Trace metals and minor elements in Southern Gulf of Mexico Sediments following the Ixtoc marine oil blow out event, 2015

Our objective is to compare the impact of two marine oil well blowouts on surface sediments in the Gulf of Mexico: the recent 2010 DWH blowout in the Northern Gulf with the Ixtoc blowout in 1979/80 in the Southern Gulf. A suite of trace and minor elements (V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Sr, Cd, Mo, Ba, Re, and U) some of which are sensitive to changes in sedimentary redox conditions, was analyzed in bulk surface sediments; that data is presented here. Sediment cores were collected in the SE GoM on a research cruise on the R/V Justo Sierra in August 2015. Cores were carefully extruded using a calibrated threaded rod at 2 mm or 5 mm resolution below 2 cm.