Brines and interstitial brackish water in drill cores from the deep Gulf of Mexico

F.T. Manheim; F.L. Sayles

doi:10.1126/science.170.3953.57

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USGS · 70010150

Brines and interstitial brackish water in drill cores from the deep Gulf of Mexico

F.T. Manheim·F.L. Sayles

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Abstract

Marked increases in interstitial salinity occur in two drill holes located in the Gulf of Mexico at a water depth of more than 3500 meters. The increases probably arose through diffusion of salt from buried evaporites. In one hole, however, brackish water was encountered on penetrating the oil-permeated cap rock of a salt dome. The phenomenon is attributed to production of fresh water during oxidation of petroleum hydrocarbons and decomposition of gypsum to form native sulfur.

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Source-reported bounding extent: 25.852858348792083° to 30.652175207940914° latitude; -97.46077793013689° to -81.98918531110581° longitude. This indicates report coverage, not an exact sampling location. View area on OpenStreetMap.

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F.T. Manheim, F.L. Sayles. 1970. Brines and interstitial brackish water in drill cores from the deep Gulf of Mexico. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.170.3953.57

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