Data on the distribution of stable isotopes and amino acids in Indian Ocean sediments

Abstract

In February-March 1965, a series of piston cores were taken aboard ATLANTIS II off the coast of Arabia, Pakistan, and India (Figure 1) in water depths of about 3,000 meters. The principal objectives of this program were (a ) to obtain information on the change in petrology of the sediments as a function of geography and depth (b) to study the microfauna in the sediment profiles, and (c) to apply geochemical tools for the elucidation of the diagenetic fate of the organic matter and the history of the sediments. This article presents data on the geochemical part of the project. Principally, we are concerned with the oxygen and carbon isotope distribution in carbonates, the carbon isotope composition of sedimentary organic matter, and the amino acid composition of the sediment material. These studies represent a part of a larger program at our Institute which is concerned with the distribution of (a) stable isotopes and (b) organic compounds such as amino acids, carbohydrates, or hydrocarbons in recent and ancient sediments, natural waters, and marine organisms.