Preface The expedition ARK XIX/3 with the German icebreaking RV ...

Sediment profiles of the Molloy Hole locations (PS64/468, PS64/470) indicate that
gravity transport processes may play an important role in deeper waters. Bioturbated
hemipelagic sediments are confined to the upper few centimetres and are underlain by
sediments consisting visually of variable grain size. At the deepest location, massive
creamy muds that are characteristic for mass flow deposits in deep basins of the
Nordic Seas and East Greenland fjords may be deposited from distal turbidity
currents.
Sediments in the "Hausgarten" area are obviously derived from various sources as
indicated by gravel analyses (C. 5, Pirrung et al.). This is also valid for the clay fraction
of sediments because previous studies on core tops from the area revealed a
pronounced increase of the clay mineral smectite from the West Spitsbergen shelf to
the Molloy Hole (Matthiessen, Vogt, Knies, unpublished data). A local smectite
maximum in water depths greater than 2000 m may be attributed either to a local
source or to long distance advection of sea ice rafted debris from the Siberian Arctic or
within deep waters from the Greenland-Scotland Ridge.
These preliminary interpretations must be verified by shore-based sedimentological
studies. These will focus on a detailed description of lithofacies based on
granulometric and x-radiograph data to describe sedimentation and transport
processes in the area.
References:
Andersen, E.S., Dokken, T.M., Elverhøi, A., Solheim, A., Fossen, I. (1996). Late Quaternary
sedimentation and glacial history of the western Svålbard continental margin. Marine Geology
133: 123-156.
Hebbeln, D., Dokken, T., Andersen, E.S., Hald, M. and Elverhoi, A. (1994). Moisture supply for
northern ice-sheet growth during the Last Glacial Maximum. Nature, 370: 357-360.
Jones, G.A., Keigwin, L.D. (1988). Evidence from Fram Strait (78°N) for early deglaciation.
Nature 336: 56-59.
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