Mineralogy of ODP Leg 104 holes

The mineralogical and geochemical study of samples from Sites 642, 643, and 644 enabled us to reconstruct several aspects of the Cenozoic paleoenvironmental evolution (namely volcanism, climate, hydrology) south of the Norwegian Sea and correlate it with evolution trends in the northeast Atlantic. Weathering products of early Paleogene volcanic material at Rockall Plateau, over the Faeroe-Iceland Ridge and the Voring Plateau indicate a hot and moist climate (lateritic environment) existed then. From Eocene to Oligocene, mineralogical assemblages of terrigenous sediments suggest the existence of a warm but somewhat less moist climate at that time than during the early Paleogene. At the beginning of early Miocene, climatic conditions were warm and damp. The large amounts of amorphous silica in Miocene sediment could indicate an important flux of silica from the continent then, or suggest the formation of upwelling. Uppermost lower Miocene and middle to upper Miocene clay assemblages suggest progressive cooling of the climate from warm to temperate at that time. At the end of early Miocene, hydrological exchanges between the North Atlantic and the Norwegian Sea became intense and gave rise to an important change in the mineralogy of deposits. From Pliocene to Pleistocene, the variable mineralogy of deposits reflects alternating glacial/interglacial climatic episodes, a phenomenon observed throughout the North Atlantic.

Chemical analyses and results of sediments from different DSDP Holes from the North Atlantic

Chemical analyses of North Atlantic D.S.D.P. (Deep Sea Drilling Project) sediments indicate that basal sediments generally contain higher concentrations of Fe, Mn, Mg, Pb, and Ni, and similar or lower concentrations of Ti, Al, Cr, Cu, Zn, and Li than the material overlying them. Partition studies on selected samples indicate that the enriched metals in the basal sediments are usually held in a fashion similar to that in basal sediments from the Pacific, other D.S.D.P. sediments, and modern North Atlantic ridge and non-ridge material. Although, on average, chemical differences between basal sediments of varying ages are apparent, normalization of the data indicates that the processes leading to metal enrichment on the crest of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge appear to have been approximately constant in intensity since Cretaceous times. In addition, the bulk composition of detrital sediments also appears to have been relatively constant over the same time period. Paleocene sediments from site 118 are, however, an exception to this rule, there apparently having been an increased detrital influx during this period. The bulk geochemistry, partitioning patterns, and mineralogy of sediments from D.S.D.P. 9A indicates that post-depositional migration of such elements as Mn, Ni, Cu, Zn, and Pb may have occurred. The basement encountered at the base of site 138 is thought to be a basaltic sill, but the overlying basal sediments are geochemically similar to other metalliferous basal sediments from the North Atlantic. These results, as well as those from site 114 where true oceanic basement was encountered, but where there was an estimated 7 m.y. hiatus between basaltic extrusion and basal sediment deposition, indicate that ridge-crest sediments are not necessarily deposited during active volcanism but can be formed after the volcanism has ceased. The predominant processes for metal enrichment in these deposits and those formed in association with other submarine volcanic features is a combination of shallow hydrothermal activity, submarine weathering of basalt, and the formation of ferromanganese oxides which can scavenge metals from seawater. In addition, it seems as though the formation of submarine metalliferous sediments is not restricted to active-ridge areas.