IODP Expedition 330 Louisville Seamount Trail

Location

Cores U1376A-5R to -7R (38.2 - 67.0 mbsf) were retrieved with 88% recovery. The upper part of Core U1376A-5R records the transition from the bright white limestone to the volcanic basement; the algae reef grows on top of a ~3 m thick conglomerate formed by rounded basaltic clasts of various size within a fine-grained matrix that shows several erosional surfaces. The conglomerate lies on top of a mixed succession of hyaloclastite breccia and vesicular lava units that continues into Core U1376A-7R. The lava is moderately olivine and pyroxene phyric and some units are described as in situ pillow lava. Several intervals in the lava are surprisingly well-preserved (containing fresh olivine) and fresh glass is occasionally found in the brecciated matrix. The series of U1374 site meetings was concluded today with two presentations by the Downhole Logging group. All lab groups have submitted their U1374 site reports and the co-chiefs and expedition manager are busy reviewing them.