Two very successful cruises were taken to the Florida Escarpment during 1986 that are yielding very stimulating data. Two sites were surveyed with "Deep-Tow", representative sections of the escarpment were seabeamed, and twelve ALVIN dives were conducted mostly at sites of chemosnythetic "seep" communties where detailed geochemical and geological sampling was conducted. The program objectives are: 1) to detail the morphology and processes of generation of the steep (-45o) limestone escarpment, and to establish the relationship between the escarpment itself and the sulfidic/methanogenic pore-fluids which seep out onto the seafloor at its base, 2) to determine the source of the reduced chemicals in the seeping fluids and to understand the range of processes which are occurring at the seafloor associated with the seeps, and 3) to characterize the nature of the deposits generated by these processes, and to establish the criterion for their recognition in the rock record. %%% Previous work on this project has revealed an anonymously steep escarpment off Florida that appears to be the result of erosion. Samples from the base of the escarpment reveal sulfide deposits that have formed in response to venting of fluids from the limestone rocks. The chemistry of these fluids will be investigated using the chemical precipitates they have left behind in order to better understand the venting process. The results from the modern record will allow better recognition of these processes in the rock record.
