Radiocarbon ages and last occurrences of Globorotalia menardii flexuosa and Globoquadrina hexagona in Atlantic sediment cores

Ranges of Globorotalia menardii menardii, Gr. menardii flexuosa and Globoquadrina hexagona at time of climatostratigraphic intervals representing oxygen-isotope stages 5-1 are determined by study of dozens of Late Quaternary sediment cores involving constructing paleotemperature curves from planktic foraminifera and oxygen isotope curves for their shells, as well as radiocarbon dating. Gr. menardii flexuosa and Gq. hexagona disappeared about 27-25 ky ago from the subtropical and tropical Atlantic and about 18 ky ago from the equatorial area.

Geochemical parameters of bottom sediments from the Tajura Rift, Gulf of Aden

Results of a geochemical study of bottom sediments from the Tadjura rift zone are reported. The sediments were analyzed for CaCO3, Si, Al, Ti, Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, Ni, Co, Cr, V, Zr, Ga, Yb and Y. It was found that formation of chemical composition of the sediments was controlled by factors being appropriate for a near-continental area of the arid climatic zone (aeolian supply of terrigenous material and high biological productivity), as well as by hydrothermal activity in the rift valley. It was shown that high Mn contents were typical for the sediments in study while maximal contents of Fe were found near supposed hydrothermal sources. Total flux of Mn into sediments was been calculated. Diagenetic redistribution gives the main contribution of Mn in surface layer sediments. Speciations of Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, Ni, Co, and Al were studied. In the surface layer sediments iron and manganese were in hydroxides. Model calculations of contents of chemical elements in sediments of the area in study are given.