British Ocean Sediment Core Repository (BOSCOR)
Parent Bodies: Natural Environment Research Council and Southampton Oceanography Centre, Empress Dock, Southampton, SO14 3ZH

Principal Functions
BOSCOR houses the UK national collection of deep sea sediments.

General Details
The facility contains sediment cores from the deep oceans of the world, which are stored in sealed boxes at +4⁰C. It provides non-destructive core logging using the Multi-Sensor Core Logging (MSCL) System, which measures gamma ray attenuation, magnetic susceptibility and compressional wave velocity. Cores can also be logged using a cryogenic magnetometer. Core image scanning and colour spectral analysis are also available.

The facility maintains reference collections of smear slides and micropalaeontological specimens to assist visiting scientists and students in identifying sediment components and to facilitate consistency in sediment description. It also maintains a data base of sediment core holdings and an archive of deep sea photographs.

Specification
Most cores are 6.5cm diameter and are produced by gravity and piston corers. A small number of 10cm diameter piston cores are also available as well as box core sub-samples. Most cores are 5–10m in length, a few are a little longer. Sediment types vary from clays to sands depending on location.

Special Features
Sedimentologists are available to assist with interpretation. Office space and microscope facilities are provided for visiting researchers.

Future Plans
Core resistivity scanning will be available will be available in the near future.

Availability
The facility is available to other bodies in both the private and public sector. There are no restrictions on the type of body that can apply to use the facility. One months advance notice must be given when requesting time on the facility. Time is allocated on the basis of academic merit.

Charging Basis
Charging rates are subject to negotiation.

Contact Information
Keith Birch
Southampton Oceanography Centre
Empress Dock
Southampton
SO14 3ZH
Telephone: 023 8059 6105 Fax: 023 8059 6149
Telex:
Email:      Keith.Birch@soc.soton.ac.uk
Web Site: http://www.soc.soton.ac.uk

or

Guy Rothwell
NERC
Challenger Division for Seafloor Processes
Southampton Oceanography Centre
Empress Dock
Southampton
SO14 3ZH
Telephone: 023 8059 6567 Fax: 023 8059 6554
Telex:
Email:      rgr@soc.soton.ac.uk
Web Site: http://europa.soc.soton.ac.uk/8080/BOSCOR.htm