The interstitial waters from the sediments cored on Leg 14 exhibit characteristic compositional trends with three important exceptions. At most of the sites, the changes in Na and Cl are very small while enrichment of Ca and Sr and depletion of Mg and SO4 is typical of patterns observed in similar types of sediment recovered on previous legs. At Sites 139 and 140, off the African coast, and Site 144, off the coast of South America, systematic increases in concentration with depth are found for Na and Cl. At these sites, the concentration changes, in Ca, Mg, SO4 and Sr generally follow diagenic patterns observed previously, but there is some indication of other factors affecting Mg concentrations. All analyses reported here, with the exception of bulk water content and pH, were carried out on water samples which were squeezed from the sediments on board ship and preserved by heat-sealing in lengths of polyethylene tubing. Analytical methods were identical to those outlined in earlier volumes of this series. We wish to thank Wen Chang, James O'Neill and Irene Uhlitzsch for their assistance in conducting the laboratory determinations and data reduction
