CONTINENTAL SHELF – 165m
Visual Core Description for ______________
Date described: 6th Aug. 1969 Described by: S. Gregori
AGE=CORE BOTTOM AGE IS UNDIFFERENTIATED NO AGE DETERM ACCESSORY
LITHOLOGY: STRUCTURELESS CLAYEY SAND ACCESSORY LITHOLOGY: STRUCTURELESS
SAND DOMINANT LITHOLOGY: GRADED GRAVELLY SAND PALEONTOLOGY:
FORAMINIFERA SPONGE SPICULES SHELL FRAGMENTS MINERALOGY: QUARTZ DARK
MINERALS GLAUCONITE PYRITE CONCRETIONS METAMORPHIC ROCK
Notes on coarse fraction vial:
CONTINENTAL SLOPE – 1291 m
Visual Core Description for ___________
Date described: 4 October 1966 Described by: R.Meijer Note: Description of a dry core.
0-160 cm: Brown sandy clay light gray (N7) grading downward to pale yellowish brown
(10YR6/2), brittle but non-compact. Homogeneous throughout. Worm burrow present
in top 30 cm. Sand fraction (approximately 40%) is composed primarily of sub-angular,
equigranular quartz grains. Micaceous mineral, green micronodules and juvenile
foraminifera (Globigerina) also present in minor amount. High carbonate content.
Manganese slight positive. Basal contact is sharp.
160-165 cm: Red sandy clay, moderate orange pink (10R7/4), non-compact. No visible
structure. High carbonate content. Manganese moderate positive. Sand fraction
(approximately 20%) is composed primarily of rounded to sub-angular quartz grains (red
stain); some quartz and quartzite grains (up to 0.5 mm) are significantly larger than
general sand fraction. Some type of fiber is present which intertwines and retains part
of the sand. Lower boundary is slightly gradational yet still distinct.
165-560 cm: Brown sandy clay pale yellowish brown (10YR6/2) to light olive gray
(5Y6/1), consolidated and brittle. Homogeneous throughout. No apparent structure.
Carbonate content is moderate to high. Manganese test negative.
320 cm: sand fraction,approximately 40%, is composed of a fine quartz sand, subrounded to sub-angular. Some coarse sand grains present. 1% opaque mineral, one
quartz grain 3x3x3 mm;
460 cm: sand fraction,approximately 60% is composed of sub angular to sub-rounded
quartz grains (fine sand), slightly higher percentage of opaques than sample above.
Pebbles up to 10x5x3 mm present--mica schist, quartzite, labradorite, quartz, and
hornblende. A few foraminifera present. Large pebbles are present at: 200 cm 35x20x10 mm 260 cm - 15x5 x ? mm 345 cm - 50x30?x10 mm 380 cm - 10x10x ? mm No
lower boundary.
Notes on coarse fraction vial:
CONTINENTAL RISE – 3880 m
Visual Core Description for ____________
Date described: 14 November 1979 Described by: R. J. Failla
0-16 cm: FORAMINIFERAL SAND Disturbed mixture of [clay] and [foram sand], pale
yellowish brown (10 YR 6/2), moist and firm, Carbonate content high. Coarse fraction of
[clay] 15%, consisting of abundant foraminifera and foraminiferal fragments, common
shell fragments, quartz and sedimentary rock fragments, rare dark minerals and trace
glauconite. Coarse fraction of [foram sand] 90%, consisting of abundant foraminifera,
foram fragments and quartz, common shell fragments, rare sponge spicules and trace
sedimentary rock fragments, dark minerals and glauconite. Basal contact a gradational
color and textural change.
16-200 cm: TERRIGENOUS MUD WITH TERRIGENOUS (FORAM) MUD Interbedded
[foram clay] and [silty clay], rhythmic bands of moderate brown (5 YR 4/4), dark
yellowish brown (10 YR 4/2) and moderate yellowish brown (10 YR 5/4), moist and firm.
Carbonate content low. Coarse fraction of [foram clay] 10%, consisting of abundant
foraminifera, common quartz and foram fragments, and rare sedimentary rock
fragments and glauconite. Coarse fraction of [silty clay] 10-15%, consisting of abundant
quartz and dark minerals, common sedimentary rock fragments, forams and foram
fragments, and rare glauconite. Basal contact a gradational color and textural change.
200-204 cm: FORAMINIFERAL SAND [Foram sand], pale yellow brown (10 YR 6/2), moist
and firm. Carbonate content moderate to high. Coarse fraction 80%, similar to [foram
sand] in unit from 1-16cms. Basal contact a sharp color and textural change.
204-448 cm: TERRIGENOUS MUD Interbedded [clay] and [silty clay], rhythmic bands of
moderate brown (5 YR 4/4) to light brown (5 YR 5/6) to dark yellowish brown (10 YR
4/2), moist and firm. Carbonate content low. Coarse fraction of [clay] >1%, consisting of
abundant quartz, common foram fragments and dark minerals, rare forams and mica,
and trace glauconite. Coarse fraction of [silty clay] 1-5%, otherwise similar to [silty clay]
unit from 16-200cms. Basal contact a gradational color change.
Notes on coarse fraction vial:
ABYSSAL PLAIN - 5885m
Visual Core Description for ___________
Date described: 26 August 1969 Described by: J. Daubenspeck
GENERAL: Core is composed entirely of clay with inorganic elements of very rare mica,
quartz and palagonite and having a bio-element of very rare foraminifera fragments.
Zonal changes are due to texture, from soupy to firm, and color. Composition of the
core is very uniform throughout.
0-10 cm: Clay, dark yellowish brown (10 YR 4/2), moist, soft and smooth. Carbonate
content nil. Coarse fraction less than 1%, consisting of very rare amounts of quartz, mica
and palagonite. Bio-element consists of extremely rare foraminifera fragments. Basal
contact gradational in color.
10-61 cm: Clay, between pale and dark yellowish brown (10 YR 6/2 and 10 YR 4/2),
moist, soft, smooth and lightly burrowed. Carbonate content nil. Coarse fraction and
composition similar to the 0-10 cm zone. Basal contact gradational in color.
61-253 cm: Clay, between light olive gray and olive gray (5 Y 6/1 and 5 Y 4/1), moist, soft
to soupy, smooth and disturbed. Carbonate content nil. Coarse fraction and composition
similar to 0-10 cm zone. Basal contact moderately sharp in color.
Notes on coarse fraction vial:
RIDGE FLANK – 4296 m
Visual Core Description for ______________
Date described: 19 March 1974 Described by: C. Perissoratis
GENERAL: Interbedded foraminiferal ooze, foraminiferal marl ooze and foraminiferal
chalk ooze. Sediment is moist, firm, burrowed and locally unconsolidated, interbedded
and interlaminated. Coarse fraction high to very high. Biogenic elements are planktonic
and benthonic foraminifera, sponge spicules, echinoid spines, pteropods, diatoms and
Radiolaria. Inorganic elements are quartz and mica. Authigenic elements are manganese
micronodules.
0-80 cm: Foraminiferal ooze grading into foraminiferal marl ooze, pale yellowish brown
(10 YR 6/2) to grayish orange pink (5 YR 7/2, moist, firm and slightly burrowed.
Carbonate content high. Coarse fraction about 80%, consisting of abundant planktonic
foraminifera, rare quartz, Radiolaria, benthonic foraminifera, sponge spicules, echinoid
spines and manganese micronodules. Basal contact a sharp change in composition.
80-84 cm: Foraminiferal ooze, grayish orange pink (5 YR 7/2) to grayish orange (10 YR
7/4), moist, firm and unconsolidated. Carbonate content high. Coarse fraction about
90%, consisting of abundant planktonic foraminifera, rare benthonic foraminifera,
sponge spicules, echinoid spines, quartz, mica, diatoms and Radiolaria. Basal contact a
sharp change in composition.
84-125 cm: Foraminiferal marl ooze grading locally into foraminiferal ooze, pale
yellowish brown (10 YR 6/2) to grayish orange pink (5 YR 7/2), moist, firm and slightly
burrowed. Carbonate content high. Coarse fraction about 40-50%, consisting of
abundant planktonic foraminifera, rare benthonic foraminifera, manganese micro
nodules, sponge spicules, quartz and mica. Basal contact a sharp change in color.
125-232 cm: Foraminiferal chalk ooze, white (N9) to bluish white (5 B 9/1), moist, firm
and compact. Carbonate content very high. Coarse fraction about 60-70%, consisting of
abundant planktonic foraminifera, rare quartz, benthonic foraminifera, pteropods,
echinoid spines, sponge spicules and diatom. Basal contact a sharp change in color and
texture.
Notes on coarse fraction vial:
RIDGE CREST – 3233 m
Visual Core Description for ____________
Date described: 10 April 1968 Described by: F. Maurrasse
0-54 cm: Breccia, grayish orange (10YR7/4) to olive black (5Y2/1), moist and very
crumbly. Carbonate content high throughout. Coarse fraction 60% to 95%, contains
mainly high angular obsidian and quartz fragments, increasing toward the bottom.
Biogenous constituents comprise about 40% of the sediment at the top and 10% at
bottom. Planktonic foraminifera dominate throughout and some benthonic foraminifera
occur scattered from 18 cm. In addition, pteropods and sponge spicules are also
common, whereas Radiolaria and diatoms are very rare. Neither paper nor pipe were
labeled Top-Bottom. Have assumed that most compact breccia (which probably stopped
penetration) was bottom of core. Shipboard log denotes method of extrusion poured
from bottom.
Notes on coarse fraction vial:
ICE-RAFTED DETRITUS, N. ATLANTIC (67°N)
Visual Core Description for _____________
Date described: 9 April 1971 Described by: R. Krauser
0-61 cm: Clayey sand, very dark yellowish brown (10 YR 3/2) firm, moist and burrowed .
Carbonate content nil. Coarse fraction about 60%, consisting of quartz (dominant), basic
rock fragments, feldspar, rare basic glass and rare sponge spicules. Basal contact a sharp
change in texture and compaction.
61-62 cm: Clayey sand, very dark yellowish brown (10 YR 3.5/2.5), moist and slightly
crumbly. Carbonate content nil. Coarse fraction about 50%, consisting of quartz
(dominant ), basic rock fragments and rare sponge spicules. Basal contact a sharp
change in color and texture.
62-70 cm: Clayey sand, very dark yellowish brown (10 YR 3/2). Similar to zone at 0-61
cm. Basal contact a sharp change in color and texture.
70-73 cm: Clayey sand, very dark yellowish brown (10 YR 3.5/2.5). Similar to zone at 6162 cm. Basal contact a sharp change in color and texture.
73-141 cm: Clayey sand, very dark yellowish brown (10 YR 3.5/2), firm, moist and
apparently homogeneous. Carbonate content very low. Coarse fraction about 50%,
consisting of quartz (dominant), planktonic foraminifera, and rare basic rock fragments.
Basal contact a sharp color change.
141-146cm: Sandy clay, intermediate between dark gray (N3) and dark olive gray (5 Y
3/1) firm, moist and homogeneous. Carbonate content very low. Coarse fraction about
15%, consisting of quartz, rare basic rock fragments and rare planktonic foraminifera.
Basal contact a sharp color change.
146-150 cm: Clayey sand, very dark yellowish.brown (10 YR 3/2). Similar to zone at 0-61
cm.
Notes on coarse fraction vial:
DIATOMACEOUS OOZE (DIATOMITE), 54°S – 2592 m
Visual Core Description for _______________
Date described: 1 October 1971 Described by: P.J. Ledman
GENERAL: Diatomaceous-foraminiferal ooze (yellowish gray), diatomaceous ooze
(grayish orange), sandy diatomaceous ooze (olive gray), sandy diatomaceous clay (olive
gray), sandy radiolarian clay (olive gray) and sandy radiolarian-diatomaceous clay (light
olive gray), moist and firm, upper segments of core stretched. Carbonate content low to
moderate. Coarse fraction consists of diatoms, Radiolaria, planktonic foraminifera,
volcanic glass, quartz, benthonic foraminifera, dark minerals, shell fragments, sponge
spicules, echinoid spines and some pumice.
0-100 cm: Diatomaceous-foraminiferal ooze, yellowish gray (5 Y 8/1), moist, firm and
stretched. Moderate carbonate content. Coarse fraction above 62 microns about 50%,
consisting primarily of diatoms, planktonic foraminifera, with quartz, benthonic
foraminifera, Radiolaria and dark minerals. Basal contact a gradational color and
textural change.
100-140 cm: Diatomaceous ooze, grayish orange (10 YR 7/3), moist, firm and stretched.
Carbonate content low. Coarse fraction above 62 microns about 75%, consisting of
diatoms, with planktonic foraminifera, Radiolaria, dark minerals and quartz. Basal
contact a gradational color change.
140-185 cm: Sandy diatomaceous ooze, olive gray (5 Y 5/1), moist, firm and stretched.
Carbonate content low. Coarse fraction above 62 microns about 50%, consisting of
diatoms and volcanic glass, with Radiolaria and planktonic foraminifera. Basal contact a
gradual change in texture.
185-230 cm: Sandy diatomaceous clay, olive gray (5 Y 5/1), moist, firm and stretched.
Carbonate content low. Coarse fraction 25%, consisting of diatoms and volcanic glass,
with planktonic foraminifera and Radiolaria. Basal contact a disturbed color change.
Notes on coarse fraction vial: