Thirtieth Anniversary MeetingThirtieth Anniversary MeetingCurators of Marine & Lacustrine Curators of Marine & Lacustrine

Geological SamplesGeological Samples

September 24-26, 2007 September 24-26, 2007

Aspen LodgeAspen Lodge

Estes Park, ColoradoEstes Park, Colorado

Lamont-Doherty Earth ObservatoryLamont-Doherty Earth Observatory

Deep-Sea Sample RepositoryDeep-Sea Sample Repository

58 years of coring the 58 years of coring the ocean floorocean floor

Locations of cores in the Lamont collection. Each dot on the Locations of cores in the Lamont collection. Each dot on the map represents where a core was taken and archived in the map represents where a core was taken and archived in the Lamont Repository. Some of the cores have been so heavily Lamont Repository. Some of the cores have been so heavily sampled that only "residuals" of sediment remain, or data sampled that only "residuals" of sediment remain, or data resulting from work on the cores.resulting from work on the cores.

Core Repository CollectionCore Repository Collection

Total Cores (PC & TW)Total Cores (PC & TW) 19,00019,000Total SitesTotal Sites 13,00013,000Dry StoredDry Stored 16,00016,000Wet StoredWet Stored 2,0002,000Dredges/GrabsDredges/Grabs 3,0003,000

A brief historyA brief history

Lamont’s first Lamont’s first Core Respository Core Respository was the dining was the dining room of the room of the elegant Lamont elegant Lamont mansion. mansion.

All cores were stored dry All cores were stored dry in the LDEO exclusive 8’ in the LDEO exclusive 8’ trays, dining room trays, dining room temperature.temperature.

Overflow was “temporarily” moved to the ground level of Overflow was “temporarily” moved to the ground level of the Lamont Estate Carriage House which was being used the Lamont Estate Carriage House which was being used as a garage by a Lamont scientist. The arrangement as a garage by a Lamont scientist. The arrangement became permanent, and the garage became Lamont’s became permanent, and the garage became Lamont’s first official Core Repository.first official Core Repository.

The present-day Core Laboratory housing The present-day Core Laboratory housing the Core Repositorythe Core Repository. .

Cores were split, photographed and described from Cores were split, photographed and described from the beginning (in the dining room). AT150-1 from the beginning (in the dining room). AT150-1 from

Ewing’s epiphanic MAR cruise, 1947.Ewing’s epiphanic MAR cruise, 1947.

Megascopic Description and photo of Core Megascopic Description and photo of Core VM2-1 taken in 1953.VM2-1 taken in 1953.

Recently archived core: Recently archived core: LWB1-12LWB1-12

The original concept is still in place. Continuity The original concept is still in place. Continuity is the LDEO long suit.is the LDEO long suit.

The Shipboard Core Log has been formalized. The Shipboard Core Log has been formalized. Additional work on cores is archived.Additional work on cores is archived.

Archiving cores has been consistentArchiving cores has been consistent

Cores are split in Cores are split in half lengthwise. half lengthwise. Pipes are grooved Pipes are grooved with a router, then with a router, then split using a hook-split using a hook-style utility blade.style utility blade.

The sediment is cut through The sediment is cut through using piano wire.using piano wire.

Cores are photographed Cores are photographed with a Fuji digital camera. with a Fuji digital camera. Images stored as tiff for Images stored as tiff for archive and jpeg for web. archive and jpeg for web. Hard copy printed for Core Hard copy printed for Core LogsLogs..

Thanks to Thanks to The NOAA The NOAA Climate Data Climate Data Modernization Program Modernization Program (CDMP) and NGDC, all (CDMP) and NGDC, all LDEO analog photos have LDEO analog photos have been digitized and are been digitized and are being placed on-line.being placed on-line.

Photography is now digital colorPhotography is now digital color

Cores are Cores are megascopically megascopically described.described.

Sampling for non-LDEO Sampling for non-LDEO researchers.researchers.

Storage has been Storage has been

consistentconsistent..

Dry storage trays: Dry storage trays: galvanized steel, galvanized steel, 2.5” wide, 8 feet long. 2.5” wide, 8 feet long. Racks are 9 ft tall, each Racks are 9 ft tall, each holds 704 trays.holds 704 trays.

Storage of dry coresStorage of dry cores

Wet tray storage Wet tray storage began in 1985 -- began in 1985 -- 5 foot long, mostly 5 foot long, mostly 4.5” wide D-tubes. 4.5” wide D-tubes. Racks are custom Racks are custom built, 10 ft tall. Each built, 10 ft tall. Each holds 296 trays.holds 296 trays.

There are various widths There are various widths and lengths of cores and lengths of cores requiring many different requiring many different storage systems.storage systems.

Refrigerated storage of wet coresRefrigerated storage of wet cores

Residuals storageResiduals storage

Unused or returned Unused or returned processed sample processed sample material is stored in material is stored in hundreds of drawers hundreds of drawers installed wherever we installed wherever we can squeeze them in. can squeeze them in. There are close to There are close to 200,000 of these 200,000 of these samples filed, most samples filed, most catalogued and on the catalogued and on the web. For many older web. For many older cores, only residuals cores, only residuals remain for sampling.remain for sampling.

RepositoryRepositoryFacilitiesFacilities

Analog data is stored in Analog data is stored in nearly 1,000 ring binders nearly 1,000 ring binders dating to 1947.dating to 1947.

In addition to archive storage, the Repository facilities In addition to archive storage, the Repository facilities consist of a large laboratory, office and core library, consist of a large laboratory, office and core library, physical properties lab, 2 technical offices, physical properties lab, 2 technical offices, cutting/sampling room, X-radiography room, storage, cutting/sampling room, X-radiography room, storage, and core splitting/photography area.and core splitting/photography area.

Metadata ManagementMetadata Management All core data in analog format (Core Logs)All core data in analog format (Core Logs) 58 years of core data digitized58 years of core data digitized Metadata sent to NGDCMetadata sent to NGDC Metadata being entered into new System for Metadata being entered into new System for

Earth Sample Registration (SESAR)Earth Sample Registration (SESAR) Metadata including Megascopic Descriptions Metadata including Megascopic Descriptions

available on LDEO Web and NGDCavailable on LDEO Web and NGDC Core Sample History being entered on LDEO Core Sample History being entered on LDEO

WebWeb all core photos in digital formatall core photos in digital format Results of work on material available on WEB Results of work on material available on WEB

via GEOMAPAPP and/or NGDCvia GEOMAPAPP and/or NGDC

Lamont Coring FactsLamont Coring Facts ~85% of the collection was ~85% of the collection was

taken by 1979, driven by taken by 1979, driven by Ewing’s “A-Core-a-Day” Ewing’s “A-Core-a-Day” dictum.dictum.

~70% of the collection was ~70% of the collection was taken when both VEMA and taken when both VEMA and CONRAD were coring from CONRAD were coring from 1962 through 1979. 1962 through 1979.

Most of the above cores were Most of the above cores were destined to be archived and destined to be archived and stored, stored, unsampledunsampled, waiting for , waiting for the day they would be called the day they would be called upon.upon.

What have we been What have we been doing with all those cores doing with all those cores

all these years?all these years?

Half of all samples currently Half of all samples currently distributed are from older, dry cores.distributed are from older, dry cores.

VM29-191, North Atlantic, 1972

LamontLamontSampling Sampling

FactsFacts

Sampling in earlier Sampling in earlier days was at coarser days was at coarser intervals such as intervals such as 20 or 50 cm.20 or 50 cm.

Large chunks taken Large chunks taken for samples.for samples.

High sampling rate in 70’s and early 80’s due to CLIMAP High sampling rate in 70’s and early 80’s due to CLIMAP and SPECMAP projects.and SPECMAP projects.

Most present-day sampling is high- resolution, as close as Most present-day sampling is high- resolution, as close as 1/2 cm intervals, small amount.1/2 cm intervals, small amount.

Recording of sampling has been continuous.Recording of sampling has been continuous.

Sample history is available on-line for samples taken as Sample history is available on-line for samples taken as early as 1960. More added as time is available. early as 1960. More added as time is available.

Record of core taken in 1948 -- metadata Record of core taken in 1948 -- metadata and sample historyand sample history

Lamont’s first cores are from the ATLANTIS by way Lamont’s first cores are from the ATLANTIS by way of an arrangement Ewing had with Woods Hole.of an arrangement Ewing had with Woods Hole.

A few reasons to be thankful these cores A few reasons to be thankful these cores have been continuously archived, and have been continuously archived, and

available --available --

Cores taken in 1954 from Gulf of Mexico never Cores taken in 1954 from Gulf of Mexico never sampled until five years ago have now been sampled until five years ago have now been used by several researchers. used by several researchers.

Cores taken in 1971 and 1972 from North Cores taken in 1971 and 1972 from North Atlantic never sampled before 1990’s are now Atlantic never sampled before 1990’s are now high-volume sampled cores.high-volume sampled cores.

Cores from Pacific taken over many years and Cores from Pacific taken over many years and never sampled are now used for cosmic impact never sampled are now used for cosmic impact studies.studies.

And more…And more…

The Lamont material collected for over 50 years is The Lamont material collected for over 50 years is irreplaceable. The high quality of archiving has been irreplaceable. The high quality of archiving has been consistent. The collection is well-known world-wide consistent. The collection is well-known world-wide because of the availability of data and open policy for because of the availability of data and open policy for sampling.sampling.

KN158-4-22GGC

Win-win for both funding Win-win for both funding agencies and researchersagencies and researchers

Finding a Finding a suite of suite of unsampled unsampled or lightly or lightly sampled sampled cores cores suitable for suitable for someone’s someone’s work is like work is like getting a getting a free cruisefree cruise..

Core VM28-68 taken 1970 near Reykjanes Ridge

Plans for the futurePlans for the future

Enhance data mining and Enhance data mining and visualization for users to visualization for users to simplify and improve use of simplify and improve use of legacy data. We plan to legacy data. We plan to begin processing of detailed begin processing of detailed descriptions into a tabulated descriptions into a tabulated format so that barrel sheets format so that barrel sheets will be generated will be generated automatically including automatically including carbonate contents, photos, carbonate contents, photos, sensor track measurements, sensor track measurements, paleomagnetics, isotope paleomagnetics, isotope measurements, etcmeasurements, etc..

Location of cores in the Location of cores in the Repository that have been cited Repository that have been cited in journal and book publications, in journal and book publications, visualized in the GeoMapApp visualized in the GeoMapApp browser (www.geomapapp.org). browser (www.geomapapp.org). This figure shows 9,665 citations This figure shows 9,665 citations to individual cores between 1953 to individual cores between 1953 and 1999. The dot color in the and 1999. The dot color in the map is coded to year of map is coded to year of publication. publication.

Expansion of the Lamont core Database to Expansion of the Lamont core Database to include searches for published cores, by coordinate include searches for published cores, by coordinate

and other known data.and other known data.

Greater involvement with SESAR Greater involvement with SESAR in assigning every item in the in assigning every item in the Repository a unique identifierRepository a unique identifier

Provide reconnaissance CaCO3 Provide reconnaissance CaCO3 measurements on as-yet un-sampled measurements on as-yet un-sampled cores that have promise as excellent cores that have promise as excellent archives of past climate change in archives of past climate change in order to promote their use by the order to promote their use by the scientific community.scientific community.

Continued Continued curation of the curation of the collection, addition collection, addition of new cores and of new cores and dredges, and dredges, and maintenance of maintenance of storage facilities storage facilities

and equipment.and equipment.

Processing samples for researchers Processing samples for researchers and undertaking non-destructive and undertaking non-destructive measurements on cores based on user measurements on cores based on user requests.requests.