MISSION STATEMENT

The British Ocean Sediment Core Research Facility (BOSCORF) will:

1. Serve as the UK national deep-sea core repository.
2. Provide long-term storage of sediment cores collected by NERC ships and NERC-funded researchers, under controlled conditions to ensure optimum preservation.
3. Provide routine non-destructive logging of sediment cores entering the repository using the Multi-Sensor Logging System and, where appropriate, by cryogenic magnetometer.
4. Maintain a database of sediment core holdings and promote the secondary usage of the core material in its care amongst the scientific community.
5. Develop new innovative methods of automated non-destructive core analysis.
6. Maintain reference collections of smear slides and micropalaeontological specimens to facilitate consistency in sediment description.
7. Be responsible for long-term data stewardship of core-based data relating to cores in its care and from core-based national marine programmes.
8. Represent the Natural Environment Research Council at meetings of seafloor sample curatorial facilities at an international level.

User Community:

Researchers, both in the UK and abroad, who are investigating earth history and processes recorded in the sediments of the ocean floor and postgraduates undertaking training in the area encompassed by the NERC Mission.

1. Responsibility for core housing

1.1 For the first five years after the cores are collected they are under the responsibility of the principal scientist1 who will ensure their storage at +4ºC (with the exception of cores which need to be kept frozen) and careful maintenance. Storage tubes will be provided by the repository where possible.

1.2 Five years after collection (or sooner subject to principal scientist agreement) the cores will be transferred to the BOSCORF repository where they will be stored at +4ºC. Cores will be kept at the repository indefinitely or until they have been sampled completely.

1.3 Cores collected by the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) may be retained at the BAS site in Cambridge if they are still being worked on. They will normally be transferred to BOSCORF between 5 and 10 years after collection.

1.4 BOSCORF’s primary purpose is to provide controlled long-term storage under optimum conditions for cores collected through cruises, researchers or programs funded by NERC. The repository will accept cores collected by third parties, providing the cores are supplied in good condition, are potentially scientifically useful, are accompanied with accurate locational data, and are available for scientific use. However, if there are subsequent pressures due to space, non-NERC cores will be the first to be moved to ambient temperature storage.

2. Core logging

2.1 The repository provides a suite of non-destructive logging equipment. Whole core and/or split core logging will be carried out on all suitable cores. This will be done irrespective of the principal scientist's requirements since it is non-destructive. In some cases, especially where cores are to be split at sea, this may be completed on the ship. In other cases it will be achieved at the repository or the establishment of the principal scientist.

2.2 Palaeomagnetic logging may also be carried out on suitable cores using the cryogenic magnetometer belonging to School of Ocean and Earth Science (University of Southampton).

2.3 The core logs will be archived at the repository and made available to other users, unless the logs form part of the principal scientist's primary research requirements. In this case, they will remain under the responsibility of the principal scientist for the first five years after core collection, after which they will be available for general release. Release time may be shorter with the agreement of the principal scientist.

3. Data archive and availability of data

3.1 All data generated from analyses of each core or set of samples should be made available to the repository within 5 years of core collection or supply of samples. Such data will be held in confidence for up to 5 years if requested, but following this agreed period the data will be made generally available to third parties on request to BOSCORF. Publications citing the core data should also be supplied to BOSCORF.

3.2 In the case of BAS cores, BAS holds virtually all relevant site survey data. BAS staff are willing to supply background information on cores and to share existing data with bona fide researchers. In exchange for this BAS request co-authorship or acknowledgment in publications, depending on the level of involvement.

4. Sampling within 5 years of core collection

4.1 Sample requests received within 5 years of core collection will be passed to the principal scientist who will assess whether the request is in conflict with his/her own research interests. If there is no conflict the request will be granted, subject to 5.1 below. If there is a conflict the sampling request will need to be resubmitted after the 5-year period.

5. Sampling 5 years after core collection

5.1 Sample requests from bona fide researchers will be honoured where possible as long as there is material available. Exceptions may be made if the size or number of samples is so large as to seriously deplete the core or important stratigraphic intervals (such as sapropels or tephra layers). In these cases the BOSCORF Steering Committee will decide on the merits of the request.

5.2 Once a sample request has been made it will be the responsibility of the scientist concerned to complete the sampling during a visit to the repository. However, the repository will accept postal requests and undertake sampling and despatch, in instances where the number of samples requested make a visit to the repository uneconomic, provided that the number of samples required is not large.

5.3 The BAS member of the BOSCORF Steering Committee should always be consulted about requests to sample BAS cores.

5.4 All core samplers are required to fully complete a Sample Request Form and supply a short paragraph describing the purpose of their research prior to taking samples. The Sample Request Form should be sent to the Curator who will approve the request subject to 5.1 above or other pertinent issues.

5.5 All samplers should acknowledge BOSCORF’s role in providing samples in any publications engendered through the samples or other data provided by BOSCORF. A suitable form of words is provided on the Sample Request Forms.

5.6 Student users should also provide details of their Supervisors with contact details on their Sample Request Forms.

6. International sample requests

6.1 These will be treated in the same way as national requests. The core curator will be responsible for taking the samples and posting them.

7. Sediment archiving policy

7.1 Whenever possible, split cores will be divided into working and archive halves, with the object being to keep a continuous vertical strip of sediment for as long as possible. The working portion will be used first for sampling, but when material runs out at particular depths the archive portion may be used, subject to the Curator’s prior agreement. If possible one half of the archive will be used first, followed by the complete core, if necessary.

7.2 In some cases the principal scientist who collects the cores may need to sample the total core or to freeze it, thus destroying much of its structure. In these cases it will not be possible to take an archive, but if possible the core should be logged before sampling.

8. Data archiving policy

8.1 Core and sediment analysis data including core logging data will be held on file at the repository. Subject to restrictions in 3.1 and 4.1 above these data will be available from the repository or through data products (including Internet pages) developed by the repository.

9. Reference collections

9.1 The repository will build up a national collection of sediment smear slides to assist with core descriptions. The reference collections will be available to any users of BOSCORF. Microscope facilities will be available for the use of visitors.

Note: ¹Principal scientist refers to the cruise leader/principal investigator of the cruise or project that originally collected the cores.