Late Quaternary climatic changes on the southwestern Balearic slope (Western Mediterranean): isotopic, faunal, and mineralogical relationships

Abstract

We report the results of a research on the carbonate mineralogy, planktonic foraminifera distribution, and oxygen and carbon isotope composition of G. bulloides in hemipelagic carbonate oozes of the Southwestern-Balearic Slope (Western Mediterranean) to contribute to the understanding of climatic and ecological variations during the last Quaternary interglacial/glacial cycle and their influences on the carbonate sedimentary processes of the Western Mediterranean. Oxygen isotope stages 1, 2 and 3 have been identified and correlated to those established in Tyrrhenian cores. The carbon isotope records display several anomalies which are explained by productivity variations and diagenetic processes. Pelagic carbbonates (low Mg-calcite and aragonite) and detrital minerals (quartz, high Mg-calcite and dolomite display variations that are climate related. Pelagic carbonates increase during warm intervals, while intense low Mg-calcite dissolution and greater quantities of detrital minerals are found in colder intervals. Our results suggest that the carbonate distribution of the Western Mediterranean correlates to the reported from the Atlantic Ocean. Nevertheless, the molar MgCO 3 content in low Mg-calcite disagree to the established temperature relationship in other oceans.