Radiocarbon age dates for sections of 19 sediment cores from offshore Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands collected by the U.S. Geological Survey in 2008 and Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory in the 1960's

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Frequently anticipated questions:

What does this data set describe?

Title:
Radiocarbon age dates for sections of 19 sediment cores from offshore Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands collected by the U.S. Geological Survey in 2008 and Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory in the 1960's
Abstract:
In 2008, as a collaborative effort between Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and the U.S. Geological Survey, 20 giant gravity cores were collected from areas surrounding Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The regions sampled have had many large earthquake and landslide events, some of which are believed to have triggered tsunamis. The objective of this coring cruise, carried out aboard the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration research vessel Seward Johnson, was to determine the age of several substantial slope failures and seismite layers near Puerto Rico in an effort to map their temporal distribution. Data gathered from the cores collected in 2008 and 11 archive cores from the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory are included in this report. These data include lithologic logs, core summary sheets, x-ray fluorescence, wet-bulk density, magnetic susceptibility, grain-size analyses, radiographs, and radiocarbon age dates.
Supplemental_Information:
For more information on the USGS cruise, please see: https://cmgds.marine.usgs.gov/fan_info.php?fan=2008-008-FA.
  1. How might this data set be cited?
    U.S. Geological Survey, 2014, Radiocarbon age dates for sections of 19 sediment cores from offshore Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands collected by the U.S. Geological Survey in 2008 and Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory in the 1960's: Open-File Report 2014-1227, U.S. Geological Survey, Coastal and Marine Geology Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center, Woods Hole, MA.

    Online Links:

    This is part of the following larger work.

    Hoy, Shannon K., Chaytor, Jason D., and Uri S. ten Brink, 2014, Core Data From Offshore Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands: Open-File Report 2014-1227, U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, VA.

    Online Links:

  2. What geographic area does the data set cover?
    West_Bounding_Coordinate: -67.983000
    East_Bounding_Coordinate: -64.822830
    North_Bounding_Coordinate: 19.767000
    South_Bounding_Coordinate: 17.552930
  3. What does it look like?
  4. Does the data set describe conditions during a particular time period?
    Beginning_Date: 02-Mar-1964
    Ending_Date: 23-Mar-2008
    Currentness_Reference:
    ground condition; recent cores collected in 2008 supplemented with archived cores collected in the 1960's
  5. What is the general form of this data set?
    Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: vector digital data
  6. How does the data set represent geographic features?
    1. How are geographic features stored in the data set?
    2. What coordinate system is used to represent geographic features?
  7. How does the data set describe geographic features?
    Information unavailable from original metadata.
    Information unavailable from original metadata. (Source: Information unavailable from original metadata.)
    CoreName
    Name of core being dated. SJ8-##GGC represents the cores collected in 2008 and GGC stands for giant gravity corer. All other naming schemes belong to the LDEO cores. (Source: USGS) character string
    Sample_code
    Code used for reference unique to each sample (Source: USGS) character string
    Lab_code
    Unique laboratory identifier assigned at WHOI (Source: USGS) character string
    Description
    parameters used for Delta R, which relates to the reservoir age per the calibration for certain geographic areas of the globe (Source: USGS)
    ValueDefinition
    delta R= 0 +/-information regarding dates being presented
    T_depth(cm)
    Top of interval within the full core being dated in centimeters (Source: USGS)
    Range of values
    Minimum:1
    Maximum:694
    Units:centimeter
    B_depth(cm)
    Depth at bottom of dated interval within the full core in centimeters (Source: USGS)
    Range of values
    Minimum:2.5
    Maximum:697
    Units:centimeter
    14C_age
    Carbon 14 date of interval before calibration given in years (Source: USGS)
    Range of values
    Minimum:1470
    Maximum:44500
    Units:years before present
    +/-
    Standard deviation of Carbon 14 age (14C age) (Source: USGS)
    Range of values
    Minimum:25
    Maximum:620
    Units:years
    cal_curve
    The type of calibration curve used (marine09.14c) (Source: USGS)
    ValueDefinition
    marine09.14cThe calibration curve used
    1_or_2_sigma
    Are there 1 or 2 sigma values for the calibrated date where a 1 sigma value indicates a 68 percent probability and a 2 sigma value indicates a 95 percent probability. (Source: USGS)
    ValueDefinition
    11 sigma exists
    22 sigma exists
    #_of_ranges
    Number of ranges that exists per sigma of the calibrated date, where sigmas are level of certainty that the date falls within (Source: USGS)
    ValueDefinition
    11 range
    22 ranges
    33 ranges
    cal_BP_ranges_1_(lower)
    age for lower limit of the first range of calibrated date for either sigma (years before present) (Source: USGS)
    Range of values
    Minimum:933
    Maximum:46269
    Units:years before present
    cal_BP_ranges_1_(upper)
    age for upper limit of the first range of calibrated date for either sigma (years before present) (Source: USGS)
    Range of values
    Minimum:1048
    Maximum:48916
    Units:years before present
    cal_BP_ranges_1_rel._probability
    probability of date occurring in range 1 (Source: USGS)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0.002
    Maximum:1
    cal_BP_ranges_2_(lower)
    age for lower limit of the second range of calibrated date for either sigma (years before present). A blank cell represents no data when range attribute was not applicable. (Source: USGS)
    Range of values
    Minimum:11582
    Maximum:39939
    Units:years before present
    cal_BP_ranges_2_(upper)
    age for upper limit of the second range of calibrated date for either sigma (years before present). A blank cell represents no data when range attribute was not applicable. (Source: USGS)
    Range of values
    Minimum:11967
    Maximum:42295
    Units:years before present
    cal_BP_ranges_2_rel._prob
    Probability that the age exists in range 2. A blank cell represents no data when range attribute was not applicable. (Source: USGS)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0.034
    Maximum:0.998
    cal_BP_ranges_3_(lower)
    age for lower limit of the third range of calibrated date for either sigma (years before present). A blank cell represents no data when range attribute was not applicable. (Source: USGS)
    Range of values
    Minimum:12432
    Maximum:23132
    Units:years before present
    cal_BP_ranges_3_(upper)
    age for upper limit of the third range of calibrated date for either sigma (years before present). A blank cell represents no data when range attribute was not applicable. (Source: USGS)
    Range of values
    Minimum:12560
    Maximum:23235
    Units:years before present
    cal_BP_ranges_3_rel._prob.
    Probability date exists in the third range. A blank cell represents no data when range attribute was not applicable (Source: USGS)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0.017
    Maximum:0.286
    d13C
    measure of the ratio of the stable isotopes 13C and 12C reported in parts per thousand (Source: USGS)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0.40
    Maximum:1.73
    Units:parts per thousand
    Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:
    Although the radiocarbon age dates are not geospatial, they are related to the core locations which are available in the PRcore_locations shapefile available from https://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2014/1227/data/1-CoreLocations/PRcore_locations.zip
    The attributes and their definitions are the same for the XLS and CSV files.
    Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation: U.S. Geological Survey

Who produced the data set?

  1. Who are the originators of the data set? (may include formal authors, digital compilers, and editors)
    • U.S. Geological Survey
  2. Who also contributed to the data set?
  3. To whom should users address questions about the data?
    Jason D. Chaytor
    U.S. Geological Survey
    Research Geologist
    384 Woods Hole Road
    Woods Hole, MA

    (508) 548-8700 x2351 (voice)
    (508) 457-2310 (FAX)
    jchaytor@usgs.gov

Why was the data set created?

This table provides the ages acquired by performing radiocarbon testing on 19 cores (8 from 2008-008-FA and 11 cores archived by LDEO).

How was the data set created?

  1. From what previous works were the data drawn?
    NGDC_RC08 (source 1 of 7)
    NGDC, Unknown, Robert Conrad Cruise 08- Preliminary Megascopic Descriptions of Split Cores.

    Online Links:

    Other_Citation_Details:
    Original core descriptions provided by Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory and released by NGDC. MGG id: 01015088
    Type_of_Source_Media: Online data download
    Source_Contribution:
    Core descriptions, photos, and general information about core site (Latitude, Longitude, Depth, etc.) for RC08-115, RC08-116, and RC08-118.
    NGDC_RC09 (source 2 of 7)
    NGDC, Unknown, Robert Conrad Cruise 09- Preliminary Megascopic Descriptions of Split Cores.

    Online Links:

    Other_Citation_Details:
    Original core descriptions provided by Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory and released by NGDC. MGG id: 01015009
    Type_of_Source_Media: Online data download
    Source_Contribution:
    Core descriptions, photos, and general information about core site (Latitude, Longitude, Depth, etc.) for RC09-38, RC09-39, RC09-40, RC09-42, and RC09-43.
    NGDC_VM20 (source 3 of 7)
    NGDC, Unknown, Vema Cruise 20 - Preliminary Megascopic Descriptions of Split Cores.

    Online Links:

    Other_Citation_Details:
    Original core descriptions provided by Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory and released by NGDC. MGG id: 01035020
    Type_of_Source_Media: Online data download
    Source_Contribution:
    Core descriptions, photos, and general information about core site (Latitude, Longitude, Depth, etc.) for VM20-002.
    NGDC_VM22 (source 4 of 7)
    NGDC, Unknown, Vema Cruise 22 - Preliminary Megascopic Descriptions of Split Cores.

    Online Links:

    Other_Citation_Details:
    Original core descriptions provided by Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory and released by NGDC. MGG id: 01035022
    Type_of_Source_Media: Online data download
    Source_Contribution:
    Core descriptions, photos, and general information about core site (Latitude, Longitude, Depth, etc.) for VM22-18.
    NGDC_VM24 (source 5 of 7)
    NGDC, Unknown, Vema Cruise 24 - Preliminary Megascopic Descriptions of Split Cores.

    Online Links:

    Other_Citation_Details:
    Original core descriptions provided by Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory and released by NGDC. MGG id: 01035024
    Type_of_Source_Media: Online data download
    Source_Contribution:
    Core descriptions, photos, and general information about core site (Latitude, Longitude, Depth, etc.) for VM24-261.
    GGC (source 6 of 7)
    Hoy, Shannon K., Chaytor, Jason D., and Uri S. ten Brink, 2014, Core data from offshore Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands: Open File Report 2014-1227, U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, VA.

    Online Links:

    Type_of_Source_Media: physical samples
    Source_Contribution:
    The gravity cores collected during U.S. Geological Survey field activity 2008-008-FA. The Woods Hole Oceanographic Giant Gravity Corer (GGC) was used to collect the 20 cores in 2008. The gravity corer is a large diameter (10 centimeter) sampler that collects cores up to 6.5 meters in length. During field activity 2008-008-FA the corer was not rigged with liner longer than approximately 3 meters. Although cores were attempted at 40 core sites, core was recovered at only 20 sites. Seven additional sites yielded only samples (bagged) from the core catcher or cutting head. Of the 20 successful cores, three also have cutter/catcher bag samples.
    LDEOcores (source 7 of 7)
    Information unavailable from original metadata., unknown, Information unavailable from original metadata..

    Type_of_Source_Media: physical samples
    Source_Contribution:
    11 cores from LDEO: RC08-115, RC08-116, RC08-118, RC09-38, RC09-39, RC09-40, RC09-42, RC09-43, VM20-002, VM22-18, and VM24-261.
  2. How were the data generated, processed, and modified?
    Date: 2009 (process 1 of 6)
    19 cores (8 from 2008-008-FA and 11 from LDEO) were sampled for foraminifera at 1.5 to 2 cm thick intervals at submarine landslide deposits and above or below turbidites. These samples were washed over a 63-micron screen, dried, and then picked for datable species (Globigerinoides ruber, Globigerinoides sacculifer, and Globigerinella aequilarteralis). After being picked, the samples were washed and then sent off for dating. Person who carried out this activity:
    Jason D. Chaytor
    U.S. Geological Survey
    Research Geologist
    384 Woods Hole Road
    Woods Hole, MA

    (508) 548-8700 x2351 (voice)
    (508) 457-2310 (FAX)
    jchaytor@usgs.gov
    Data sources used in this process:
    • GGC
    • LDEOcores
    Data sources produced in this process:
    • Forams
    Date: 2011 (process 2 of 6)
    Planktonic foraminifera were analyzed for radiocarbon dating at the WHOI National Ocean Science Accelerator mass Spectrometry (NOSAMS) facility. Radiocarbon ages were converted to calibrated ages using Calib 6.0 (Stuiver and Reimer, 1993) and IntCal 09 calibration curves (Reimer and others, 2009). The archive cores were processed in 2009 and the cores collected in 2008 were processed in 2011.
    Reimer, P.J., Baillie, M.G.L., Bard, E., Bayliss A., Beck, J.W., Blackwell, P.G., Bronk Ramsey, C., Buck, C.E., Burr, G.S., Edwards, R.L., Friedrich, M., Grootes, P.M., Guilderson, T.P., Hajdas, I., Heaton, T.J., Hogg, A.G., Hughen, K.A., Kaiser, K.F., Kromer, B., McCormac, F.G., Manning, S.W., Reimer, R.W., Richards, D.A., Southon, J.R., Talamo, S., Turney, C.S.M., van der Plicht, J., Weyhenmeyer, C.E. 2009. IntCal09 and Marine09 radiocarbon age calibration curves, 0-50,000 years cal BP. Radiocarbon 51(4):1111-50.
    Stuiver, M. and Reimer, P.J., 1993, Extended 14C database and revised Calib radiocarbon calibration program: Radiocarbon, v. 35, p. 215-230. Person who carried out this activity:
    National Ocean Sciences Accelerator Mass Spectrometry Facility (NOSAMS)
    Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
    Woods Hole, MA

    (508) 289-2469 (voice)
    nossams@whoi.edu
    Data sources used in this process:
    • Forams
    Data sources produced in this process:
    • Radio_dates
    Date: 2011 (process 3 of 6)
    The NOSAMS data were arranged into a Microsoft Excel 2010 spreadsheet and exported as an XLS and a CSV Person who carried out this activity:
    Jason D. Chaytor
    U.S. Geological Survey
    Research Geologist
    384 Woods Hole Road
    Woods Hole, MA

    (508) 548-8700 x2351 (voice)
    (508) 457-2310 (FAX)
    jchaytor@usgs.gov
    Data sources used in this process:
    • Radio_dates
    Date: 03-Oct-2017 (process 4 of 6)
    Edits to the metadata were made to fix any errors that MP v 2.9.36 flagged. This is necessary to enable the metadata to be successfully harvested for various data catalogs. In some cases, this meant adding text "Information unavailable" or "Information unavailable from original metadata" for those required fields that were left blank. Other minor edits were probably performed (title, publisher, publication place, etc.). Added additional online links in the Identification section. The source information was incomplete and had to be modified to meet the standard. Fixed a link to data in the entity and attribute overview section. Minor fixes to the attribute format for some attributes were needed to meet the standard. The metadata date (but not the metadata creator) was edited to reflect the date of these changes. The metadata available from a harvester may supersede metadata bundled within a download file. Compare the metadata dates to determine which metadata file is most recent. Person who carried out this activity:
    U.S. Geological Survey
    Attn: VeeAnn A. Cross
    Marine Geologist
    384 Woods Hole Road
    Woods Hole, MA

    508-548-8700 x2251 (voice)
    508-457-2310 (FAX)
    vatnipp@usgs.gov
    Date: 20-Jul-2018 (process 5 of 6)
    USGS Thesaurus keywords added to the keyword section. Person who carried out this activity:
    U.S. Geological Survey
    Attn: VeeAnn A. Cross
    Marine Geologist
    384 Woods Hole Road
    Woods Hole, MA

    508-548-8700 x2251 (voice)
    508-457-2310 (FAX)
    vatnipp@usgs.gov
    Date: 08-Sep-2020 (process 6 of 6)
    Added keywords section with USGS persistent identifier as theme keyword. Person who carried out this activity:
    U.S. Geological Survey
    Attn: VeeAnn A. Cross
    Marine Geologist
    384 Woods Hole Road
    Woods Hole, MA

    508-548-8700 x2251 (voice)
    508-457-2310 (FAX)
    vatnipp@usgs.gov
  3. What similar or related data should the user be aware of?

How reliable are the data; what problems remain in the data set?

  1. How well have the observations been checked?
    All attributes were checked to ensure that the information matched the core that was being described.
  2. How accurate are the geographic locations?
  3. How accurate are the heights or depths?
  4. Where are the gaps in the data? What is missing?
    All dates collected from this data set have been included in this table. Some cores provided dates from more than one interval, where as other cores yielded only one date. 19 cores in total were dated; 8 from 2008-008-FA and 11 from the LDEO archived cores. The 8 cores from 2008 are: 8GGC (1 dated interval), 9GGC (2 dated intervals), 13GGC (2 dated intervals), 18GGC (2 dated intervals), 20GGC (1 dated interval), 21GGC (5 dated intervals), 22GGC (1 dated interval), and 33GGC (2 dated intervals). There are 11 cores from LDEO that were dated: RC08-115 (1 dated interval), RC08-116 (2 dated intervals), RC08-118 (1 dated interval), RC09-38 (1 dated interval), RC09-39 (1 dated interval), RC09-040 (3 dated intervals), RC09-42 (1 dated interval), RC09-43 (2 dated intervals), VM20-002 (1 dated interval), VM22-18 (1 dated interval) and VM24-261 (2 dated intervals).
  5. How consistent are the relationships among the observations, including topology?
    This table includes radiocarbon dates and all applicable data for 8 cores collected in 2008 and 11 archived cores collected in the 1960s in the area surrounding offshore Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

How can someone get a copy of the data set?

Are there legal restrictions on access or use of the data?
Access_Constraints: None
Use_Constraints:
The Public domain data from the U.S. Government are freely redistributable with proper metadata and source attribution. Please recognize the U.S. Geological Survey as the originator of the dataset.
  1. Who distributes the data set? (Distributor 1 of 1)
    Jason D. Chaytor
    U.S. Geological Survey
    Research Geologist
    384 Woods Hole Road
    Woods Hole, MA

    (508) 548-8700 x2351 (voice)
    (508) 457-2310 (FAX)
    jchaytor@usgs.gov
  2. What's the catalog number I need to order this data set? Downloadable Data
  3. What legal disclaimers am I supposed to read?
    Neither the U.S. Government, the Department of the Interior, nor the USGS, nor any of their employees, contractors, or subcontractors, make any warranty, express or implied, nor assume any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product or process disclosed, nor represent that its use would not infringe on privately owned rights. The act of distribution shall not constitute any such warranty, and no responsibility is assumed by the USGS in the use of these data or related materials. Any use of trade, product, or firm names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.
  4. How can I download or order the data?
    • Availability in digital form:
      Data format: The WinZip file contains an XLS and a CSV of dates acquired from 19 cores from offshore Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands and the associated FGDC metadata. in format XLS (version Microsoft Excel 2010) microsoft excel spreadsheet Size: 0.027
      Network links: https://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2014/1227/data/8-AgeDates/PRcores_radiocarbon.zip
      Data format: The WinZip file contains an xls and a csv of dates acquired from 19 cores from offshore Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands and the associated FGDC metadata. in format CSV (version Microsoft Excel 2010) comma separated value Size: 0.027
      Network links: https://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2014/1227/data/8-AgeDates/PRcores_radiocarbon.zip
    • Cost to order the data: None.

  5. What hardware or software do I need in order to use the data set?
    The user must be able to unzip WinZip18 compressed files as well as read XLS or CSV data tables.

Who wrote the metadata?

Dates:
Last modified: 16-Nov-2021
Metadata author:
U.S. Geological Survey
Attn: Shannon K. Hoy
Research Associate II
384 Woods Hole Road
Woods Hole, MA
United States

(508) 548-8700 x2297 (voice)
(508) 457-2310 (FAX)
whsc_data_contact@usgs.gov
Contact_Instructions:
The metadata contact email address is a generic address in the event the metadata contact is no longer with the USGS or the email is otherwise invalid.
Metadata standard:
FGDC Content Standards for Digital Geospatial Metadata (FGDC-STD-001-1998)
This page is <https://cmgds.marine.usgs.gov/catalog/whcmsc/open_file_report/ofr2014-1227/PRcores_radiocarbonmeta.faq.html>
Generated by mp version 2.9.50 on Tue Nov 16 10:06:52 2021