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doi:10.2204/iodp.sp.345.2012

Research planning: sampling and data sharing strategy

Shipboard and shore-based researchers should refer to the IODP Sample, Data, and Obligations policy posted on the Web at www.iodp.org/program-policies/. This document outlines the policy for distributing IODP samples and data to research scientists, curators, and educators. The document also defines the obligations that sample and data recipients incur. The Sample Allocation Committee (SAC; composed of Co-Chief Scientists, Staff Scientist, and IODP Curator on shore and curatorial representative on board ship) will work with the entire scientific party to formulate a formal expedition-specific sampling plan for shipboard and postcruise sampling.

Before the expedition, all shipboard scientists are required to submit research plans and associated sample/data requests at smcs.iodp.org before 1 September 2012. Based on sample requests (shore based and shipboard) submitted by this deadline, the SAC will prepare a tentative sampling plan, which will be revised on the ship as dictated by recovery and cruise objectives. For the purpose of developing sample requests, participating scientists should expect to receive 25–100 samples each of no more than ~25 cm³. These are just guidelines based on historic precedent from ODP and IODP designed to enable scientists to complete a research program and meet the established publication deadlines. In any case, all postcruise research projects should justify scientific reasons for desired sample size, numbers, and frequency. The sampling plan will be subject to modification depending upon the actual material recovered and collaborations that may evolve between scientists during the expedition. Modifications to the sampling strategy during the expedition must be approved by the SAC.

The minimum permanent archive will be the standard archive half of each core. All sample frequencies and sizes must be justified on a scientific basis and will depend on core recovery, the full spectrum of other requests, and the expedition objectives. Some redundancy of measurement is unavoidable, but minimizing the duplication of measurements among the shipboard party and identified shore-based collaborators will be a factor in evaluating sample requests.

If critical intervals are recovered (e.g., mineralization, veins, breccias, dike or glassy margins, thin gabbroic intervals, etc.), there may be considerable demand for samples from a limited amount of cored material. These intervals may require special handling, a higher sampling density, or reduced sample size. A sampling plan coordinated by the SAC may be required before critical intervals are sampled.

We strongly encourage, and may require, collaboration and/or sharing among the shipboard and shore-based scientists so that the best use is made of the recovered core. We anticipate coordination of postcruise analytical programs to ensure that the full range of geochemical, isotopic, magnetic, and physical property studies are undertaken on a representative sample suite. We expect that all sampling will take place on board the ship and encourage scientists to start developing collaborations before and during Expedition 345.

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