geological observations 



ANTARCTIC SEA FLOOR SEDIMENTS* 



Three core samples (see table 11) were obtained in the 

 antarctic by means of a gravity coring device of the type 

 described by Emery and Dietz. Because the small wire 

 size limited the weight of the sampler, however, and because 

 the oceanographic winch did not permit the wire to be lowered 

 rapidly, only a small impact force could be obtained. Conse- 

 quently, the three cores collected were of short length. 



Two earlier attempts had been made to secure bottom 

 cores; however, these attempts were both unsuccessful. The 

 bottom could not be reached largely because the makeshift 

 oceanographic winch was unsatisfactory. It consisted of a 

 spool which was welded to a large warping winch of the 

 CACOPAN and which held 4500 meters of 5/32-inch, 7x7 strand 

 wire. The very slow speed at which the wire could be lowered 

 and the rapid drift of the ship resulted in large wire angles 

 and excessive wire strain. After the two unsuccessful at- 

 tempts, bottom was finally reached on the top of a deep ridge 

 by intermittently backing down the ship at one-third speed to 

 reduce the wire angle. The four or five hours necessary to 

 obtain a core sample in deep water was excessive, so there 

 were few opportunities to attempt abyssal bottom sampling. 

 And, unfortunately, the entire Antarctic track of the CACOPAN 

 was in deep water. 



♦ The samples are only briefly described here since a detailed 

 mineralogical study is being made separately by J. L. Hough, 

 presently of the University of Illinois; in addition, an investi- 

 gation of the foraminiferal fauna is being made separately by 

 Miss M. Bradley at the University of Southern California. 



Table 11. 



Sediment samples obtained from the USS CACOPAN on Operation HIGHJUMP. 



Date 

 (1947) 



Sample 

 No. 



Latitude 



Longitude 



Sonic Depth 

 (fathoms) 



Sampling 

 Device 



Remarks 



NEL 394 



13 Jan 



60°13'S 



147°45' E 



1300 



Corer 



Diatomaceous globigerina ooze; 19 in. 

 core; from top of submarine ridge 

 (Indian-Antarctic SwetJ). 



NEL 395 



14 Feb 



60°55' 



84°30' 



1400 



Corer 



Diatomaceous globigerina ooze; top of 

 Gaussberg-Kerguelen Ridge; small 

 sample as most of core washed out. 



NEL 396 



2 Mar 



63°55' 



82°20' 



1980 



Corer 



Green glacial mud and sand; at base of 

 Antarctic Continent slope; about 42 

 in. long. 



NEL 397 



11 Mar 



39°30' 



144°10' 



29 



Scoopfish 



Coarse shell sand, Bass Strait, Australia 



NEL 398 



11 Mar 



39°30' 



144° 14' 



30 



Scoopfish 



Coarse shell sand, Bass Strait, Australia 



NEL 399 



11 Mar 



39°20' • 



145°00' 



32 



Scoopfish 



Coarse shell sand, Bass Strait, Australia 



NEL 400 



11 Mar 



39°20' 



145°30' 



30 



Scoopfish 



Coarse shell sand, Bass Strait, Australia 

















