Many of the sand-sized silicate grains recovered during the abortive drilling at Site 276 are polished, iron stained, or coated with black or brown ferruginous material. Examination of eight representative grains with the scanning electron microscope and energy-dispersive X-ray analyzer shows that the ferruginous coatings are of two types: (1) black scale generally preferentially developed in grain surface depressions, and (2) smooth brown sheaths of hydroust(?) iron that completeley envelope grains. The black scale typically contains major amounts of Fe, minor Si, and traces of Al, K, Ca, Ti, and Mn. The polish exhibited by many quartz and feldspar grains results from development of a smooth coating of silica containing minor or trace Fe. The coatings on the detrital silicate grains at Site 276 indicate that the western boundary current, which impinges on the site, is oxygenated, and silica rich. The results of the study show that iron staining, and the formation of siliceous and ferruginous coatings, can occur at oceanic depths (4671 m).