A continuous sedimentary sequence at Site 1096 was recovered for the upper 260.96 mbsf (263.58 meters composite depth [mcd]), extending from the early Pliocene to present. Hole 1096C was drilled to 114.06 mbsf (118.03 mcd): Cores 178-1096C-1H through 6X were collected between 114.0 and 231.4 mbsf to bridge recovery gaps in Holes 1096A and 1096B.

At Site 1096, whole-core, high-resolution measurements were made every 2 cm for magnetic susceptibility and GRAPE density and every 15 cm (standard size) for NGR for all cores in Holes 1096A, 1096B, and 1096C. The MST was used with no change in the measurements at the onset of XCB. P-wave velocity was measured down to 107.48 mbsf because the signal was poor; however, it was not used to build the composite depth scale. Color spectral reflectance was measured on the split core at a 5-cm interval.

Initially, all data sets for each hole were visually and quantitatively compared to check for consistency. Subsequently, color spectral reflectance and magnetic susceptibility (as the most continuous and consistent data sets) were employed as the primary parameters to determine depth offsets for the composite depth section. The offsets that comprise the composite depth section at Site 1096 are given in Table T31. See also "Composite Depths" in the "Explanatory Notes" chapter.

Natural gamma radiation and GRAPE density measurements from the MST were used to confirm the hole-to-hole correlations. GRAPE density, NGR, and magnetic susceptibility correlated positively except in two intervals at ~300-325 and 530-550 mcd for GRAPE density vs. NGR and in four intervals at ~220-240, 410-425, 470-480, and 552-560 mcd for magnetic susceptibility vs. GRAPE density (Fig. F49). Color spectral reflectance (chromaticity parameter a*) and magnetic susceptibility show an excellent correlation except for two intervals (180-210 and 552-560 mcd). In the lowermost interval (552-560 mcd), the chromaticity parameter a* is well correlated with GRAPE density values. The correlation between chromaticity parameter a* and magnetic susceptibility is mostly positive, except for intervals at about 10-30, 210-225, 270-280, 360-380, 395-425, and 480-485 mcd, in which it became negative (Fig. F49). It was found that all related parameters show an evident cyclic pattern. The relative independence of GRAPE density and chromaticity parameter a* data made it possible to resolve and correlate sedimentary features in the record of one hole that were not apparent in the other. Magnetic susceptibility and chromaticity parameter a* records that were used for correlation are displayed on the mcd scale in Figure F50. The base of the composite depth section is at 263.58 mcd. The remainder of the Hole 1096C cores have been appended to the composite section below this depth without adjustment of relative depths. The mcd scale growth relative to the mbsf scale was about 2% over the range of the composite section (Fig. F51). This section was checked and refined using a paleontological and paleomagnetic correlated tie point in Core 178-1096B-27H vs. Core 178-1096C-5H.

After construction of the composite depth section for Site 1096, a single spliced record for all parameters was developed (see "Composite Depths" in the "Explanatory Notes" chapter). The tie points between the cores used to construct the splice are given in Table T32. The spliced GRAPE density and magnetic susceptibility data are displayed in Figure F52.