Chemical composition of metalliferous sediments of DOMES Sites A, B and C in the Central Pacific Ocean

59 samples of metalliferous sediments taken from 17 box cores retrieved from DOMES Sites A, B and C have been analysed. Samples, including pore water salts, were dried at 1100C. The major elements Si, Al, Fe, Mg, Ca, Na, K, Ti, and P were analyzed by X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy after fusion with lithium tetraborate. Concentrations were determined by comparison with appropriate sediment and rock standards and were computer corrected for matrix effects. Ni and Cu were analyzed by atomic-absorption spectroscopy after complete sample dissolution, with estimated precisions of better than 3 percent (1 sigma). The remaining elements were analyzed by optical emission spectroscopy standardized against appropriate sediment and rock standards. Precision is estimated to be on the order of 20% (1 sigma).