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1. Data report: 87Sr/86Sr in pore fluids from Expedition 362

   https://doi.org/10.14379/iodp.proc.362.201.2019  

   McCarthy, M.; Zirkle, B.; Torres, M.E.; Haley, B.A. (January 2019, Proceedings of the International Ocean Discovery Program)

   null (Ed.)

   We report on the Sr isotopic composition of pore fluids recovered from Sites U1480 and U1481 drilled during International Ocean Discovery Program Expedition 362, which sampled the incoming sedimentary section of North Sumatra to investigate the causes of shallow seismogenesis in the Sumatra-Andaman margin. Sr isotope data are valuable in identifying diagenetic alteration of the incoming sequence, which can alter mechanical properties of the sedimentary wedge and subsequently affect its seismogenic behavior. Site U1480 recovered input sediment to ~1420 meters below seafloor (mbsf), and sediment was sampled from 1150 to 1500 mbsf at Site U1481. To determine the Sr isotopic composition, acidified pore fluid samples recovered at sea were loaded directly onto columns containing EICHROM Sr-Spec resin and followed by analyses using a NU multicollector inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometer (MC-ICPMS). We observed a marked increase in 87Sr/86Sr ratios to 0.71376 in the Sr contribution from alteration of terrigenous material from the Bengal-Nicobar Fan. This trend is reversed in the deeper sequence, where 87Sr/86Sr ratios decrease to 0.70820 in the deepest sample analyzed (1300 mbsf). Only the deepest sediment was recovered at Site U1481, and the pore fluids also show a decrease in 87Sr/86Sr ratios from 0.71296 at 1172 mbsf to 0.70913 at 1495 mbsf. 

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2. Authigenic Clays Versus Carbonate Formation as Products of Marine Silicate Weathering in the Input Sequence to the Sumatra Subduction Zone

   https://doi.org/10.1029/2022GC010338  

   Torres, M_E; Milliken, K_L; Hüpers, A.; Kim, J‐H; Lee, S‐G (April 2022, Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems)

   Abstract We use geochemical and petrographic data from anoxic sequences of the Nicobar Fan to document extensive marine silicate weathering (MSiW) in the input sediment of the Sumatra subduction zone and the conditions that result in authigenic minerals originating from this reaction: precipitation of authigenic carbonate—which sequesters carbon—and formation of authigenic clay—which releases CO₂. Increase in⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr in pore fluids from International Ocean Discovery Program Expedition 362 (Site U1480 to 0.71376 and Site U1481 to 0.71296) reveals a radiogenic strontium contribution from alteration of the Himalayan continental sediment that dominates the Nicobar Fan. Peaks in the dissolved strontium isotope data coincide with zones of methane presence, consistent with MSiW reactions driven by CO₂generation during methanogenesis. Later‐stage fan sequences from 24 to 400 mbsf (meters below seafloor) contain only minor carbonate with⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios that deviate only slightly from the co‐eval seawater values (0.70920–0.70930); geochemical data in this zone point to a contribution of authigenic clay formation. In contrast, microscopy and elemental mapping of the carbonate‐cemented zones in the earliest fan deposits (>780 mbsf) show replacement of feldspars and dense minerals by carbonate, which ranges in volume from a few percent of the grain to near total grain obliteration. This deeper authigenic carbonate is significantly enriched in radiogenic⁸⁷Sr (0.71136–0.71328). Thus, MSiW leads to distinct products, likely in response to a weathering‐derived supply of silica in the younger setting versus calcium enrichment via diffusion from oceanic basement in the older sequence. 

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3. Sumatra Subduction Zone

   https://doi.org/10.14379/iodp.proc.362.2017  

   McNeill, L.C.; Dugan, B.; Petronotis, K.E. (October 2017, Proceedings of the International Ocean Discovery Program)

   null (Ed.)

   Drilling the input materials of the north Sumatran subduction zone, part of the 5000 km long Sunda subduction zone system and the origin of the Mw ~9.2 earthquake and tsunami that devastated coastal communities around the Indian Ocean in 2004, was designed to groundtruth the material properties causing unexpectedly shallow seismogenic slip and a distinctive forearc prism structure. The intriguing seismogenic behavior and forearc structure are not well explained by existing models or by relationships observed at margins where seismogenic slip typically occurs farther landward. The input materials of the north Sumatran subduction zone are a distinctively thick (as thick as 4–5 km) succession of primarily Bengal-Nicobar Fan–related sediments. The correspondence between the 2004 rupture location and the overlying prism plateau, as well as evidence for a strengthened input section, suggest the input materials are key to driving the distinctive slip behavior and long-term forearc structure. During Expedition 362, two sites on the Indian oceanic plate ~250 km southwest of the subduction zone, Sites U1480 and U1481, were drilled, cored, and logged to a maximum depth of 1500 meters below seafloor. The succession of sediment/rocks that will develop into the plate boundary detachment and will drive growth of the forearc were sampled, and their progressive mechanical, frictional, and hydrogeological property evolution will be analyzed through postcruise experimental and modeling studies. The large penetration depths with good core recovery and successful wireline logging in the challenging submarine fan materials will enable evaluation of the role of thick sedimentary subduction zone input sections in driving shallow slip and amplifying earthquake and tsunami magnitudes at the Sunda subduction zone and globally at other subduction zones where submarine fan–influenced sections are being subducted. 

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4. Expedition 362 Preliminary Report: Sumatra Seismogenic Zone

   https://doi.org/10.14379/iodp.pr.362.2017  

   Dugan, B.; McNeill, L.; Petronotis, K. (June 2017, Preliminary report)

   null (Ed.)

   Drilling the input materials of the north Sumatran subduction zone, part of the 5000 km long Sunda subduction zone system and the origin of the Mw ~9.2 earthquake and tsunami that devastated coastal communities around the Indian Ocean in 2004, was designed to groundtruth the material properties causing unexpectedly shallow seismogenic slip and a distinctive forearc prism structure. The intriguing seismogenic behavior and forearc structure are not well explained by existing models or by relationships observed at margins where seismogenic slip typically occurs farther landward. The input materials of the north Sumatran subduction zone are a distinctively thick (as thick as 4–5 km) succession of primarily Bengal-Nicobar Fan–related sediments. The correspondence between the 2004 rupture location and the overlying prism plateau, as well as evidence for a strengthened input section, suggest the input materials are key to driving the distinctive slip behavior and long-term forearc structure. During Expedition 362, two sites on the Indian oceanic plate ~250 km southwest of the subduction zone, Sites U1480 and U1481, were drilled, cored, and logged to a maximum depth of 1500 meters below seafloor. The succession of sediment/rocks that will develop into the plate boundary detachment and will drive growth of the forearc were sampled, and their progressive mechanical, frictional, and hydrogeological property evolution will be analyzed through postcruise experimental and modeling studies. Large penetration depths with good core recovery and successful wireline logging in the challenging submarine fan materials will enable evaluation of the role of thick sedimentary subduction zone input sections in driving shallow slip and amplifying earthquake and tsunami magnitudes, at the Sunda subduction zone and globally at other subduction zones where submarine fan–influenced sections are being subducted. 

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5. Site U1455

   https://doi.org/10.14379/iodp.proc.354.109.2016  

   France-Lanord, C; Spiess, V; Klaus, A; Adhikari, RR; Adhikari, SK; Bahk, J-J; Baxter, AT; Cruz, JW; Das, SK; Dekens, P; et al (September 2016, Proceedings of the International Ocean Discovery Program Expedition reports)

   Site U1455 (proposed Site MBF-1A) is the last site drilled during Expedition 354 in the Bengal Fan. It is a reoccupation of Deep Sea Drilling Project (DSDP) Site 218 (see Figure F11 in the Expedition 354 summary chapter [France-Lanord et al., 2016e]) (von der Borch, Sclater, et al., 1974), which was the first attempt to drill the Bengal Fan and was only spot cored with the rotary core barrel (RCB) system to 773 meters below seafloor (mbsf). The site is above the eastern flank of the 85°E Ridge at 8°0.42′N, 86°16.97′E at 3743 m water depth. Site U1455 is one of three deep-penetration sites along the Expedition 354 transect dedicated to reveal Neogene fan evolution and Himalayan erosion. This site will also document Pleistocene fan architecture when integrated into the complete seven-site transect. Coring to 900 mbsf was planned to determine Miocene to Pliocene accumulation rates and changes related to Himalayan erosion and environment. The deeper part of the site will extend the existing Site 218 record back into the middle Miocene. Because of time constraints at the end of the expedition, we focused coring on three objectives: the Pleistocene (0–122 mbsf), the late Miocene terrestrial vegetation transition from C3 to C4 plants (360–431 mbsf), and the middle Miocene (773–949 mbsf) to extend the existing core record of Site 218. 

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