ISOTOPIC (Sr, O, C) INDICATORS OF SALINITY AND TAPHONOMY IN MARGINAL MARINE SYSTEMS

Abstract

Research Article| July 01, 2003 ISOTOPIC (Sr, O, C) INDICATORS OF SALINITY AND TAPHONOMY IN MARGINAL MARINE SYSTEMS Eduard G. Reinhardt; Eduard G. Reinhardt 1School of Geography and Geology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, L8S 4M12E-mail: ereinhar@mcmaster.ca Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar R. J. Fitton; R. J. Fitton 3School of Earth and Ocean Sciences, University of Victoria, P.O. Box 3055 STN CSC, Victoria, BC Canada V8W 3P6 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Henry P. Schwarcz Henry P. Schwarcz 1School of Geography and Geology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, L8S 4M1 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Eduard G. Reinhardt 1School of Geography and Geology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, L8S 4M12E-mail: ereinhar@mcmaster.ca R. J. Fitton 3School of Earth and Ocean Sciences, University of Victoria, P.O. Box 3055 STN CSC, Victoria, BC Canada V8W 3P6 Henry P. Schwarcz 1School of Geography and Geology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, L8S 4M1 Publisher: Cushman Foundation for Foraminiferal Research Received: 10 Apr 2002 Accepted: 11 Jul 2002 First Online: 03 Mar 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-264X Print ISSN: 0096-1191 © 2003 Journal of Foraminiferal Research Journal of Foraminiferal Research (2003) 33 (3): 262–272. https://doi.org/10.2113/33.3.262 Article history Received: 10 Apr 2002 Accepted: 11 Jul 2002 First Online: 03 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation Eduard G. Reinhardt, R. J. Fitton, Henry P. Schwarcz; ISOTOPIC (Sr, O, C) INDICATORS OF SALINITY AND TAPHONOMY IN MARGINAL MARINE SYSTEMS. Journal of Foraminiferal Research 2003;; 33 (3): 262–272. doi: https://doi.org/10.2113/33.3.262 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyJournal of Foraminiferal Research Search Advanced Search Abstract Ten sediment samples from the Crocodile River (Nahal Tanninim), Israel, were analyzed for their foraminiferal abundance and four samples were selected for O, C and Sr isotopic analysis to examine salinity and taphonomic trends. Two biofacies were documented: a Ammonia tepida (59±20% (1σ)) and a Pararotalia spinigera (75±17% (1σ)) dominated assemblage. The distribution of δ18O, δ13C and 87Sr/86Sr values within shell material (foraminifera, ostracods, mollusks, algae) documented salinity trends within the open-ended, micro-tidal estuary with greater certainty than paleontological analysis alone. The isotopic data allowed the isolation of taphonomic trends by determining which taxa were transported from their original context. The calculated salinities from the four samples from the Crocodile River had a distribution that was bimodal with the two groups fitting into a marine or very brackish salinity regime. Most of the taxa followed this trend with measured salinities from the 87Sr/86Sr values in the shell material indicating a relatively stable salinity of <4‰, and with several specimens from an intermediate salinity regime measuring between 4 and 8.5‰. The remainder of the specimens had considerably higher salinities in the range >30‰. The mixture of specimens in the death assemblage from such diverse salinity regimes indicated transport both landward and seaward in the estuary. This methodology shows promise as an environmental indicator in brackish systems when replicate sampling and the analysis of live specimens cannot be undertaken. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.