SHIPBOARD ORGANIC GEOCHEMICAL MEASUREMENTS FOR LEG SCIENTIFIC OBJECTIVES

In addition to the shipboard measurements used for hydrocarbon monitoring purposes, some basic organic geochemical operations are performed in support of the general scientific objectives of the ODP coring program. Carbonate carbon is used to estimate the calcium carbonate content of cores for sedimentological and lithostratigraphic classification purposes. Organic carbon content (directly or by difference) can provide valuable evidence for ocean paleoenvironmental studies and depositional environment classification. Carbon to nitrogen ratios can be used to infer the nature of the organic matter (e.g., land or aquatic plant material) preserved in cores. Methane content is critical for understanding the basic ionic composition of interstitial waters and inference of diagenetic processes and environments. Molecular organic geochemical analyses such as alkenone unsaturation can used to infer marine paleotemperature information.

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