Sand geochemistry on sediment core CRP-3 from the Ross Sea, Antarctica

A total of 167 samples distubuted throughout the CRP-3 drillhole from 5.77 to 787.68 mbsf and representing fine to coarse sandstones have been analysed by X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRF) Bulk sample geochemistry (major and trace elements) indicates a dominant provenance of detritus from the Ferrar Supergroup in the uppermost 200 mbsf of the core. A markedly increased contribution from the Beacon sandstones is recognized below 200 mbsf and down to 600 mbsf. In the lower part of CRP-3, down to 787.68 mbsf, geochemical evidence for influxes of Ferrar materials is again recorded. On the basis of preliminary magnetostratigraphic data reported for the lower 447 mbsf of the drillhole, we tentatively evaluated the main periodicities modulating the geochemical records. Our results identify a possible influence of the precession, obliquity and long-eccentricity astronomical components (21, 41, and 400 ky frequency bands) on the deposition mechanisms of the studied glaciomarine sediments.

Geochemistry of black shales from Breitbach Creek

Lower Cretaceous sediments are frequently characterized by a well expressed cyclicity. While the processes influencing environments above the carbonate compensation depth (CCD) are reasonably well understood, almost nothing is known about the deep ocean. Cretaceous sub-CCD sediments from the Tethys and Atlantic Oceans typically show rhythmic black/green shale successions. To gain insight into the nature of these black/green shale cycles, we performed detailed geochemical analyses (X-ray fluorescence, Rock-Eval and reactive iron analysis) on a 3 m long section of latest Aptian age. The major-element distribution of the analyzed shale sequence indicates a periodic change from a high-productivity and well-oxygenated green shale mode to a low-productivity oxygen-deficient black shale mode. It is proposed here that the preservation of organic matter was dependent on the strength of salinity-driven deepwater generation. Furthermore, the data show that the Corg content covaries with changes in the detrital composition. Therefore we hypothesize that Tethyan deepwater circulation was sensitive to changes in the monsoonal system. Time series analysis suggests that these changes are periodic in nature, although we are currently unable to prove that the dominant periodicity is related to the precession component of the Milankovitch frequencies.