Data Documentation for NGDC data set MGG06105001, received from Henry Berryhill, USGS Office of Marine Geology, P.O. Box 6732, Corpus Christi, TX 78411 on May 28, 1976. Letter of transfer: Mr. Ron Combellick D621, NOAA/EDS/NGSDC Boulder, Colorado 80302 Dear Mr. Combellick: Enclosed are the dta which U. S. Geological Survey, OFfice of Marine Geology, Corpus Christi, Texas, has submitted in publication form to Bureau of Land Management, Washington, D.C., in fulfillment of Contract no. BLM-08550-MU5-20 for the South Texas Outer Continental Shelf Project, 1975. Included are the following materials: 1) Decks of computer cards (approximately five thousand cards) which describe data gathered for the survey 2) Listings of all cards contained herein 3) Data Documenation Forms for the several sets of data 4) Bibliographic data sheet showing availability of above publication The enclosed data are as follows: 1) General inventorylisting of all samples taken with associated latitudes, longitudes, Lambert coordinates and times taken 2) Chemical data a) Trace metals of surficial sediments b) Trace metals of suspended sediments c) Clay mineralogy 3) Sediment data a) Physical properties of surficial and near-surface sediments b) Size analysis Biological data is being sent to James Berger, NODC, and is therefore not included here. Listings and decks are clearly marked; corresponding card decks and listings have identical designations. Listings were made from the decks included here rather than from original data cards for the following two reasons: to verify for obvious errors in reproduction of cards, and to reflect "cleaned up" versions of original cards. (In some cases sample numbers were modified for the sake of consistency and conciseness on the DDF's.) Listings appear to be completely accurate. Cards have not been interpreted. I hope this meets with your satisfaction. If you have questions, you may call me at FTS 734-3241. Sincerely, Henry Berryhill, Jr. Bibliographic data sheet: Title and subtitle: Environmental Studies, South Texas Outer Continental Shelf, 1975: Geology Part I - Geologic description and interpretation Part II - Inventory of data archived and analyzed. Authors: Berryhill, H.L., Jr., Shideler, G.L., Holmes, C.W., Hill, G.W., Barnes, S.S., and Martin, R.G., Jr. Report date: February 1, 1976 Project/Task/Work Unit No: 9450-01419 Contract/Grant No.: BLM-08550-MU5-20 NGSDC TE No.: TE0089 Performing Organization Name and Address: U.S. Geological Survey National Center Reston, Va. Sponsoring Organization Name and Address: Bureau of Land Management C St. bween 18 & 19 Sts. NW Washington, D.C. Abstracts: The area studied covers 19,250 sq km (7,400 sq mi) and extends northward from the International Boundary to the northern end of Matagorda Island, Texas and seaward from the Federal-State territorial boundary 16.6 km (10.3 mi) offshore to the outer edge of the continental shelf. Geological results include: the general geologic framework of the continental terrace to a subseafloor depth of approximately 300m; the structural evaluation of the OCS during late Pleistocene and Holocene times; the distribution and thickness of the Holocene sequence; the stratigraphy of shallow subsurface Holocene sediments with emphasis on depositional patterns; the biogenic modification of shallow subsurface sediments by infaunal activity; the textural distribution and sedimentation patterns of surficial bottom sediments; trace metals, organic carbon and carbonate content of surficial bottom sediments; trace metals content and mineralogy of suspended sediments; and sea floor stability with emphasis on the chronology of faulting and sea floor slumping during late Pleistocene and Holocene times. The report contains an extensive bibliography and 115 figures. Key Words: Environmental baselines Marine geology Geologic structure Geochemistry Sedimentation Late Pleistocene-Holocene Releasable to the public. Available from NTIS, 353 pages. Data Documentation Form: Originator Identification: U.S. Geological Survey Office of Marine Geology P.O. Box 6732 Corpus Christi, Texas 78411 OCS - South Texas Baseline Study Platform: R/V Kana Keoki, operator Univ. of Hawaii Cruise Dates: 10/26/1974 - 12/21/1974 Contact: Henry Berryhill, 512-888-3241 Area: Gulf of Mexico Record Format Description: Header Record: Field Name Col. Len. Format use and meaning ----------------------------------------------------------------- File Name 1 6 A6 "BLMSTG" Bureau of Land Management So. Texas Geology blank 7 1 1X Station Title 8 3 I3 Sample Type 11 1 A1 G=grab X=xbt C=pipe core D=drift bottle B=box core W=suspended sediment sample blank 12 3 3X Positioning method 15 1 I1 0=simultaneous fix&sample 1=approximate fix on posn. Position latitude 16 8 I8(2) I2=degrees I2=minutes I4(2)=seconds to hundredths Position longitude 24 8 I8(2) same as above Postion method=HI FIX except during sky wave problems at night when a combination of Satellite Loran A and Hi Fix within two to three lane counts were used. When Hi Fix positioning within two to three lane counts was used, the lane count was tied to a petroleum platform position during the daylight hours so the lane counts could be postplotted as accurately as possible. Position x-Lambert 32 8 I8 When Lambert coordinates were not available " Loran Hi Fix " blank 40 1 1X Position y-Lambert 41 7 I7 Lambert coordinates are in feet increasing north and east from base reference Lambert Base Coordinates 1. Texas South Zone Ref.: X-origin=2,000,000 ft at 98 deg. 30 min. Y-origin=0.00 ft at 25 deg. 40 min. 2. Texas South Central Zone Ref.: X-origin=2,000,000 ft at 99 deg. 00 min. Y-origin=0.00 ft at 27 deg. 50 min. Bathymetry 48 3 I3 Meters Ships echo sounder read as position was taken at each station. blank 51 1 1X Size analysis of sediment 52 2 A2 MD=mud SN=sand CG=gravel general description, visual approximation blank 54 8 8X Sample analysis performed 62 7 I7 111111=tests performed include: textural analysis mineralogical analysis trace element analysis carbon analysis archive sample available 1111111=in addition, a quality control sample taken n.b. above designation significant only for grabs; blank=sample type not grab blank 69 1 1X length of core sample 70 3 I3 centimeters direct measure blank 73 1 1X Time, month 74 1 I1 0=October 1=November 2=December Time, day 75 2 I2 Day of the month Time 77 4 I4 Time of day (GMT) hours, mins Card Type 1: Field Name Col. Len. Format use and meaning ----------------------------------------------------------------- OCS- 1 4 A4 "OCS-" Sample type 5 1 A1 Same as master record Station Title 6 3 I3 Same as master record Subsample 9 1 A1 T=top, M=middle, B=bottom blank 10 1 1X Weight of Sample 11 6 F6.2 grams (left justified) blank 17 24 24X Gravel analysis 41 1 I1 1=analysis performed 0=analysis not performed 2=coulter analysis only Sand analysis 42 1 I1 same codes as above Silt analysis 43 1 I1 same codes as above Carbonate analysis 44 1 I1 same codes as above Gravel weight 45 4 F4.2 grams (left justified) blank 49 2 2X Sand weight 51 5 F5.2 grams (left justified) blank 56 13 13X phi interval 69 4 F4.2 "0.50" There were no card type 2's in this batch. (Gravel analysis) Card Type 3: Field Name Col. Len. Format use and meaning (&=+) ----------------------------------------------------------------- OCS- 1 4 A4 "OCS-" Sample type 5 1 A1 Same as master record Station Title 6 3 I3 Same as master record Subsample 9 1 A1 T=top, M=middle, B=bottom blank 10 1 1X phi size 11 7 A7 "-1.00 " Weight of -1.0 fraction 18 7 F7.1 Cumulative % of sand fraction--left justified phi size 25 7 A7 "-0.50 " Weight of -0.50 fraction 32 7 F7.1 Cumulative % of sand fraction--left justified phi size 39 7 A7 "0.00 " Weight of 0.00 fraction 46 7 F7.1 Cumulative % of sand fraction--left justified phi size 53 7 A7 "&0.50 " Weight of 0.50 fraction 60 7 F7.1 Cumulative % of sand fraction--left justified phi size 67 7 A7 "&1.00 " Weight of 1.00 fraction 74 7 F7.1 Cumulative % of sand fraction--left justified Card Type 4: Field Name Col. Len. Format use and meaning (&=+) ----------------------------------------------------------------- OCS- 1 4 A4 "OCS-" Sample type 5 1 A1 Same as master record Station Title 6 3 I3 Same as master record Subsample 9 1 A1 T=top, M=middle, B=bottom blank 10 1 1X phi size 11 7 A7 "&1.50 " Weight of 1.5 fraction 18 7 F7.1 Cumulative % of sand fraction--left justified phi size 25 7 A7 "&2.00 " Weight of 2.0 fraction 32 7 F7.1 Cumulative % of sand fraction--left justified phi size 39 7 A7 "&2.50 " Weight of 2.5 fraction 46 7 F7.1 Cumulative % of sand fraction--left justified phi size 53 7 A7 "&3.00 " Weight of 3.0 fraction 60 7 F7.1 Cumulative % of sand fraction--left justified phi size 67 7 A7 "&3.50 " Weight of 3.5 fraction 74 7 F7.1 Cumulative % of sand fraction--left justified Card Type 5: Field Name Col. Len. Format use and meaning (&=+) ----------------------------------------------------------------- OCS- 1 4 A4 "OCS-" Sample type 5 1 A1 Same as master record Station Title 6 3 I3 Same as master record Subsample 9 1 A1 T=top, M=middle, B=bottom blank 10 1 1X phi size 11 7 A7 "&4.00 " Weight of 4.0 fraction 18 7 F7.1 Cumulative % of sand fraction--left justified Card Type 6: Field Name Col. Len. Format use and meaning (&=+) ----------------------------------------------------------------- OCS- 1 4 A4 "OCS-" Sample type 5 1 A1 Same as master record Station Title 6 3 I3 Same as master record Subsample 9 1 A1 T=top, M=middle, B=bottom blank 10 1 1X phi size 11 7 A7 "&3.96 " Weight of 3.96 fraction 18 7 F7.1 Cumulative % of sand fraction--left justified phi size 25 7 A7 "&4.29 " Weight of 4.29 fraction 32 7 F7.1 Cumulative % of sand fraction--left justified phi size 39 7 A7 "&4.63 " Weight of 4.63 fraction 46 7 F7.1 Cumulative % of sand fraction--left justified phi size 53 7 A7 "&4.96 " Weight of 4.96 fraction 60 7 F7.1 Cumulative % of sand fraction--left justified phi size 67 7 A7 "&5.29 " Weight of 5.29 fraction 74 7 F7.1 Cumulative % of sand fraction--left justified Card Type 7: Field Name Col. Len. Format use and meaning (&=+) ----------------------------------------------------------------- OCS- 1 4 A4 "OCS-" Sample type 5 1 A1 Same as master record Station Title 6 3 I3 Same as master record Subsample 9 1 A1 T=top, M=middle, B=bottom blank 10 1 1X phi size 11 7 A7 "&5.62 " Weight of 5.62 fraction 18 7 F7.1 Cumulative % of sand fraction--left justified phi size 25 7 A7 "&5.96 " Weight of 5.96 fraction 32 7 F7.1 Cumulative % of sand fraction--left justified phi size 39 7 A7 "&6.29 " Weight of 6.29 fraction 46 7 F7.1 Cumulative % of sand fraction--left justified phi size 53 7 A7 "&6.62 " Weight of 6.62 fraction 60 7 F7.1 Cumulative % of sand fraction--left justified phi size 67 7 A7 "&6.96 " Weight of 6.96 fraction 74 7 F7.1 Cumulative % of sand fraction--left justified Card Type 8: Field Name Col. Len. Format use and meaning (&=+) ----------------------------------------------------------------- OCS- 1 4 A4 "OCS-" Sample type 5 1 A1 Same as master record Station Title 6 3 I3 Same as master record Subsample 9 1 A1 T=top, M=middle, B=bottom blank 10 1 1X phi size 11 7 A7 "&7.29 " Weight of 7.29 fraction 18 7 F7.1 Cumulative % of sand fraction--left justified phi size 25 7 A7 "&7.62 " Weight of 7.62 fraction 32 7 F7.1 Cumulative % of sand fraction--left justified phi size 39 7 A7 "&7.96 " Weight of 7.96 fraction 46 7 F7.1 Cumulative % of sand fraction--left justified phi size 53 7 A7 "&8.29 " Weight of 8.29 fraction 60 7 F7.1 Cumulative % of sand fraction--left justified phi size 67 7 A7 "&8.62 " Weight of 8.62 fraction 74 7 F7.1 Cumulative % of sand fraction--left justified Card Type 9: Field Name Col. Len. Format use and meaning (&=+) ----------------------------------------------------------------- OCS- 1 4 A4 "OCS-" Sample type 5 1 A1 Same as master record Station Title 6 3 I3 Same as master record Subsample 9 1 A1 T=top, M=middle, B=bottom blank 10 1 1X phi size 11 7 A7 "&8.96 " Weight of 8.96 fraction 18 7 F7.1 Cumulative % of sand fraction--left justified phi size 25 7 A7 "&9.29 " Weight of 9.29 fraction 32 7 F7.1 Cumulative % of sand fraction--left justified phi size 39 7 A7 "&9.62 " Weight of 9.62 fraction 46 7 F7.1 Cumulative % of sand fraction--left justified phi size 53 7 A7 "&9.96 " Weight of 9.96 fraction 60 7 F7.1 Cumulative % of sand fraction--left justified phi size 67 7 A7 "&10.29 " Weight of 10.29 fraction 74 7 F7.1 Cumulative % of sand fraction--left justified Card Type 10: Field Name Col. Len. Format use and meaning (&=+) ----------------------------------------------------------------- OCS- 1 4 A4 "OCS-" Sample type 5 1 A1 Same as master record Station Title 6 3 I3 Same as master record Subsample 9 1 A1 T=top, M=middle, B=bottom blank 10 1 1X phi size 11 7 A7 "&10.62 " Weight of 10.62 fraction 18 7 F7.1 Cumulative % of sand fraction--left justified see section, "Physical sedimentology: surficial sediments and suspended sediments," p. 52-62, for description of methods. Card Type SR: Field Name Col. Len. Format use and meaning (&=+) ----------------------------------------------------------------- Station title 3 3 I3 Same as master record Sample type 6 1 A1 Same as master record blank 7 1 1X Median diameter 8 5 F5.2 -- blank 13 1 1X | Modal diameter 14 5 F5.2 | blank 19 1 1X | Diameter of | coarsest one- | percentile 20 5 F5.2 | blank 25 1 1X | size Folk's Graphic } analysis Mean diameter 26 5 F5.2 | blank 31 1 1X | Folk's Inclusive | Graphic standard | deviation 32 5 F5.2 | blank 37 1 1X | Folk's Inclusive | Graphic Skewness 38 5 F5.2 | blank 43 1 1X | Folk's Graphic | Kurtosis 44 5 F5.2 -- Heavy Mineral content(total) 49 6 F6.3 percent by weight blank 55 1 1X Color-wet 1)in surficial sediment upper 1 cm 56 7 A7 GSA Rock color chart designationsl based on Munsell QD=questionalbe color designation blank 63 1 1X 2)in subsurface sediment below 1 cm 64 7 A7 ND=no difference from surficial sediment B= no data blank 71 8 8X Record type 79 2 A2 "S2" Card Type Clay Mineralogy: Field Name Col. Len. Format use and meaning (&=+) ----------------------------------------------------------------- Station title 4 3 I3 Same as master record Sample type 7 1 A1 Same as master record Montmorillonite 8 5 F5.1 percent by weight Mixed layer clay 13 6 F6.1 percent by weight Illite 19 6 F6.1 percent by weight Chlorite 25 6 F6.1 percent by weight See section, "Mineralogy, Method of mineral determination," pages 221-222, attached Card Type Trace Metals Content of Suspended Sediment: Field Name Col. Len. Format use and meaning (&=+) ----------------------------------------------------------------- Station title 1 3 I3 Same as master record Sample type 4 1 A1 Same as master record Subsample location 5 1 A1 T=top, M=middle, B=bottom blank 6 1 1X Time, month 7 1 I1 0=Oct, 1=Nov, 2=Dec Time, day 8 2 I2 Day of the Month blank 10 1 1X Time 11 4 I4 Hours, Minutes (GMT) blank 15 1 1X Chlorinity, water 16 4 F4.1 ppt Knudsen titration blank 20 1 1X Mass of suspended sediment 21 6 F6.2 milligrams per liter balance weight blank 27 1 1X Cadmium 28 5 F5.1 ppm blank 33 1 1X Copper 34 4 I4 ppm blank 38 1 1X Chromium 39 4 I4 ppm blank 43 1 1X Nickel 44 4 I4 ppm blank 48 1 1X Lead 49 4 I4 ppm blank 53 1 1X Manganese 54 4 I4 ppm blank 58 1 1X Vanadium 59 4 F4.1 ppm blank 63 1 1X Zinc 64 6 I6 ppm blank 70 1 1X Iron 71 4 I4.1 ppm above are acid leach and atomic absorption spectrophometry Card Type Trace Metals in Surficial Sediment: Field Name Col. Len. Format use and meaning (&=+) ----------------------------------------------------------------- Sample type 2 1 A1 G=grab blank 3 1 1X Station title 4 3 I3 Same as master record Cadmium 7 6 F6.3 ppm Chromium 13 6 F6.1 ppm Copper 19 6 F6.1 ppm Iron 25 6 I6 ppm Manganese 31 6 I6 ppm Nickel 37 6 F6.1 ppm Lead 43 6 F6.1 ppm Vanadium 49 6 F6.1 ppm Zinc 55 6 F6.1 ppm Barium 61 6 I6 ppm above=acid leach and atomic absorption spectrophotometry, average of triplicate analysis Carbonate 67 6 F6.3 percent organic carbon 73 8 F8.3 percent Percent by weight Leco Carbon Analyzer, dry ashing/ gas displacement by Kolpak and Bell, 1968 Navigation and Postioning Filed station positioning for the sampling and vessel navigation for the geophysical surveying for most of the work was provided by Decca Survey Systems, Inc. on a subcontract to USGS. The precision system was Hi Fix(R) operating in a hyperbolic mode with a lane transmitting separation of 50 feet. The system consisted of a master transmitting station, two slave stations and a shipboard receiving system consisting of two receivers and an antenna. For the South Texas OCS two Hi Fix service chains were utilized during the geological cruise: production platforms and temporary buoys, and were tracked on an analog recorder. During the seismic reflection profiling, shot point fixes were taken every 2000 feet. All station locations and geophysical tracks were preplotted by Decca from material and specifications provided by USGS> Use of alternate navigation systems in lieu of Hi Fix during parts of Leg Charlie were necessary to run continuosly during seismic reflection profiling. A combination of Satellite, Loran A and Hi Fix within two to three lane counts was used, the lane count was tied to a petroleum platform position during daylight hours so that the lane counts could be postplotted as accurately as possible. Station Sampling A sampling net of 274 bottom stations spaced along 27 transects was established. The location of the bottom stations is shown on figure 5 (plate B). The unmodified base has been used to show all sample locations so that station locations can be related to the more detailed bathymetry shown. The following rationale was used in establishing the bottom station network: adequate regional coverage; spacing to provide a sample for each of the blocks nominated for lease bid; and the geology of the area to the extent known prior to the study, including the physiography of the sea floor and general sedimentological and tectonic patterns. At 264 stations, a bottom grab was taken using a Smith-McIntyre sampler haveing 0.1 m3 capacity. From each grab sample, seven subsamples were taken for the various analyses to be made and for the archives. The subsamples were taken by inserting plastic tubes 15 cm lon and 3.8 cm in diameter into the sediment. The tubes were capped and sealed. Subsamples for organic carbon, carbonate and archive samples were frozen aboardship and transferred to the laboratory frozen. At 90 selected station, a pipe core was obtained: 80 cores were taken at the grab sample stations; 10 core were taken at stations other than at bottom grab stations. The gravity- fall pipe corer was constructed of stainless steel and the core was retained in a plastic liner having an inside diameter of 7 cm (2.75 in). At 74 of the 90 pipe core stations, a box core was taken using a sampler of 1 ft3 capacity. The location of pipe core statsions is shown by figure 6 and the box core stations by figure 7. Although they are included on figure 5, the locations of the pipe core and box core stations are repeated for clarity and utility. At 24 of the 264 bottom grab stations, samples were taken at three levels in the water column for suspended sediment: surface, mid-water depth, and near-bottom. The locations for the suspended sediment samples are shown by figure 8. As augmentation to the physical oceanographic studies, XBT (expendable bathymthermograph) casts were made at 128 of the 264 bottom grab stations and surface drifter bottle casts at 80 stations. The locations of the XBT and surface drifter stations are shown by figures 9 and 10. A summary of samples collected by type and number is shown by the listing. Summary: samples collected by type and number Temperature and depth (XBT) 128 Suspended sediments for trace metal analysis 72 Sediment samples for benthic infauna analysis (box core stations) 74 Sediment stations for hydrocarbon analysis (box core stations) 74 Sediment samples for trace metal analysis 264 Sediment samples for textural analysis 264 Sediment samples for clay mineralogy 74 Sediment samples for percent heavy minerals 74 Sediment samples for carbonate analysis 264 Sediment samples for organic C analysis 264 Cores for lithologic stratification and biogenic structures 90 Box cores for near surface depositional structures 74 Bottom photographs 60 Sediment samples for biogeologic studies (washings of all grab samples) 264 Drop of surface drifters (bottles), three at each of 80 stations 80 ------ Total --2,120 Geophysics Geophysical data used for compiling the geologic framework were 11,260 km of high resolution seismic reflection analog profiles, including 8.860 km made available by the Conservation Division of USGS and some 1,600 km collected on cruise leg Charlie. In addition several hundred miles of side scan profiles.... Sea Floor Sediments Physical Sedimentology: Surficial and Near-Surface Sediments Included under the heading sea floor sediments are both the uppermost or surficial sediments that are along the sea floor/water interface and the underlying sediments to the depth beneath the sea floor penetrated by the box and pipe cores. In the presentation of descriptive and interpretive results that follows, the surficial sediments are discussed first and then the near-surface sediments. Methods of Study Grain Size Analysis A total of 356 samples were analyzed for grain size: 263 bottom grab samples; 28 box core samples employed as replicate samples for evaluating the "within station" grain size variability of sea floor sediments; and 65 water samples for suspended sediments. The laboratory procedures employed for obtaining grain- size distributions of sea floor sediments follow the sequential format outlined by Chart 1. Individual analytical steps are described briefly as follows: 1. Sample Homogenization and Initial Drying - The original sample was thoroughly mixed and air-dried; a representative work sample split of approximately 75-85 grams was then obtained for analysis. 2. Oxidation of Organic Matter - Carbonaceous organic matter was removed from the sample by oxidation with a 30 percent hydrogen peroxide solution, a step necessary to eliminate potential errors in the Coulter Counter analysis of the mud fraction. 3. Desalinization - Soluble salts were removed from the oxidized sample by washing in 800 ml of distilled water. The sample was agitated in a Mason jar, then allowed to settle undisturbed for a minimum of 60 hours. The supernatent was water was then siphoned off without disturbing the sediment. This step eliminated the weight of salt crystals and allowed sediment dispersion. 4. Final Drying and Weighing - After removal of organic matter and soluble salts, the clean sample was oven- dried at less than 40 degrees C to avoid baking the clay fractions. A final work sample wieght was then obtained to within 0.01 g, under the normal ambient temperature and humidty conditions within the USGS Corpus Christi Laboratory. 5. Disaggregation and Dispersion - The final work sample was physically disaggregated, then dispersed by soaking in 500 ml of a standard Calgon solution (5 g/l). The suspension was thoroughly mixed and allowed to settle for 24 hours, then checked for flocculation. If dispersion was complete, the sample was then wet-sieved. 6. Wet Sieving - The dispersed sample was washed through a set of 2 mm (#10) and 63 micron (#230) U.S. Standard sieves. The sample was fractionated into gravel (>2mm), sand (2mm-63 micrometers), and mud (<63 micrometers) fractions; the mud fraction was brought to a standard 800 ml volume. 7. Percentage Determinations - The sand and gravel fractions were washed, oven-dried, and weighed; the percentages of sand, gravel, and mud comprising the total sample were then determined. 8. Settling Tube Analysis (Sand) - The grain-size distri- butions of sand fractions were determined with a Rapid Sediment Analyzer (RSA) at a half-phi interval. The instrument employs a settling tube 1 meter in length, with an 8 cm internal diamter. The settling tube assembly is a modified version of the basic model described by Schlee (1966). Modifications include incorporation of a different model transducer, and the use of a manual sediment introduction device, rather than a motor-driven device. Accessory equipment include a Hewlett-Packard amplifier (Model 321), and a Heath-Schlumberger strip-chart recorder (Model EU-205-11). Sediment fall times were converted to phi-size cumulative percentages at a 0.5 phi interval by employeing the fall time-size overlay technique described by Schlee (1066). C