Organic matter in sediments from Sites 515, 516, and 517 reflects a history of low marine productivity and of oxygenated bottom waters in the western South Atlantic since the Pliocene. Organic carbon contents are low, averaging 0.26% of sediment weight. Distributions of n-alkanes, n-alkanols, and n-alkanoic acids show evidence of microbial reworking, and n-alkanes contain important terrigenous contributions, presumably of eolian origin.

Supplement to: Meyers, Philip A; Dunham, Keith W (1983): Organic geochemistry of Quaternary sediments from Deep Sea Drilling Project Leg 72, South Atlantic Ocean. In: Barker, PF; Carlson, RL; Johnson, DA; et al. (eds.), Initial Reports of the Deep Sea Drilling Project (U.S. Govt. Printing Office), 83, 1983