59 samples of metalliferous sediments taken from 17 box cores retrieved from DOMES Sites A, B and C have been analysed. Samples, including pore water salts, were dried at 1100C. The major elements Si, Al, Fe, Mg, Ca, Na, K, Ti, and P were analyzed by X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy after fusion with lithium tetraborate. Concentrations were determined by comparison with appropriate sediment and rock standards and were computer corrected for matrix effects. Ni and Cu were analyzed by atomic-absorption spectroscopy after complete sample dissolution, with estimated precisions of better than 3 percent (1 sigma). The remaining elements were analyzed by optical emission spectroscopy standardized against appropriate sediment and rock standards. Precision is estimated to be on the order of 20% (1 sigma).

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1989 NOAA-NCEI compiled the NOAA-MMS Marine Minerals Geochemical Database from journal articles, technical reports and unpublished sources from other institutions.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.--The data table was not explicitely published but transmitted to NOAA, Boulder for inclusion in the NOAA-MMS database.All samples have been oven dried at 110 °C.