SITE: GAB-01C
PRIORITY: 2
POSITION: 34°23.4672´S, 127°35.4393´E
WATER DEPTH: 3884 m
SED THICKNESS: ~5950 m
TOTAL PENETRATION: 615 m
SEISMIC COVERAGE: Intersection of AGSO Lines 169/08 (SP 729.5) and 169/11 (SP 1962.5)
Objectives: (1) Recover pelagic ooze from the upper continental rise to construct a Cenozoic and Late Cretaceous paleoceanographic record of the opening of the Southern Ocean and development of the circum
Antarctic Current. (2) Determine the history of Cenozoic and Late Cretaceous CCD fluctuations and deep
water mass variations during the evolution of the Southern Ocean (in conjunction with Sites GAB-02B and GAB-13B). (3) Determine depositional and diagenetic facies on the upper continental rise.
Drilling Program: Triple APC, XCB, RCB
Logging and Downhole Operations: Triple Combo, FMS/Sonic, WST, GHMT
Nature of Rock Anticipated: Nanno-foram ooze and chalk (590 m), sandstone (24 m); volcanics (1 m)
SITE: GAB-02B
PRIORITY: 1
POSITION: 33°32.3730´S, 128°54.3002´E
WATER DEPTH: 1043 m
SED THICKNESS: ~4600 m
TOTAL PENETRATION: 1710 m
SEISMIC COVERAGE: Intersection at SPs 428 and 3550 on AGSO Line 169/07
Objectives: (1) Recover pelagic ooze from the middle-upper slope to construct a Cenozoic and Late Cretaceous paleoceanographic record of the opening of the Southern Ocean and development of the circum
Antarctic Current. (2) Determine the history of Cenozoic and Late Cretaceous CCD fluctuations and intermediate-water mass variations during the evolution of the Southern Ocean (in conjunction with Sites GAB-01C and GAB-13B). (3) Determine depositional and diagenetic facies on the middle-upper slope.
Drilling Program: Triple APC, XCB, RCB
Logging and Downhole Operations: Triple Combo, FMS/Sonic, WST, GHMT, Geochem
Nature of Rock Anticipated: Nanno-foram ooze and chalk with minor wackestone (1400 m); indurated sandy calcareous mudstone (310 m)
SITE: GAB-03B
PRIORITY: 1
POSITION: 33°31.7255´S, 127°15.8565´E
WATER DEPTH: 704 m
SED THICKNESS: ~2830 m
TOTAL PENETRATION: 510 m
SEISMIC COVERAGE: Intersection at SPs 1668.5 and 4696 on AGSO Line 169/01
Objectives: (1) Collect a detailed record of Paleogene-early Neogene temperate to subtropical, mid-latitude sediments deposited as lowstand sediment lobes in an upper slope environment. (2) Contribute to the upper slope component of the shelf-to-basin paleoceanographic transect. (3) Evaluate sea-level control on Neogene facies within an upper slope setting; in particular, to evaluate stratigraphic response to eustatic oscillations by comparison with equivalent time intervals in shelf and deep oceanic settings. (4) Determine diagenetic history and processes within Neogene upper slope facies.
Drilling Program: Double APC, XCB, ?RCB
Logging and Downhole Operations: Triple Combo, FMS/Sonic, WST
Nature of Rock Anticipated: Nanno-foram ooze and chalk with minor wackestone (320 m); sandy calcareous mudstone (190 m)
SITE: GAB-04B
PRIORITY: 1
POSITION: 33°30.5568´S, 128°03.9950´E
WATER DEPTH: 790 m
SED THICKNESS: ~950 m
TOTAL PENETRATION: 540 m
SEISMIC COVERAGE: Intersection at SPs 1131.5 and 3209.5 on AGSO Line 169/03
Objectives: (1) Collect a detailed record of Paleogene-early Neogene temperate to subtropical, mid-latitude sediments deposited as lowstand sediment lobes in an upper slope environment. (2) Contribute to the upper slope component of the shelf-to-basin paleoceanographic transect. (3) Evaluate sea-level control on Neogene facies within an upper slope setting; in particular, to evaluate stratigraphic response to eustatic oscillations by comparison with equivalent time intervals in shelf and deep oceanic settings. (4) Determine diagenetic history and processes within Neogene upper slope facies. (5) Collect a record of marine flooding of the evolving rift basin between Australia and Antarctica from the Cenomanian.
Drilling Program: Double APC, XCB
Logging and Downhole Operations: Triple Combo, FMS/Sonic, WST
Nature of Rock Anticipated: Nanno-foram ooze and chalk with minor wackestone (330 m); sandy calcareous mudstone (210 m)
SITE: GAB-05B
PRIORITY: 1
POSITION: 33°25.2122´S, 127°36.1382´E
WATER DEPTH: 488 m
SED THICKNESS: ~3910 m
TOTAL PENETRATION: 580 m
SEISMIC COVERAGE: Intersection at SPs 995 and 13195 on AGSO Line 169/13
Objectives: (1) Recover a detailed record of shelf-edge siliciclastic deposition (at a 'distal' site compared with Site GAB-06B) in order to evaluate the sedimentary response to Paleogene sea-level fluctuations, and to evaluate the complex interaction between sea-level variation, accommodation space, and subsidence. (2) Determine the characteristics of cool-water carbonate facies within the Neogene succession (Sequences 2 to 4). (3) Determine paleoceanographic parameters within a shelf-edge setting in Sequences 2 to 4, to complement other components of the shelf-to-basin transect. (4) Evaluate sea-level control on Neogene facies within an upper slope/shelf-edge setting (cf. Sites GAB-03B and GAB-04B). (5) Evaluate the diagenetic history and processes within Neogene facies in an upper slope/shelf-edge setting.
Drilling Program: Double APC, XCB, RCB
Logging and Downhole Operations: Triple Combo, FMS/Sonic, WST, GHMT, Geochem
Nature of Rock Anticipated: Nanno-foram ooze/chalk and wackestone with minor grainstone (350 m); interbedded calcareous mudstone and sandstone (230 m)
SITE: GAB-06B
PRIORITY: 1
POSITION: 33°18.9842´S, 127°36.1287´E
WATER DEPTH: 220 m
SED THICKNESS: ~1405 m
TOTAL PENETRATION: 695 m
SEISMIC COVERAGE: Intersection at SP's 1916 and 7400 on AGSO Line 169/13
Objectives: (1) Recover a detailed record of shelf-edge siliciclastic deposition (at a 'proximal' site compared with Site GAB-05B) to evaluate the sedimentary response to Paleogene sea-level fluctuations, and to evaluate the complex interaction between sea-level variation, accommodation space, and subsidence. (2) Determine the characteristics of cool-water carbonate facies within the Neogene succession (Sequences 2 to 4). (3) Determine paleoceanographic parameters within a shelf-edge setting in Sequences 2 to 4, to complement other components of the shelf-to-basin transect. (4) Evaluate sea-level control on Neogene facies within an upper slope/shelf-edge setting (cf. Sites GAB-03B and GAB-04B). (5) Evaluate the diagenetic history and processes within Neogene facies in an upper slope/shelf-edge setting.
Drilling Program: Triple APC, XCB, RCB
Logging and Downhole Operations: Triple Combo, FMS/Sonic, WST
Nature of Rock Anticipated: Nanno-foram ooze/chalk and wackestone with minor grainstone (560 m); interbedded calcareous mudstone and sandstone (135 m)
SITE: GAB-07A
PRIORITY: 1
POSITION: 33°21.4498´S, 128°28.8772´E
WATER DEPTH: 480 m
SED THICKNESS: ~2645 m
TOTAL PENETRATION: 540 m
SEISMIC COVERAGE: Intersection at SPs 600 and 10569.5 on AGSO Line 169/05
Objectives: (1) Collect detailed, high-resolution profiles through a late Neogene succession deposited within a low-energy, cool-water carbonate environment to determine the response of such a depositional system to Plio-Pleistocene sea-level fluctuations. (2) Obtain a high-resolution record of late Neogene paleoceanographic variation within a middle-upper slope setting, as a component of the shelf-to-basin paleoceanographic transect. (3) Evaluate the diagenetic history of calcitic sediments deposited within a low-energy environment below storm wave base, for comparison with the higher energy environments at Sites GAB-08A and GAB-09A.
Drilling Program: Double APC, XCB
Logging and Downhole Operations: Triple Combo, FMS/Sonic, WST
Nature of Rock Anticipated: Foram-nanno ooze and chalk; minor wackestone
SITE: GAB-08A
PRIORITY: 2
POSITION: 33°19.5628´S, 128°28.8788´E
WATER DEPTH: 332 m
SED THICKNESS: ~2880 m
TOTAL PENETRATION: 590 m
SEISMIC COVERAGE: Intersection at SPs 879 and 8253.5 on AGSO Line 169/05
Objectives: (1) Collect a detailed, high-resolution profile through a late Neogene succession deposited within a moderate-energy, cool-water carbonate environment to determine the response of such a depositional system to Plio-Pleistocene sea-level fluctuations. (2) Obtain a high-resolution record of late Neogene paleoceanographic variation within an upper slope setting, as a component of the shelf-to-basin paleoceanographic transect. (3) Evaluate the diagenetic history of calcitic sediments deposited within a moderate-energy environment below storm wave base, for comparison with the higher-energy environment at Site GAB-09A.
Drilling Program: Triple APC, XCB
Logging and Downhole Operations: Triple Combo, FMS/Sonic, WST, GHMT
Nature of Rock Anticipated: Wackestone; foram-nanno ooze and chalk; minor grainstone
SITE: GAB-09A
PRIORITY: 1
POSITION: 33°17.3793´S, 128°28.8748´E
WATER DEPTH: 200 m
SED THICKNESS: ~2480 m
TOTAL PENETRATION: 585 m
SEISMIC COVERAGE: Intersection at SPs 1202 and 5574.5 on AGSO Line 169/05
Objectives: (1) Collect detailed, high-resolution profiles through a late Neogene succession deposited within a high-energy, cool-water carbonate environment to determine the response of such a depositional system to Plio-Pleistocene sea-level fluctuations. (2) Obtain a high-resolution record of late Neogene paleoceanographic variation within a shelf-edge setting, as a component of the shelf-to-basin paleoceanographic transect. (3) Evaluate the diagenetic history of calcitic sediments deposited within a high
energy environment below storm wave base, for comparison with the lower-energy environments at Sites GAB
07A and GAB-08A.
Drilling Program: Double APC, XCB
Logging and Downhole Operations: Triple Combo, FMS/Sonic, WST
Nature of Rock Anticipated: Wackestone and grainstone; minor foram-nanno ooze and chalk
SITE: GAB-13B
PRIORITY: 1
POSITION: 34°45.4940´S, 127°35.4358´E
WATER DEPTH: 4465 m
SED THICKNESS: >3.5 km
TOTAL PENETRATION: 985 m
SEISMIC COVERAGE: Intersection of AGSO Lines 169/08 (SP 3987.5) and 169/09 (SP 3457.5)
Objectives: (1) Recover pelagic ooze from the middle continental rise to construct a Cenozoic and Late Cretaceous paleoceanographic record of the opening of the Southern Ocean and development of the circum
Antarctic Current. (2) Determine the history of Cenozoic and Late Cretaceous CCD fluctuations and deep
water mass variations during the evolution of the Southern Ocean (in conjunction with Sites GAB-01C and GAB-02B). (3) Determine depositional and diagenetic facies on the middle continental rise.
Drilling Program: Triple APC, XCB, RCB
Logging and Downhole Operations: Triple Combo, FMS/Sonic, WST, GHMT, Geochem
Nature of Rock Anticipated: Nanno-foram ooze and chalk (610 m), calcareous mudstone (375 m)