We have selected a sample of 22 potential z~6 galaxies from
HST ACS imaging using the Lyman break technique. We present
deep LRIS and FORS2 spectroscopy for these objects, with
exposures of up to 24 hours. For our brightest galaxy
(z850,AB=24.3, z=5.515), there is clear evidence for
significant metal absorption line features similar to
starbursting galaxies at lower redshifts. We believe this to
be the highest redshift absorption spectrum acquired to date
of a Lyman break galaxy. Furthermore, a continuum spectrum
of another object (z850,AB=25.6, z=5.8) will also be
shown and it similarly lacks a strong Lyman-alpha emission
component. Two significant trends seen in our sample are (i)
objects that possess strong Lyman-alpha emission have
relatively low star formation rates, and (ii) these objects
compose approximately 25% of the LBG's at z~6. Lyman-alpha
emitters appear to be a poor representation of the
star-forming populace at this epoch, implying that broadband
selection techniques are critical for obtaining
statistically relevant samples of z~6 objects.
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