Annotated record of the detailed examination of Mn deposits from R.R.S. "Discovery" Cruise 11 stations

During Discovery Cruise 11, April-May 1966, eleven hauls were made on the crest and on the southern facing slope of Palmer Ridge in the Peake Deep area in order to fill out the information gained last year. Limestones were collected ranging in age from lowest Eocene through to Upper Tertiary, and several hauls successfully sampled the basement beneath these, producing weathered basalts, metamorphosed basalts and dolerites. In Peake Deep on the north slope of Palmer Ridge hard Eocene sediments were core sampled near the base of the slope but no cores could be got near the top.

Annotated record of the detailed examination of Mn deposits from BLM Leg Bravo Cruise, R/V Kana Keoki off the south-western coastal area of the Gulf of Mexico off Texas

The BLM-OCS (Bureau of Land Management-Outer Continental Shelf) program was designed to establish chemical, biological, and geological baseline on the South Texas Continental Shelf. The focus for the geological program was to establish the nature and amount of the suspended sediment in the water column, of the Holocene sediments on the shelf, and to identify and locate regions of geology conditions which may be hazardous to OCS operations. To accomplish these goals three cruises were planned. The report constitutes results of the second cruise. The results of these cruises associated with the subsequent laboratory analysis, enabled to establish a detailed baseline in order to provide significant geologic and biologic data for environmental assessment. Dredges recovered are available at University of Texas (see: BLM/OCS South Texas Outer Continental Shelf (STOCS) Project Sediment Data http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/docucomp/page?xml=NOAA/NESDIS/NGDC/MGG/Geology/iso/xml/G02888.xml&view=getDataView&header=none).

Annotated record of the detailed examination of Mn deposits from DSDP Site 42, Leg 5 (Cores 5-42-5, 5-42-6, 5-42-9)

Site 42 is one of the series of sites selected by the Pacific Advisory Panel along the 140th meridian to sample the longitudinal variation in sediment composition in the eastern Pacific. The site is located in an area of abyssal hills between the Clarion and Clipperton Fracture Zones, and is at the northern margin of the thick development of acoustically transparent sediment extending along the equator.

Annotated record of the detailed examination of Mn deposits from DSDP Site 40, Leg 5 (Cores 5-40-1, 5-40-11)

Site 40 was located by the JOIDES Pacific Advisory Panel in the region between the Molokai and Clarion Fracture Zones with the objective of recovering a continuous sediment core for the paleontologic and biostratigraphic study of the variation in sediment components at the transition between the North Pacific gyral and the Equatorial Current System.

Annotated record of the detailed examination of Mn deposits on the coral banks of the continental shelf in the south-western coastal area of the Gulf of Mexico off Texas

During U.S. Department of Interior, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) public hearings held in 1973, 1974 and 1975 prior to Texas Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) oil and gas lease sales, concern was expressed by the National Marine Fisheries Service, scientists from Texas A&M and the University of Texas and private citizens over the possible environmental impact of oil and gas drilling and production operations on coral reefs and fishing banks in or adjacent to lease blocks to be sold. As a result, certain restrictive regulations concerning drilling operations in the vicinity of the well documented coral reefs and biostromal communities at the East and West Flower Gardens were established by BLM, and Signal Oil Company was required to provide a biological and geological baseline study of the less well known Stetson Bank before a drilling permit could be issued. Considering the almost total lack of knowledge of the geology and biotic communities associated with the South Texas OCS banks lying in or near lease blocks to be offered for sale in 1975, BLM contracted with Texas A&M University to provide the biological and geological baseline information required to facilitate judgments as to the extent and nature of restrictive regulations on drilling near these banks which might be required to insure their protection. In pursuit of this, scientists from Texas A&M University were to direct their attention toward assessments of ground fish populations, unique biological and geological features, substratum type and distribution, and the biotic and geologic relationships between these banks and those farther north.

Annotated record of the detailed examination of Mn deposits from DSDP Site 39, Leg 5 (Cores 5-39-1, 5-39-2)

Site 39 was located in the region between the Pioneer and Murray Fracture Zones, with the objective of recovering a continuous sediment core for paleontologic and stratigraphic study of the longitudinal variations in sediment components in the eastern Pacific. This site was selected, together with the adjacent ones in the north-south line along 140°W, to provide information on the geologic history of the North Pacific gyral, insofar as this might be recorded in the sediments.

Annotated record of the detailed examination of Mn deposits from DSDP Site 33, Leg 5 (Core 5-33-2)

The proposed location of Site 33 was over north-south Magnetic Anomaly 10 (Pittman-Heirtzler, 32 million years) in order (a) to provide a basis for comparison of the age of the basal sediments with the age based on the magnetic anomaly, (b) to provide a basis for evaluation of relative movement along the Pioneer and Mendocino Fracture Zones, and (c) by being paired with Site 34, to provide comparison of basement materials for adjacent positive and negative magnetic anomalies.

Annotated record of the detailed examination of Mn deposits from R/V Hakuho Maru Cruise KH-74-4 stations

Using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) the authors have examined the microtexture of Mn nodules. Previous researches using SEM observation on marine Mn nodules have revealed many characteristic features which may relate to their formation. They report the discovery of in situ calcareous nannoplankton fossils in a Mn nodule collected during the RV Hakuho-Maru Cruise KH-74-4, and present a preliminary calculation of the growth rate, using a biostratigraphic method. They also discuss the potential value of Mn nodule biostratigraphy in terms of deep sea palaeoenvironments.

Annotated record of the detailed examination of Mn deposits from DSDP Site 41, Leg 5 (Cores 5-41-1, 5-41-5)

Site 41 marks the transition from the North Pacific gyral to the Equatorial Current System. The JOIDES Pacific Advisory Panel selected a site at this latitude along the longitudinal profile of 140°W in order to obtain information on the history of migrations of these current systems.

Annotated record of the detailed examination of Mn deposits from DSDP Site 34, Leg 5 (Core 5-34-17)

Site 34 had been located by the JOIDES Pacific Advisory Panel to be over a negative magnetic anomaly (31 million years B.P.) immediately to the east of Anomaly 10 (Site 33). The primary objective was to obtain samples of basement and basal sediment to provide comparison between adjacent positive and negative magnetic anomalies. A second objective was to obtain samples which would permit an analysis of the variability in sediment over relatively short distances (about 10 miles). Although basement had not been reached at Site 33 because of the unexpected chert, the use of a massive diamond bit at Site 34 permitted coring through the chert to basement at 383 meters below the sea floor. Even though the near basement sections of the paired sites (33 and 34) could not be compared, comparison would be possible above the chert layer.

Annotated record of the detailed examination of Mn deposits from DSDP Site 37, Leg 5 (Cores 5-37-1, 5-37-2)

The JOIDES Pacific Advisory Panel proposed Site 37 to meet two principal objectives: to determine the significance of the magnetic anomaly pattern, and the longitudinal profile of the sediment sequence in the eastern Pacific. Site 37 was to be located on the same magnetic anomaly as was Site 33 (#10, 32 million years age), for comparison across the intervening Mendocino Fracture Zone. As basement had not been reached at Site 33, this objective could not be met specifically. However, sediment comparison across the fracture zone was possible.

Annotated record of the detailed examination of Mn deposits from DSDP Site 32, Leg 5 (Cores 5-32-13, 5-32-14)

Site 32 was proposed by the Pacific Advisory Panel at a location over a strong positive magnetic anomaly (Number 13 on the Pittman-Heirtzler scale, 38 million years) where samples of the basement and the basal sediment would be of value in testing hypotheses for origin of the linear magnetic anomalies from this part of the Pacific. Comparison of this site, south of the Pioneer Fracture Zone, with later sites north of the Fracture Zone would be the basis for evaluating the discontinuity formed by the Pioneer.