Inferred depositional processes included pelagic settling of diatom blooms, and gravity flows from the steep margins of the basin. One turbidite is 3.5 m thick with a coarse sandy base, but most of the sequence is finely laminated. Laminae are composed of diatom oozes of different species composition. Microfossil preservation is excellent, and this site will provide an unparalleled record of Antarctic Holocene paleoproductivity. Variation in magnetic susceptibility may show 200 and 2000 year cyclicity in periods of high susceptibility from 0 to 7 and 30 to 40 mbsf.
Cores provide an extremely high-resolution record of geomagnetic directional variability.
The approach to basement is marked by a greater increase in density coincident with the lithologic change at around 42 m. Natural gamma levels may show some cyclicity on the order of 10 m, while generally increasing downhole. Sampling for interstitial water chemistry, carbonates, and carbon determination at Site 1098 was closely spaced, and analyses are currently under way. Meanwhile, work continues on earlier sites. Twenty two samples from Site 1095 have been analyzed for bulk mineralogy and clay mineralogy with X-ray diffraction. The bulk mineralogy shows little change downhole, with composition being primarily quartz and feldspar.