7. Data Report: Physical Properties
of Sediment, Basalt, and Massive Sulfide Samples from Holes 856H, 1035D, 1035E, 1035F, and 1035H, Middle Valley, Northern Juan de Fuca Ridge, and Holes 1037B and 1038I, Escanaba Trough, Gorda Ridge¹

Henrike M. Gröschel-Becker²

ABSTRACT

The results of 72 index properties analyses and 29 high-pressure velocity experiments on samples of sediment, basalt, and sulfide rocks recovered during Leg 169 of the Ocean Drilling Program are presented. The large sample set was subjected to shore-based index properties measurements from which wet bulk densities (_b), grain densities (_g), and porosities () were calculated. The majority of samples are from Sites 856 and 1035 in the Bent Hill area of Middle Valley, part of the northern Juan de Fuca Ridge. Four basalts are from Holes 1037B and 1038I drilled in the Escanaba Trough of the Gorda Ridge.

Reentry drilling of Hole 856H below 93.8 meters below seafloor (mbsf) resulted in penetration of a complete Bent Hill Massive Sulfide (BHMS) area reference section below the massive sulfide deposit drilled during Leg 139. Physical properties samples were obtained from the underlying sulfide feeder zone section of mineralized sediments (Unit VI), a deeper interbedded hemipelagic and turbiditic sediment interval (Unit II), the intercalated sills and sediment of "hydrothermal basement" (Unit VII), and the basaltic flows of interpreted oceanic basement (Unit VIII). Elevated-pressure velocity measurements of sediments from Units II and VI, sediment interbeds of Unit VII, and basalts of Unit VIII were made for the first time. The presence of sulfide minerals as disseminations, blebs, and vein infillings affects the velocity and density signatures of sediment samples from cores in the vicinity of the BHMS (Site 1035). Densities, velocities, and porosities of massive sulfides (Unit V; Holes 1035F and 1035H) and basaltic sills (Hole 856H) are comparable to Leg 139 data for sulfides from 0.0 to 93.8 mbsf in Hole 856H and Hole 857D sills.