Geochemistry and mineralogy of garnet grains from ODP Sample 183-1137A-33R-3,50-53

On Elan Bank, a southwestern promontory of the Kerguelen Plateau in the southern Indian Ocean, we cored an interval of conglomerate and minor sandstone within a thick section of Cretaceous flood basalts. Most of the detritus in these sedimentary rocks is volcanic with the exception of a small amount of conspicuous material of probable continental derivation. The anomalous clasts include several pebbles of gneiss (Nicolaysen et al., 2001, doi:10.1130/0091-7613(2001)029<0235:POPGBG>2.0.CO;2) and garnet sand grains. The presence of continental material on the plateau bears significantly on the interpretation of Indian Ocean basalts (Weis et al., 2001, doi:10.1130/0091-7613(2001)029<0147:OOCCII>2.0.CO;2). The purpose of the present study was to determine the composition of the garnets to provide additional constraints on the nature of the source area.

(Table 1) Sulfur isotopes and sulfur content at DSDP Leg 64 Holes

Hydrothermal pyrite samples from Holes 477, 477A, and 478 have sulfur isotope values ranging from about 10 to 11 per mil. Samples with negative sulfur isotope values generally have low sulfide sulfur contents and reflect mixed bacterial and hydrothermal sulfur sources. At higher sulfur contents, the hydrothermal component predominates, producing positive isotope values. Hydrothermal sulfide derives from reduction of seawater sulfate and may contain a significant basaltic component. Hydrothermal anhydrite is restricted to a narrow zone beneath a dolerite sill at Site 477 and, because of partial sulfate reduction in the circulating waters, has isotopic values (23.5-25 per mil), heavier than seawater.