Site U1399

Integrated Ocean Drilling Program (IODP) Site U1399 (proposed Site CARI-08B; 14°23.24′N, 61°42.69′W; 2900 meters below sea level [mbsl]) is located west of Martinique (Fig. F1). The objective for Site U1399 was to characterize the processes accompanying debris avalanche emplacement and associated erosion. The seismic and bathymetric surveys for Site U1399 revealed that this site is located on one of the main chaotic deposits and that coring at this site could retrieve volcanic and biogenic sediment with intercalated, large, chaotic unit (interpreted as debris avalanche Deposit 1) (Le Friant et al., 2003; Boudon et al., 2007). In detail, we hope to characterize and quantify the erosional processes of the upper sedimentary layers deposited in the Grenada Basin associated with such mass transport processes and their subsequent incorporation into the flow. Finally, we will compare the characteristics of the deposits from Dominica and Martinique to constrain possible differences in erosional capability and mobility. Sediment above Deposit 1 will be used to better constrain the age of the mass-wasting event.