(Table T3) Sediment concentrations of major and trace elements for ODP Sites 202-1233 and 202-1234

The exchange of waters between the Pacific and the Southern Oceans occurs along the eastern boundary of the South Pacific. Because water masses of the Antarctic provide a connection among the world's ocean basins, these water masses maintain the ability to influence changes in ocean circulation and climate (Lynch-Stieglitz et al., 1996, doi:10.1029/95PA03772). One of the primary goals of Ocean Drilling Program (ODP) Leg 202 was to exploit the sediments underlying the southeast Pacific continental margin to ascertain how changes in past ocean circulation (i.e. water mass distributions) have affected global carbon, heat, and nutrient balances.
Sediments at Site 1233 are bathed by oxygen-rich Antarctic Intermediate Water at a water depth of 838 m, whereas Pacific Central Water bathes the overlying waters at Site 1234. Site 1234 is located north of Site 1233 at 1015-m water depth. Because of rapid erosion of the high Andes, terrigenous sedimentation rates at these sites are in the range of 1-2 m/k.y.
To assess changes in the reducing nature of these sediments through time, a number of geochemical indicators were determined. The solubility of uranium, molybdenum, cadmium, and vanadium decreases under the reducing conditions common along the continental margin seafloor; thus changes in their distribution may signify changes in the reducing character of the surface sediment. A number of other, primarily ancillary, elements were also measured. Most of these elements are used to assess terrigenous inputs.