-0010
44 38.6
44 38.6
124 25.7
124 26.2
125
0C-0007
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
0C-0039
OC-0037
OC-0041
OC-0008
OC-0038
0C-0006
OC-0020
0C-0003
0C-0013
OC-0034
0C-0011
6305-3
0C-0044
44 38.8
44 39.0
44 38.8
44 39.0
44 39.0
44 39.1
44 39.1
44 39.6
44 39.7
44 39.9
44 40.0
44 40.5
44 40.6
44 41.0
44 44.8
124 43.5
124 44.0
125 12.1
125 10.0
125 11.0
125 00.5
125 19.5
124 52.6
124 27.0
124 50.3
124 56.0
124 31.5
124 58.9
125 06.0
124 32.3
Type of
Sampler
Rock Type
G
OT
AD
AD
Siltstone
Siltstone
Clayey siltstone
Silty mudstone
AD
AD
F
Calcareous siltstone
Friable sandstone
Diatomaceous siltstone, calcareous
siltstone
Diatomaceous siltstone
Clayey siltstone with diatoms
F
Silty limestone
AD
AD
AD
AD
F
F
F
G
F
P
F
Sandstone, siltstone
Calcareous siltstone, clayey siltstone
Clayey siltstone
limestone
Sandstone, clayey silt
Calcareous siltstone
Sil tstone
Calcareous siltstone, silty limestone
Clinker
Diatomaceous siltstone
Coal
Friable mudstone
Silty limestone
may represent calcareous concretions which have "weathered" from the less
resistant siltstone or shale. The stiff gray clay (sample 54) may be shale in
a stage of formation, or possibly is a submarine "weathering" product of a
shale or mudstone. Several samples are believed to have been dropped
from ships, and are thought not to have been in place at the time of collection, for example, the clinkers and coal of samples 93, 115, 134, 136.
In view of the current interest in the petroleum possibilities of the
area off the coast of Oregon, these rock samples have been made available
for examination at the Department of Oceanography on the campus of Oregon State University in Corvallis. Arrangements for such an examination
may be made by contacting Dr. John V. Byrne at the Department of Oceanography.
Acknowledgements: The rocks were collected during the course of research
carried out under contract with the Office of Naval Research, Contract
Nonr 1286; (10) Project NR 083-102.