1890-91.] Mr J. Y. Buchanan on Deep-Sea Deposits. 
131 
On the Composition of some Deep-Sea Deposits from 
the Mediterranean. By J. Y. Buchanan, Esq., F.R.S. 
(Read January 9, 1891.) 
The muds, the analyses of which are reported in this paper, were 
collected in September 1879, during the laying of a cable between 
Marseilles and Algiers by the India Rubber, Cutta-Percha, and Tele- 
graph Works Company, Limited, of Silvertown, the ship employed 
being the s.s. “ Dacia.” The numbers of the samples are those 
which were affixed to them on hoard ship. Nos. 31 to 43 are all 
from localities lying near the African Coast ; Nos. 45 and 46 are 
from positions between the African Coast and the Balearic Bank. 
Nos. 64 and 65 are from the Balearic Bank, and Nos. 86 to 89 are 
from the Gulf of Lyons. The positions and depths are collected in 
Table I. 
Table I. — Giving the Position of the Ship where each Sample of 
Mud was Collected , and the Depth of Water there. 
No. of Sample. 
Position. 
Nature of Bottom. 
Depth 
(fathoms). 
Latitude N. 
Longitude E. 
31 
o / 
36 57| 
o / 
3 21 
Soft mud. 
1080 
32 
37 3 
3 17 
5 ? 
Clayey mud. 
1238 
35 
37 5 
3 26 
1258 
36 
37 9! 
3 23 
Mud. 
1343 
39 
37 12 
3 31 
? 5 
Soft mud. 
1454 
41 
37 21 
3 38 
1502 
43 
37 39 
3 53 
9 9 
1536 
45 
37 56 
4 6 
1494 
46 
38 11 
4 6 
5 ? 
1469 
64 
39 26 
4 36 
782 
65 
39 35 
4 40 
5 ? 
646 
86 
42 47 
5 ID 
Grey ooze. 
780 
87 
42 53 
5 18! 
Clayey mud. 
542 
88 
43 3 
5 12 
Mud and ooze. 
530 
89 
43 1! 
5 15 
Mud. 
265 
The samples, as received, were in the condition in which they 
had been collected, having been transferred from the sounding-tube 
to the bottle without any form of preparation or drying. Some 
were therefore much wetter than others, and the diversity in their 
