The McMurdo Sound samples were consistent in composition and 

 character. They were generally gray to black in color, with the 

 grains having diil, rough surface textures, and medium average spheri- 

 city and roundness. Medium to coarse sand sizes predominate in the 

 coarse fractions, and the grains are chiefly composed of volcanic 

 fragments wj.th volcanic glass secondary. Appreciable qi:antities of 

 feldspar, siliceous organic remains, and often shell fragments are 

 also present. These sediments account for the hard bottom which 

 causes difficulty in obtaining samples. 



The character of the samples from Kainan Bay is entirely different. 

 They are composed of soft, light olive gray to olive black plastic mud. 

 The samples consist predominately of silt to clay-size fractions. The 

 larger size grains have a dull, rough to pitted and polished surface 

 texture, and medium average sphericity and roundness. Feldspar was 

 the predominant mineral in samples from this area, with quartz secondary 

 and appreciable amounts of rock fragments and mica present, GLACIER 

 sample 3 indicates considerable percentages of volcanic glass, magnet- 

 ite, and sponge spicules, but it may be contaminated from a previous 

 sample taken with the same instrument in McMurdo Sound, 



The longest core of the operation was taken in Kainan Bay by the 

 ATKA; a 48-inch core was obtained using a piston corer (a modified 

 Phleger), with a penetration to 53 inches. At the time of analysis 

 this had been reduced in length to 41 inches due to compaction and 

 dessication during transport. Particle size was predominantly in the 

 silt and clay sizes thro\;ghout its entire length. The mineralogical 

 content was also consistent at roughly 60% feldspar, 30^ quartz, 

 10^ rock fragments, and an appreciable quantity of mica. However, 

 a slight change occurs in the 33- to 35-inch segment, A somewhat 

 coarser fraction is introduced while the mica decreases to a trace, 

 and a prominent trace of pyrite appears. Many granitic and gneissic 

 pebbles and cobbles were also dredged up in Kainan Bay, 



The two Moubray Bay samples obtained by the NORTHVJIND differ 

 considerably from each other both in size distribution and mineralo- 

 gical content. Sample 1 taken in 205 fathoms consists of medium to 

 coarse, black, volcanic sand with medium average sphericity and round- 

 ness. Its constituents were primarily of volcanic origin of which 

 50^ was fragraental. The other sample, however, taken closer inshore 

 in 111 fathoms, consists of grayish brown fine sand to silt, with 

 a high organic content. The grains were of low average sphericity 

 and roundness and the volcanic constituent was only 25%» 



Fotir bottom samples were obtained by the GLACIER along approximately 

 175°E in the Ross Sea. These sediments are grayish olive to yellowish 

 gray in color and primarily of biological origin, except for sample 5. 

 This sample is a fine- to medium-size sand, consisting mostly of 

 feldspar with quartz secondary and minor rock fragments, sponge 

 spicioles, and magnetite present, 



57 



