Drilling at Site 1085 recovered a relatively continuous hemipelagic sedimentary section spanning the last 15 m.y. Sediments form two lithostratigraphic units dominated by nannofossil ooze (Fig. 2). The uppermost unit has been subdivided into two subunits to reflect the decrease in foraminifer abundances downhole. The underlying unit is a reddish brown, microfaulted, and thinly laminated clay-rich nannofossil ooze. Graded, 2- to 17-cm-thick beds rich in foraminifer tests are present between 30 and 70 mbsf. Below 360 mbsf, pyrite is present as isolated fine sand-sized grains and below 420 mbsf as nodules up to 1 cm in diameter. The deepest core of Hole 1085A is interpreted as a slump block. It consists of a thinly laminated reddish to olive-brown nannofossil ooze. Packages of occasionally graded laminae within this unit are commonly microfaulted, convolutely layered, and folded. The detrital component in sediments at Site 1085 is dominated by clay and trace abundances of silt-sized, subangular mono- and polycrystalline quartz grains. Sedimentation rates range from 15 to 80 m/m.y., with the highest values located within the last 8 m.y.
Physical sediment properties were determined both by high-resolution MST core logging and index properties measurements. Detailed comparisons between the magnetic susceptibility generated on the MST and color reflectance measured with the Minolta spectrophotometer demonstrated complete recovery of the sedimentary sequence down to 289 mcd.
A biostratigraphic framework composed of both calcareous nannofossils and foraminifers was established resulting in a well-constrained age model for Site 1085. Calcareous nannofossils are abundant and well preserved throughout the entire section. Reworking is limited to the interval between 60 and 100 mbsf. The overall abundance of benthic foraminifers is high throughout the studied interval. The planktonic to benthic foraminifer ratio at this site is about ten times higher than at previous sites. Radiolarians are generally rare and show signs of dissolution in almost all samples. Radiolarian assemblages indicate that intermittent upwellings occurred through the last ~3 m.y. The presence of an Antarctic species indicates an occasional influence of cooler currents. Diatoms are rare or absent in most of the section. The interval between 89.17 and 127.45 mbsf (upper Pliocene, 1.8-2.6 Ma) contains a mixed/T. antarctica-rich diatom assemblage, similar to the one found in upper Pliocene sediments at Site 1084. Dinoflagellate cysts are common in the upper Miocene sediments (6-10 Ma).
Sediments at Site 1085 contain small amounts of marine organic matter, with TOC concentrations fluctuating between 2.8% and nil. Concentrations of CaCO3 are generally between 85% and 60%, but drop to 35% in sediments deposited during the Miocene carbonate crisis. Interstitial water chemistry is dominantly controlled by the low organic carbon and high carbonate concentrations in the sediment, which result in modest variations in the chemical gradients of many dissolved species. Alkalinity rises to a broad maximum of approximately 30 mM between 46 and 84 mbsf and subsequently decreases to the bottom of the hole. The deepest alkalinity value of 1.752 mM is by far the lowest (except for near-surface data) observed so far during Leg 175 and most likely reflects consumption via clay mineral formation. Sulfate is not completely consumed until 65 mbsf, which is also deep in comparison to previous Leg 175 sites. Carbonate and phosphate precipitation reactions throughout the sequence are also inferred from the profiles of dissolved calcium, magnesium, and phosphate.
Drilling at Site 1085 recovered a continuous high-resolution record with sedimentation rates of around 50 m/m.y. The carbonate-rich sediments will allow the reconstruction of the position and intensity of the Benguela Current for the last 15 m.y., including the influence of water masses coming from the Indian Ocean and the Subantarctic Region.