Average compositions and analyses range for clinopyroxene, olivines, orthopyroxene, and spinel from the MARK area at DSDP Site 45-395A, and ODP Site 153-920

Mineral compositions of residual peridotites collected at various locations in the Mid-Atlantic Ridge south of the Kane transform (MARK area) are consistent with generally smaller degrees of melting in the mantle near the large offset Kane transform than near the other, small offset, axial discontinuities in the area. We propose that this transform fault effect is due to along-axis variations in the final depth of melting in the subaxial mantle, reflecting the colder thermal regime of the ridge near the Kane transform. Calculations made with a passive mantle flow regime suggest that these along-axis variations in the final depth of melting would not produce the full range of crustal thickness variations observed in the MARK area seismic record. It is therefore likely that the transform fault effect in the MARK area is combined with other mechanisms capable of producing crustal thickness variations, such as along-axis melt migration, the trapping of part of the magma in a cold mantle root beneath the ridge, or active mantle upwelling.

Ba/Sr ratio in marine barite from five DSDP and ODP holes

The Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM), ca. 55 Ma, was a period of extreme global warming caused by rapid emission of greenhouse gases. It is unknown what ended this episode of greenhouse warming, but high oceanic export productivity over thousands of years (as indicated by high accumulation rates of barium, Ba) may have been a factor in ending this warm period by carbon sequestration. However, Ba has a short oceanic residence time (~10 k.y.), so a prolonged global increase in Ba accumulation rates requires an increase in input of Ba to the ocean, increasing barite saturation. We use a novel proxy for barite saturation (Sr/Ba in marine barite) to demonstrate that the seawater saturation state with respect to barite did not change across the PETM. The observations of increased barite burial, no change in saturation, and the short residence time can be reconciled if Ba burial decreased at continental margin and shelf sites due to widespread occurrence of suboxic conditions, leading to Ba release into the water column, combined with increased biological export production at some pelagic sites, resulting in Ba sink reorganization.

Description of manganese nodules collected by the U.S.S. NERO during survey for a trans-pacific cable

In the early part of 1899 the U.S.S. Nero was dispatched from San Francisco to survey a route for a telegraph cable between the United States, the Philippines Islands and Japan. Concurent with meteorological and oceanographic observations, closely spaced samples of bottom material were systematically sampled. They have been carefully accounted and described by James M. Flint in this volume. On the way, numerous submarine peaks were discovered. During this voyage U.S.S. Nero also took a sounding in the area of the Challenger Deep, recording a depth of 5269 fathoms (9636 m), the greatest depth recorded at that time. Carefull study of the deep-sea deposits have also revealed a number of manganese nodules and encrustations as well as micronodules.

Sedimentary data from the Semlac loess-paleosol sequence

The volumetric magnetic susceptibility was measured at frequencies of 300 and 3000 Hz in a static field of 300 mA/m using a Magnon International VSFM in the Laboratory for Environmental- and Palaeomagnetism at the University of Bayreuth. The magnetic susceptibility was mass-normalised. The frequency dependence was calculated as MSfd = (MSlf - MShf) / MSlf *100 [%]. A spectrophotometer (Konica Minolta CM-5) was used to determine the colour of dried and homogenised sediment samples by detecting the diffused reflected light under standardised observation conditions (2° Standard Observer, Illuminant C). Colour spectra were obtained in the visible range (360 to 740 nm), in 10 nm increments, and the spectral data was converted into the Munsell colour system and the CIELAB Colour Space (L*a*b*, CIE 1976) using the Software SpectraMagic NX (Konica Minolta). The measurement of the particle size was conducted by using a Laser Diffraction Particle Size Analyzer (Beckman Coulter LS 13 320 PIDS) and by calculating the mean diameters of the particles within a size range of 0.04 - 2000 µm. Each sample was measured two times in two different concentrations to increase accuracy. Finally all measurements with reliable obscuration (8 - 12 %) were averaged.