Isotopic analysis of core gases at DSDP Leg 84 Holes

Methane carbon-isotopic compositions (d13C values relative to the PDB standard) at Sites 565, 566, 567, and 569 were lighter (enriched in 12C) than -60 per mil, indicating a biogenic origin. In the deeper sections at Sites 568 and 570, d13C values were heavier, approaching -40 per mil, and therefore suggest a thermogenic source. A significant thermogenic source was discounted, however, because the carbon dioxide d13C values in these sections were also anomalously heavy, suggesting that the methane may have formed biogenically by reduction of the heavy carbon dioxide. d13C values of ethane and higher hydrocarbons were measured in several sections from Sites 566 and 570 that contained sufficient C2-C4 hydrocarbon concentrations. Ethane values in six sections (245-395 m sub-bottom) from Site 570 were fairly uniform, ranging from -24 to -26 per mil. These values are among the heaviest ethane values reported for natural gases. The isobutane/ n-butane and isopentane/n-pentane ratios of the core gases suggested that the C2-C5 hydrocarbons are thermally produced by low-temperature chemical diagenesis of indigenous organic matter. This process apparently generates isotopically heavy C2-C5 hydrocarbons. High gas concentrations in the serpentinite basement rocks at Sites 566 and 570 appear to have resulted from migrated biogenic methane gas containing small amounts of immature C2-C5 hydrocarbons.

(Table 1) Trace element and age analysis from the Porites coral from IODP Exp 310

Climate responses and changes in marine environments during the last deglaciation have been controversial and few paleoceanographic data are available from the tropical South Pacific, though this region is crucial in the investigations of ocean-atmosphere interactions. Integrated Ocean Drilling Program Expedition 310 was conducted to establish the time course of the postglacial sea-level rise at Tahiti in the South Pacific. A principal objective of this expedition was to examine the variation of marine environments during the last deglaciation. As fossil Porites coral is ideal for assessing past marine environments, we selected only Porites specimens from the many coral specimens retrieved, examined them by XRD, and dated them by the 14C method. In all, we obtained 17 pristine Porites specimens composed of only aragonite with ages from 15 to 9 ka. Then, we measured Mg/Ca, Ba/Ca, and U/Ca ratios and Cd contents as proxies for upwelling and sea surface temperature. Higher Ba/Ca ratios and Cd content together with lower reconstructed SSTs using U/Ca ratios in the coral specimens between 12.6 and 9.8 cal ka compared to around 15 cal ka suggest that upwelling and/or entrainment of subsurface water into mixed layer was enhanced around Tahiti during this period. This finding is consistent with previous reports and supports the idea that the South Pacific was characterized by La Niña-like conditions at least from 12.6 to 9.8 cal ka.

Analysis of elements at DSDP Holes 70-506 and 70-509B

Sediments in the area of the Galapagos hydrothermal mounds are divided into two major categories. The first group, pelagic sediments, are nannofossil oozes with varying amounts of siliceous microfossils. The second group are hydrothermal sediments consisting of manganese-oxide crust fragments and green nontronitic clay granules. Hydrothermal sediments occur only in the upper half to two-thirds of the cores and are interbedded and mixed with pelagic sediments. Petrologic evidence indicates that hydrothermal nontronite forms as both a primary precipitate and as a replacement mineral of pre-existing pelagic sediment and hydrothermal manganese-oxide crust fragments. In addition, physical evidence supports chemical equations indicating that the pelagic sediments are being dissolved by hydrothermal solutions. The formation of hydrothermal nontronite is not merely confined to the surface of mounds, but also occurs at depth within their immediate area; hydrothermal nontronite is very likely forming today. Geologically speaking, the mounds and their hydrothermal sediments form almost instantaneously. The Galapagos mounds area is a unique one in the ocean basins, where pelagic sediments can be diagenetically transformed, dissolved, and replaced, possibly within a matter of years.