Recovered material from Site 1162 is predominantly breccia. In Hole 1162A, clasts, which make up ~90% of the breccia, include aphyric to highly phyric basalt, palagonite, cataclasite, and metadiabase (see "Igneous Petrology"). The cataclasite clast recovered in Section 187-1162A-4R-1 (Piece 13, 74-87 cm) (Fig. F23) contains an ultracataclasite (Ramsay and Huber, 1987) zone ~1 cm wide and several narrow shear zones. No structures indicating the sense of shear or the mode of deformation were observed.
Fractures and veins are scattered throughout the clasts from Hole 1162A. The fracture + vein density ranges from 0 to 30.0/m and averages 4.2/m. The vein density ranges from 0 to 30.0/m and averages 3.2/m.
The breccia in Hole 1162B resembles that previously recovered from Site 1156. Clasts include aphyric to highly phyric basalts with a matrix of micritic carbonate cut by crystalline carbonate veins.
Fractures and veins are less common than in Hole 1162A. Fifteen fractures and only one vein occur between Cores 187-1162A-2R and 11R. The fracture + vein density ranges from 0 to 6.5/m and averages 1.2/m. The vein density averages 0.1/m. The breccia may have a lower density of fractures and veins because the clasts broke along preexisting fractures and veins during brecciation.