Chemistry of interstitial waters of ODP Leg 112 samples

Two distinct hydrogeochemical regimes currently dominate the Peruvian continental margin. One, in shallower water (150-450 m) shelf to upper-slope regions, is characterized by interstitial waters with strong positive chloride gradients with depth. The maximum measured value of 1043 mM chloride at Site 680 at ITS corresponds to a degree of seawater evaporation of ~2 times. Major ion chemistry and strontioum isotopic composition of the interstitial waters suggest that a subsurface brine that has a marine origin and is of pre-early Miocene "age," profoundly influences the chemistry and diagenesis of this shelf environment. Site 684 at ~9°S must be closest to the source of this brine, which becomes diluted with seawater and/or interstitial water as it flows southward toward Site 686 at ~13?S (and probably beyond) at a rate of approximately 3 to 4 cm/yr, since early Miocene time. The other regime, in deep water (3000-5000 m) middle to lower-slope regions, is characterized by interstitial waters with steep negative and nonsteady-state chloride gradients with depth. The minimum measured value of 454 mM chloride, at Site 683 at ITS, corresponds to ~20% dilution of seawater chloride The most probably sources of these low-chloride fluids are gas hydrate dissociation and mineral (particularly clay) dehydration reactions. Fluid advection is consistent with (1) the extent of dilution shown in the chloride profiles, (2) the striking nonsteady-state depth profiles of chlorides at Sites 683 and 688 and of 87Sr/86Sr ratios at Site 685, and (3) the temperatures resulting from an average geothermal gradient of 50°C/km and required for clay mineral dehydration reactions. Strontium isotope data reveal two separate fluid regimes in this slope region: a more northerly one at Sites 683 and 685 that is influenced by fluids with a radiogenic continental strontium signature, and a southerly one at Sites 682 and 688 that is influenced by fluids with a nonradiogenic oceanic signatures. Stratigraphically controlled fluid migration seems to prevail in this margin. Because of its special tectonic setting, Site 679 at ITS is geochemically distinct. The interstitial waters are characterized by seawater chloride concentrations to -200 mbsf and deeper by a significantly lower chloride concentration of about two-thirds of the value in seawater, suggesting mixing with a meteoric water source. Regardless of the hydrogeochemical regime, the chemistry and isotopic compositions of the interstitial waters at all sites are markedly modified by diagenesis, particularly by calcite and dolomite crystallization.

Tertiary and Quaternary calcareous nannoplankton biostratigraphy of ODP Leg 112 holes

Positions of all cores recovered during Ocean Drilling Program (ODP) Leg 112 off Peru are shown in the standard calcareous nannoplankton zonation. Stratigraphic and regional occurrences and preservation of calcareous nannoplankton are discussed for all sites, and fossil lists are presented for selected samples. Late Miocene to Holocene nannoplankton assemblages in the upwelling systems off Peru and scattered blooms, especially of Gephyrocapsa species and Helicosphaera carteri, are described. Scyphosphaera assemblages found in late Miocene Zone NN9 {Discoaster hamatus Zone) at Site 684 are compared with similar assemblages from Gabon on the west coast of Africa. Remarkable subsidence is indicated by early and middle Eocene nearshore and shallow-water nannoplankton assemblages for Sites 682, 683, and 688. Besides several local hiatuses, major regional hiatuses were noted at Site 682 (upper Eocene, uppermost middle Eocene, and part of the lower and middle Oligocene missing), Site 683 (uppermost middle Eocene to lower part of the middle Miocene missing), and Site 688 (part of the middle Eocene, uppermost middle Eocene to upper Oligocene, and parts of the lower and middle Miocene missing).

Descriptions, isotopes and minerals of sediments at DSDP Leg 64 Holes

Mineralogical and oxygen isotopic analyses of samples from Deep Sea Drilling Project Sites 477, 481, and 477 in the Guaymas Basin indicate the existence of two distinct hydrothermal systems. In the first, at Sites 481 and 478, hot dolerite sills intruded into highly porous hemipelagic siliceous mudstones that were moderately rich in organic matter, thermally altered the adjacent sediments, and expelled hydrothermal pore fluids. The second, at Site 477 and active at present, is most probably caused by a recent igneous intrusion forming a magma chamber at shallow depth. In the first hydrothermal system, the main thermal reactions above and below the sills are dissolution of opal-A and formation of quartz, either directly or through opal-CT; formation of smectite; formation of analcime only above the sills; dissolution and recrystallization of calcite and occasional formation of dolomite or protodolomite. The d18O values of the hydrothermally altered sediments range from 9.9 to 12.2 per mil (SMOW). The d18O values of recrystallized calcites above the first sill complex, Site 481, indicate temperatures of 140° to 170°C. No fluid recharge is required in this system. The thickness of the sill complexes and the sequence and depth of intrusion into the sediment column determine the thickness of the alteration zones, which ranges from 2 or 3 to approximately 50 meters. Generally, the hydrothermally altered zone is thicker above than below the sill. In the second type, the sediments are extensively recrystallized. The characteristic greenschist-facies mineral assemblage of quartz-albite-chlorite-epidote predominates. Considerable amounts of pyrite, pyrrhotite, and sphene are also present. The lowest d18O value of the greenschist facies rocks is 6.6 per mil, and the highest d18O value of the associated pore fluids is +1.38 per mil (SMOW). The paragenesis and the oxygen isotopes of individual phases indicate alteration temperatures of 300 ± 50°C. On the basis of the oxygen isotopes of the solids and associated fluids, it is concluded that recharge of fluids is required. The water/rock ratio in wt.% is moderate, approximately 2/1 to 3/1 - higher than the calculated water/rock ratio of the hydrothermal system at the East Pacific Rise, 21 °N.

Composition of Messinian sediments from the Tyrrhenian Sea

The data base for this study is represented by essentially nonevaporitic Messinian sediments recovered at ODP Sites 654, 653, 652, and 656 along the eastern Sardinian margin, and of the overlying early Pliocene oozes. Grain-size distribution, carbonate content, and microscopic observation of the sand size fractions were investigated. Messinian paleoenvironments, documented in the western Tyrrhenian Sea (ODP Sites 654 and 653), provide additional evidence supporting the deep basin desiccation model. A sharp lithologic contrast between early Pliocene pelagic oozes and latest Messinian conformable gypsiferous silts supports this model. The "lago-mare" biofacies was only occasionally observed in the shallowest site and is limited to the topmost part of the Messinian. Sites 652 and 656, lying in the deeper part of the Tyrrhenian and located on the downthrown side of an important eastward dipping fault system known as "Faglia centrale" are characterized by terrigenous sedimentation, with partly recycled minor evaporites. Of special interest is Site 652, where the thickness of the (probable) Messinian is 530 m. Sedimentary characters indicate a permanently subaqueous but nonmarine environment, with turbidites accumulating in a rapidly subsiding basin. According to the model proposed, this basin was fed by continental waters during times of maximum evaporitic draw-down, with temporary marine incursions from the west or southwest when the water level was higher. A basement ridge separated the evaporating pond from this endoreic lake located on the opposite (eastern) margin of the Tyrrhenian Basin, which was then limited to its western part. Post-Messinian reactivation of the "Faglia centrale" is necessary to account for the inversion of the relief.

Mineralogy and geochemistry at DSDP Leg 64 Holes

At DSDP Site 477, late Quaternary diatomaceous muds and delta-derived silty-sand turbidites at 2000 meters water depth have been extensively and progressively altered by a deep-seated heat source beneath a sill. Bulk petrologic and microprobe analyses have identified a crudely zoned paragenesis within 260 meters sub-bottom which ranges from unaltered to slightly altered oozes (0-50 m), anhydrite-dolomite claystones (105-125 m), illite-chlorite-pyrite claystones (125-140 m), chlorite-pyrite-calcite-carbonaceous claystones with traces of K-feldspar, albite, epidote (140-190 m), and chlorite-epidote-quartz-albite-pyrrhotite-sphene sandstone (190-260 m). Several petrologic features suggest rapid processes of ocean floor metamorphism: (1) friable and porous textures, (2) abundant relict grains with overgrowths, (3) idiomorphic habits on epidotes, feldspars, and quartz, and (4) a steep gradient in levels of alteration. Many aspects of this hydrothermal assemblage are similar to hydrothermally metamorphosed sandstones of the Cerro Prieto, Mexico, geothermal area.

Physical properties of four profiles from the Triassic in Germany

The Norian Steinmergel-Keuper (SMK) represents a low-latitude cyclically-bedded playa system of the Mid-German Basin. We investigated a drilling site (core Morsleben) and sections from marginal positions. Dolomite/red mudstone beds form rhythmic alternations that were associated with varying monsoon activity. Hence, low K/Al ratios of dolomite beds suggest increased chemical weathering of the crystalline hinterland and therefore increased monsoonal rainfall. High K/Al ratios in red mudstone beds reflect increased physical weathering of the hinterlands during dryer periods. Dolomite layers reflect the lake stage (maximum monsoon) while red mudstones indicate the dry phase (minimum monsoon) of the playa cycle. We distinguished five major types of cyclic facies alternations, representing specific facies zones in the playa system. We have implemented spectrophotometry as a tool for high-resolution cyclostratigraphy. The dense sampling increment (up to 1 cm) allows for the recognition of all orbital frequencies. Sediment colour profiles reveal striking hierarchical cycles from semi-precession (SP, 99 kyr) over precession (P, 19.8 kyr) and obliquity (O, 36 kyr) to eccentricity (E1-2 109 kyr; E3, 413 kyr). A significant about 2 Myr-signal is attributed to the longer-term eccentricity E4. One monsoonal (precession) cycle includes two carbonate precipitation events. We propose that stratified mudstone and red mudstone are associated with maximum and minimum monsoon during the transition of the solstices in perihelion and aphelion, respectively. The two carbonate precipitation events were most likely created when equinoxes were in perihelion and aphelion, respectively. A sedimentary semi-precession response cycle is a novel finding for the Norian strata. The obliquity signal is attributed to incoming atmospheric moisture from the northeast of the SMK basin. The E4 cycle controls lake-level changes over long times. Apparently, E4 is responsible whether or not a threshold value is crossed. Bundles of 109 kyr and 413 kyr in red mudstones suggest a dry system with reduced monsoonal activity. In contrast, humid periods reveal thick layers of dolomite beds, indicating that during those intervals the monsoonal activity was strong enough to prevent the playa system from drying out completely.