Alkane and hydrocarbon concentrations of ODP Leg 104 sites

Organic carbon content ranged from less than 0.1% to a maximum of 1.8%. Extractable organic matter content and unresolved complex mixture concentrations were low and randomly distributed.

Low levels of aliphatic (branched and normal) and aromatic hydrocarbons were detected in all of the sediments analyzed. Total aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbon concentrations ranged from 176 to 3,214 and 6 to 820 ppb, respectively. The concentrations of individual aliphatic (n-C15 to n-C32) and aromatic (two- to five-ring) hydrocarbons were generally less than 50 ppb and less than 10 ppb, respectively.