Other ID: 107 Lleg 2
Status: Completed
Organization(s): USGS, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
Funding Program(s):
Principal Investigator(s): William Dillon
Affiliate Investigator(s):
Information Specialist(s):
Data Type(s): Location-Elevation: Navigation, Sampling: Biology, Sampling: Geology, Sonar: Single Beam, Visual Identification: Submersible Observations
Scientific Purpose/Goals: Observe morphology and sedimentary processes of the Blake Escarpment and sample rocks for age dating and paleoenvironmental determinations.
Vehicle(s):
Start Port/Location: Norfolk, VA
End Port/Location: Nassau, Bahamas
Start Date: 1980-10-16
End Date: 1980-11-02
Equipment Used: Grab sampler, Loran-C, 12 kHz, Submersible Observation
Information to be Derived: Morphology;Sedimentary processes;
Summary of Activity and Data Gathered: Three continuous transects of the Blake Escarpment east of Florida were made during 10 dives with ALVIN at depths between 1400-4000 m. We observed and sampled outcrops of horizontal strata that are known from multichannel profiles across the dive sites to extend westward beneath the Blake Plateau carbonate platform. The northern end of the Blake Escarpment at the salient of the Blake Spur is a nearly vertical limestone cliff that is pitted and commonly fluted by vertical borings, coated with ferromanganese oxide and heavily encrusted by organisms. Presumably the cliff face is maintained by bioerosion and corrosion, and debris is removed by strong turbulent currents (2 knots). Average slopes were less steep at transects 130 and 200 km south of the Blake Spur, but vertical cliffs as much as 450 m high exist. Talus slopes are common and observation of very large blocks and landward dips of beds suggest collapse of fragments at least several hundreds of meters across. On the southern transect, broad slopes of rippled pteropod sand occur between near-vertical outcrops; a vertical, 160 m cliff of massive limestone at the top of the escarpment and rudists in talus blocks suggest the presence of a Mesozoic reef. Preliminary analysis of calcareous nannofossils shows rocks as old as Early Cretaceous; identification of older rocks is anticipated. Sedimentary structures and components indicate deposition in shallow water. Thousands of meters of subsidence and extensive erosional retreat were required to create the escarpment's present configuration. ALVIN Dives: 10 (#1054-1063); Sample stations: 75.
Staff: Mahlon M. Ball, William Dillon, Charles Paull, Page Valentine
Affiliate Staff:
Eugene Shinn - USGS-Miami
Michael Arthur - USGS-Denver
Notes: Original Center People field contained: Bill Dillon - Ch. Sci., Page Valentine, Charles Paull - USGS/SIO, Mahlon Ball.
Location:
Blake Escarpment, Florida, United States, North America, North Atlantic;
| Boundaries | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| North: 30.18681528 | South: 28.36884654 | West: -76.75048828 | East: -75.98572958 |
Platform(s):
 Alvin |  Lulu |
Reich, C., Streubert, M., Dwyer, B., Godbout, M., Muslic, A., Umberger, D., 2012, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center's core archive portal: U.S. Geological Survey Data Series 626, https://doi.org/10.3133/ds626.
| Title | Survey Equipment | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Cruise report | (document not focused on specific equipment) | Chief Scientist's cruise report including personnel, dive locations, and cruise narrative. |
| Survey Equipment | Survey Info | Data Type(s) | Data Collected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grab sampler | --- | Biology Geology | |
| Loran-C | --- | Navigation | |
| 12 kHz | --- | Single Beam | 1980-028-FA-SE-001 ( Collection of paper record displays of seismic data( 12K) for lines ) 1980-028-FA-SE-003 (Digital tape(s) of DATA LOGGER, COMPOSITE, NV-PROGRAMS, ) 1980-028-FA-SE-002 (microfilm of ) |
| Submersible Observation | --- | Submersible Observations | 1980-028-FA-NL-002 (Audio tape tape for sub dive 1063) 1980-028-FA-OM-001 (Digital tape(s) of DATA LOGGER, COMPOSITE, NV-PROGRAMS, ) |
