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Sample Types

The following table provides guidelines for typical sample volumes taken from ODP/IODP cores.

Download Sample Types table in PDF format.

Sample Typical volume Type Tool Description
Thin-section billets 10 cm3 up to 50 cm3 for large-grained plutonic rocks TSB SAW_ROCK Billet cut with rock saw
Alkenone (Uk37) 5 cm3 WDGE SPATULA Taken with metal tools
X-ray diffraction 5 cm3 WDGE or CYL SCOOP_S or TUBE_S or SAW_ROCK Small tube (CYL) or scoop (WDGE) in sediment, cut with rock saw in hard rock
X-ray fluorescence 20 cm3 (sediments), 20–50 cm3 (igneous/sulfides—varies depending on grain size and homogeneity of rock) WDGE OR CYL SCOOP_L or TUBE_L or SAW_ROCK Large tube (CYL) or scoop (WGDE) in sediment, cut with rock saw in hard rock
Carbonate 2 cm3 OTHR or CYL SPATULA or TUBE_S Small scoop of sediment
Paleomagnetism: Cube 7-cm3 cubes CUBE CUBE_L or SAW_PARLEL Plastic cube 2 × 2 × 2 cm in sediment, cut with parallel saw in hard rock
Paleomagnetism: Cylinder 12 cm3 minicores CYL CORER_MINI Cylinder taken with mini-corer
Paleomagnetism: U-channel 100–600 cm3 U-channels UCHN WIRE U-channel taken for paleomagnetic studies (on at the repository shore only)
Moisture and density 10–20 cm3 CYL or CUBE SYRINGE or SAW_PARLEL Cylinder taken with syringe in sediments, cut with saw in hard rock
Grain size 10–20 cm3, depending upon coarseness WDGE SCOOP_L One or two 10cc scoops depending on volume
Planktonic foraminifers 10 cm3 WDGE or CYL SCOOP_L or TUBE_L One 10cc scoop or tube
Benthic foraminifers 10–20 cm3 WDGE or CYL SCOOP_L or TUBE_L One or two 10cc scoops depending on volume
Nannofossils 2 cm3 OTHR or CYL SPATULA or TUBE_S Small scoop of sediment
Diatoms 5–10 cm3 WDGE or CYL SCOOP_L or TUBE_L Small or large scoop or tube depending on volume
Radiolarians 10 cm3 WDGE or CYL SCOOP_L or TUBE_L One 10cc scoop or tube
Palynology 10–15 cm3 WDGE or CYL SCOOP_L or TUBE_L Small or large scoop or tube depending on volume
Organic samples 5–20 cm3 WDGE SPATULA Taken with metal tools, usually wrapped in foil
Interstitial porewaters whole rounds 5–20 cm long, based on water content WRND SPATULA Taken on the catwalk
Personal whole rounds whole rounds 5–20 cm long WRND SPATULA Taken on the catwalk or after whole-round scanning
Microbiology whole rounds whole rounds 5–20 cm long WRND SPATULA Taken on the catwalk
Inorganic geochemistry 10 cm3 WDGE or CYL SCOOP_L or TUBE_L One 10cc scoop or tube
Organic geochemistry 10 cm3 WDGE or CYL SCOOP_L or TUBE_L One 10cc scoop or tube
Quarter rounds (for sedimentology studies) volume depends on length QRND SPATULA Specialty samples taken for various studies
Sedimentology 10–20 cm3 WDGE or CYL SCOOP_L or TUBE_L One or two 10cc scoops depending on volume.
Slabs (for sedimentology studies) 25–50 cm3, depending on slab length SLAB OTHR Specialty samples taken for various studies
Slabs (igneous rocks) 50–100 cm3, often shared by scientists for multiple analyses SLAB SAW_ROCK
Stable isotopes (C, O) 10–20 cm3 WDGE or CYL SCOOP_L or TUBE_L Small or large scoop or tube depending on volume
Microbiology samples 5–50 cm3 OTHR SPATULA Taken with sterile sampling tools