Paleontology (PAL)

Paleo Samples (PAL) – CORE CATCHER
If paleontologists are onboard the platform they receive material from the core catcher for initial biostratigraphic dating of the core.

Experience from detailed stratigraphic correlation on paleoceanographic ocean drilling expeditions in the past showed that usually 10-15 % of sediment between two cores is missing.
A core catcher in general is stratigraphically (more or less) intact (strongly depending on the quality!) in relation to the overlying section. This would mean by removing the complete up to 25 cm long core catcher for offshore analyses and consume ALL of it would add ANOTHER 5 % of missing section between two adjacent cores!

Therefore, a model for curation of the core catcher sample on the platform/drillship is recommended so that at least an archive half will be kept!

Once onboard the core catcher sample is extruded into a short piece of plastic liner, capped, taped (with absolutely NO handling of acetone for gluing end-caps if the porewater whole round sample has to be taken from the core!!!), and labelled with a black marker. The core catcher is treated as a separate section below the last core section. It can be up to 23-25 cm long.

According to the various micropaleontological disciplines and to the volumes compiled from the IODP Sample, Data, And Obligations Policy, where general guidelines are given for volumes of material generally required for various kinds of analyses), an expedition-specific estimate of what could be required for shipboard scientists will be made.

The CC sample should be recorded as a sample code PAL in offshore DIS.