XCB coring began with Core 25X and continued through Core 27X to a depth of 292.9 mbsf where chert stringers caused the destruction of a hard formation shoe. It was confirmed that the seismometer system is working. Clay is the most common non-biogenic component. Sediments are massive with local thin bands, planar laminae, flaser laminae, and silt laminae. Bioturbation is indicated by a variety of green and gray colors with features that are 5 mm to 4 cm in size, sub-rounded, lensoidal to tubular in shape.
Bioturbated intervals are rare to intensive.
The opaline-siliceous component is produced locally, as the background sediment, and deposited by settling in the pelagic environment on the oxic sea floor. Proportions of these two sets of sediment vary through the section. Gymnosperm and angiosperm pollen grains and foraminiferal linings are also relatively common in this sample. Gymnosperm and angiosperm pollen grains are present, but less common than in the Pleistocene samples. Gymnosperm and angiosperm pollen grains continue to be present.