The study of the chemical composition of DOMES Site C sediment was undertaken in order to establish important baseline parameters in the overall characterization of the sediment. Such general characterization and information concerning heterogeneity and local variation of this and related parameters such as mineralogy, sediment age, and pore water chemistry, are essential in formulating predictive models concerning environmental perturbations caused by resuspension of sediments during deep sea mining.

From 1983 until 1989 NOAA-NCEI compiled the NOAA-MMS Marine Minerals Geochemical Database from journal articles, technical reports and unpublished sources from other institutions. At the time it was the most extended data compilation on ferromanganese deposits world wide. Initially published in a proprietary format incompatible with present day standards it was jointly decided by AWI and NOAA to transcribe this legacy data into PANGAEA. This transfer is augmented by a careful checking of the original sources when available and the encoding of ancillary information (sample description, method of analysis...) not present in the NOAA-MMS database.

Supplement to: Bischoff, James L; Piper, David Z (1976): Chemical composition of marine sediments of DOMES Site C. in: Deep Ocean Mining Environmental Study, N.E. Pacific Nodule Province, Site C, Geology and Geochemistry, U.S. Geological Survey Open File Report. U.S. Geological Survey, 113-130