Sediments from immediately above basalt basement and from between sections of basalt recovered from Deep Sea Drilling Project Legs 5 and 63 were analyzed by atomic absorption spectroscopy for Mg, Al, Si, Ca, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, and Ba. All of these sediments showed enrichment in Fe and Mn over values typical of detritus supplied to the northeastern Pacific Ocean. X-ray diffractometry and differential chemical leaching indicate that up to 50% of the sediment, by weight, is in amorphous phases and that these phases are rich in Mn, Co, Cu, Ni, and Zn. Multivariate statistical analysis and normative partitioning of the chemical data indicate that much of the excess Fe and other transition elements in the sediment originate from hydrothermal sources.

Sample descriptions are taken from those listed in the core description section of the site summaries for each of the sites used.

Supplement to: Leinen, Margaret W (1981): Metal-rich basal sediments from northeastern Pacific Deep Sea Drilling Project Sites. In: Yeats, RS; Haq, BU; et al. (eds.), Initial Reports of the Deep Sea Drilling Project (U.S. Govt. Printing Office), 63, 667-676