Interstitial water studies, Leg 65, Deep Sea Drilling Project.

Abstract

Studies of the chemical composition of interstitial waters obtained at Sites 482, 483, 484, and 485 on DSDP Leg 65 have revealed the following: 1) Early diagenetic processes in these rapidly deposited sediments led to large decreases in dissolved sulfate and concomitant increase in dissolved ammonia and bicarbonate (alkalinity). Associated with this biodegradation are carbonate-precipitation reactions. 2) In Sites 482, 483, and 485 a flux of dissolved calcium from the basalts of Layer 2 into the sediments is implied. 3) As a result of elevated temperatures in the sediments (caused by relatively high heat flow on young oceanic crust), silica diagenesis occurs at a relatively early stage.-from Authors