Dysoxic Bottom Water Conditions Research Articles

Association and textural-compositional evolution of pyrite-organic matter in coals of the Tarakan, Barito, and Pasir Basins, Kalimantan, Indonesia

The Barito, Pasir, and Tarakan Basins in Kalimantan Island is the most extensive coal-bearing sedimentary basin in Indonesia, mined since 1989. The coal is notable in having high sulfur coal content, exceeding >10% in some cases, contributed by the presence of pyrite. The latter issue contributed to interest in the coal, forming economic mineral deposits hosted by the sedimentary pyrite and organic matter. Novel findings of this research providing valuable information of trace element behavior during the diagenetic conditions. This paper documents the textural and compositional evolution of pyrite-organic matter of coals using coal petrographic, proximate, ultimate, total sulfur content, scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), electron probe micro analyser (EPMA), and Raman spectroscopy. Coals from Kalimantan are mainly characterized by medium-high sulfur content (>3%) and the maximum temperatures reached by organic matter during diagenesis are 166 ± 10 °C for the Pasir Basin, 136 ± 11 °C for the Barito Basin, and 132 ± 12 °C for the Tarakan Basin. Pyrite is mainly found as large size framboids (mostly >5 μm), indicating formation in the sedimentary layer with dysoxic bottom water conditions during early–late diagenetic stages. The framboidal pyrite was likely formed in detrovitrinite and gelovitrinite under topogenous mire conditions, due to the degradation of macerals and biochemical gelification, which provided the organic templates. High concentrations of trace elements (TE) of framboidal pyrite, such as 1) Cu, Ni, and Co in the Pasir Basin and 2) As in the Barito Basin, likely reflect the local sedimentary provenance and underlying basement rocks. Pyrite texture evolved with increasing diagenetic temperatures from 1) framboidal pyrite, 2) recrystallized framboidal pyrite rims, and 3) anhedral, anhedral-euhedral pyrite transition, and euhedral massive pyrite. This study shows a similar average TE concentrations of various pyrite texture, suggesting that the TEs are not remobilized during the evolution of pyrite at the diagenetic stages.

Sea-ice, primary productivity and ocean temperatures at the Antarctic marginal zone during late Pleistocene

While Pleistocene glacial-interglacial cycles are commonly associated with strong waxing and waning of Northern Hemisphere ice sheets, the response of the Antarctic ice sheet and regional changes in oceanographic and environmental conditions to Pleistocene climate dynamics remain poorly constrained. We present a reconstruction of sea-ice cover, sea surface temperature and primary productivity off the Ross Sea margin (Adare Basin at the slope of the Drygalski Basin) during the marine isotope stages (MIS) 9 to 5 (350–70 thousands years ago, encompassing Terminations IV to II). Our multiproxy study relies on micropaleontology (diatoms, dinoflagellate cysts, benthic foraminifers), organic and inorganic geochemistry proxies (carbon and nitrogen isotopes, lipid biomarkers, XRF-data), and sedimentology (IRD) obtained from deep-sea core AS05-10. For each glacial-interglacial transition a clear succession of events can be observed: (near-)permanent sea ice cover during glacial stages is followed by ice-shelf break-up with episodic ice-free areas and surface water stratification. Notably, ice-shelf break-up precedes the increase in air temperature as measured in the Vostok ice core for each glacial-interglacial transition. Generally, air temperature over Vostok starts rising once sea-ice cover at site AS05-10 has significantly decreased, becoming seasonal, as indicated by the diatom species composition. This is also reflected by the high diatom productivity and increased water mixing at site AS05-10, which is indicative of its proximity to the Marginal Ice Zone. At the onset of Termination II (MIS6 to 5), high export productivity and dysoxic bottom water conditions occurred, while water temperature increased about 5 °C. During each interglacial spring/summer sea-ice cover is most reduced, and highest productivity occurs. Following each interglacial, the warm and cold fluctuations match the sawtooth character of the temperatures over Vostok. This record illustrates that at the Ross Sea margin, sea surface conditions and (export) productivity were strongly influenced by the natural climate variability of the Pleistocene. In light of this, current global warming may lead to increased ice-shelf break-up, water column stratification and shifts in the position/size of the Marginal Ice Zone with implications for algal species composition and diversity, and for primary productivity.

Foraminiferal Abundance at the Western Water of Kai Islands, Molucca Province, Related to Oceanographic Condition

Foraminifera is a single-celled marine organism known as a potential proxy for (paleo)environment and (paleo)oceanography conditions. It also has been widely used as an indicator of coral reef health. We analyzed microfauna foraminifera from nine core top of marine sediments. Marine sediments have been collected by gravity core from western Water of Kai Islands, on board Geomarin III of MGI. The study aims to understand the microfaunal community and the oceanographical condition of Kai islands. The result indicates the high abundance and diversity of foraminifera, comprised of 95 species, including 28 species of planktonic and 67 benthic species. Planktonic type is very dominant (95.4% on average), typical for a bathyal environment. The dominant species are Neogloboquadrina dutertrei (21.21% on average), Globorotalia menardii (16.67% on average), Globigerina bulloides (11.73%), and Pulleniatina obliqueloculata (7.83%). Those are indicator species for a high productivity environment. However, Globigerinoides ruber, an oligotrophic warm water type, is also abundant (13.86% on average). Furthermore, the dominant genera of benthic types are Bolivina, Bulimina, dan Uvigerina (1.2% on average). This finding indicates relatively eutrophic and warm water conditions of west waters surrounding Kai Islands, with dysoxic bottom water conditions.

Formation and evolution of coal– and oil–bearing source rocks in the Lower Cretaceous Shahai Formation in the Fuxin Basin (NE China): Evidence from organic and inorganic geochemical analyses

Two source rocks were deposited in the Lower Cretaceous Shahai Formation (K1sh) in the Fuxin Basin (NE China): the third Member (K1sh3) coal–bearing and the fourth Member (K1sh4) oil–bearing source rock. However, the differences between the two Fuxin Basin source rocks remain poorly constrained. This study systematically reveals the formation and evolution of these source rocks through sedimentological and geochemical analyses. During the K1sh3 deposition, the intermittently warm–humid climate promoted organic matter (OM) input from terrestrial plants. Meanwhile, the restricted swamp with suboxic water conditions enhanced OM preservation and reduced OM dilution. Thus, warm–humid climate, suboxic water conditions of swamp controlled the formation of excellent coal–bearing source rock with highest total organic carbon (TOC) content (avg. 28.68 wt%) and Type III kerogen (perhydrous). The post–mature maturity (avg. 484 °C Tmax) indicates that the K1sh3 coal–bearing source rocks have reached the wet to dry gas generation stage.During the K1sh4 deposition, rapid basin subsidence and a humid–prone climate resulted in lake expansion, enhancing the dysoxic bottom water conditions. Moreover, the rapid basin subsidence triggered frequent gravity flows. The turbidity flows delivered terrestrial OM fragments and nutrients, promoting the lacustrine productivity and producing OM dominated by aquatic organisms with some terrestrial plants. However, hyperconcentrated density flows disturbed the dysoxic bottom water conditions and strongly diluted the OM. Hence, the humid–prone climate, dysoxic bottom water conditions and gravity flows have controlled the formation of the K1sh4 oil–bearing source rock with high TOC contents (avg. 2.73 wt%). The oil–bearing source rocks show good hydrocarbon potential (avg. 6.17 mg HC/g rock S2) and Type II to III kerogen (perhydrous). The mature oil–bearing source rocks (avg. 443 °C Tmax) in the lower K1sh4 were at the oil generation peak and may be the chief source rock in the Fuxin Basin. During the Early Cretaceous, similar rift basins were developed in Northeast China, so this study provides a typical sample for source rock prediction in other adjoining rift basins.

Characterization of the unconventional Tuscaloosa marine shale reservoir in southwestern Mississippi, USA: Insights from optical and SEM petrography

This study presents new optical petrography and electron microscopy data, interpreted in the context of previously published petrophysical, geochemical, and mineralogical data, to further characterize the Tuscaloosa marine shale (TMS) as an unconventional reservoir in southwestern Mississippi. The basal high resistivity zone has a higher proportion of Type II sedimentary organic matter than the overlying TMS, indicating it is more prone to oil generation. Optical petrography and electron microscopy reveal a heterogeneous clay matrix with ubiquitous pyrite grains, quartz, feldspar, glaucony, foraminifera, shell fragments, and rarer occurrences of apatite and crinoid fragments as well as liptinite, alginite, inertinite, and vitrinite. Our petrographic observations suggest that higher abundances of detrital quartz grains coupled with minimal authigenic cements result in higher porosity and permeability. However, the TMS is also more clay-rich than other unconventional shale oil and gas plays, which can impair the effectiveness of hydraulic fracture stimulation. Thin section observations reveal alternating clay and calcium carbonate laminae that are interpreted to reflect changes in sediment flux. Planktonic foraminifera indicate an overlying oxygenated water column while benthic inoceramid fragments and pervasive authigenic pyrite suggest anoxic or dysoxic bottom water conditions. Apatite fragments in thin section suggest mixing events and an influx of nutrient-rich sediments. Overall, these observations suggest that a variety of paleodepositional environments occurred in the TMS and the lithofacies diversity resulting from these small-scale depositional cycles makes it difficult to determinatively identify areas conducive to enhanced economic hydrocarbon recovery.

Oceanic redox conditions through the late Pliensbachian to early Toarcian on the northwestern Panthalassa margin: Insights from pyrite and geochemical data

The early Toarcian oceanic anoxic event (T-OAE; ~183Ma) was a significant palaeoenvironmental perturbation associated with marked changes in oceanic redox conditions. However, the precise redox conditions and redox history of various water masses during the T-OAE, especially those from outside the Boreal and Tethyan realms, are unclear. To address this issue, we present pyrite framboid data from an upper Pliensbachian to lower Toarcian succession deposited on the NW Panthalassa margin in a shallow-water setting (Sakuraguchi-dani section, Toyora area, SW Japan). Available data on lithofacies and redox-sensitive trace elements from the same succession suggest that dysoxic bottom-water conditions generally prevailed, with intermittent short-term oxygenation events. Size-distribution analysis of pyrite framboids reveals that framboid size populations from the silty mudstones during the T-OAE were characterized by small mean diameters and standard deviations. This suggests that euxinic conditions at least intermittently occurred during the T-OAE interval. Most likely, this water-column euxinia was associated with the expansion of an oxygen minimum zone linked to increased primary productivity. This interpretation is consistent with a previously reported increase in fluvial discharge and thus nutrient flux caused by a strengthening of the hydrological cycle.

Millennial-scale changes of surface and bottom water conditions in the northwestern Pacific during the last deglaciation

Changes in water column conditions in the northwestern Pacific during the last 23ka were reconstructed using geochemical and isotope proxies and redox elemental compositions along with published data (alkenone sea surface temperature (SST) and benthic foraminiferal fauna) at core GH02-1030. Surface water primary productivity in terms of biogenic opal and TOC contents, which mainly represented export production of diatom, was closely related to alkenone (spring-summer) SST and the development of spring-summer mixed layer depth. The different variation patterns of nitrate and silicic acid utilization, estimated by bulk δ15N and δ30Sidiatom values, respectively, are most likely due to the water column denitrification influence on bulk δ15N. Dysoxic bottom water conditions occurred during the Bølling-Allerød (BA) and the Pre-Boreal (PB), which was evident by laminated sediments, abundant dysoxic benthic foraminifers, and increased redox elemental compositions. Although surface water productivity increased during the BA and PB, dysoxic bottom water conditions were caused by a combination of enhanced surface water productivity and reduced ventilation of North Pacific Intermediate Water (NPIW) in response to meltwater input from the high latitude areas. Based on records of core GH02-1030 and other cores in the northwestern Pacific, the Okhotsk Sea, and the Bering Sea, which are all proximal to the modern NPIW source region, dissolved oxygen concentrations of bottom water were more depleted during the BA than PB. Such difference was attributed to more sluggish NPIW ventilation due to more meltwater input during the BA than the PB. The opening or closure of the Bering Strait is critical to the direction of meltwater transport to the northwestern Pacific.

Calcareous nannoplankton changes during the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum in West Central Sinai, Egypt

Abstract: The Upper Paleocene-Lower Eocene Hanadi and Dababiya Quarry members in West Central Sinai, Egypt, contain nannofossil taxa assigned to the NP9 and NP10 zones. The Hanadi Member displays lateral variation in thickness and is sharply overlain by a dark gray clay layer that defines the base of the Dababiya Quarry Member. The strata immediately overlying this layer contain nannofossil species assigned to the earliest Eocene. The lateral variation in thickness of the Hanadi Member and the abrupt lithological changes between the Hanadi and the Dababiya members probably suggest active syndepositional tectonism and possibly discontinuous sedimentation. The onset of the Eocene brought oceanic anoxic to dysoxic bottom water conditions as revealed by the dark gray and probably organic rich clay and the common occurrence of Chondrites trace fossils. The earliest Eocene calcareous nannofossil NP9b subzone is missing in the area of study and therefore the incoming of the Eocene is placed at the base of the NP10 zone at the first occurrences of Tribrachiatus bramlettei. The dominant nannofossil taxa around this boundary (Rhomboaster intermedia, R. bitrifida, and R. calcitrapa) in addition to Ericsonia subpertusa are interpreted as proxies for warm surface water. The abundance and diversity of Fasciculithus spp. decreased abruptly in the uppermost part of the NP9a subzone and they became fully extinct shortly above the Paleocene/Eocene interval (base of NP10 zone).

Trace elements geochemistry of kerogen in Upper Cretaceous sediments, Chad (Bornu) Basin, northeastern Nigeria: Origin and paleo-redox conditions

Trace element contents in isolated kerogen from Upper Cretaceous sediments within Gongila and Fika formations in the Chad (Bornu) Basin, northeastern Nigeria were determined using Inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-MS), in order to infer the origin of the organic matter and the paleo-redox conditions during their sedimentation. The concentrations of the elements in the kerogen samples varied from 1.01 to 24,740ppm. The distribution of elements shows that Fe is the most abundant element in Chad (Bornu) Basin kerogen, followed by Ce. Among the biophile elements, V is the most abundant, followed by Ni and Co in that order. Statistical evaluation of the elemental composition data shows that As, Ce, Pb, V, Cr, Fe, Co, Ni and U exhibit good positive correlations with each other. Molybdenum, on the other hand displays no obvious correlation with most of the trace elements determined including TOC, but has good positive correlation with TS and negative correlation with Tmax, Ce and Th, which suggests that the concentration of Mo decreases with increasing maturity and vice versa. Some trace element concentrations and their ratios suggest mixed marine and terrigenous source input for the organic matter (kerogen) in Chad (Bornu) Basin. More so, the concentrations of redox-sensitive elements, such as V, Ni, Cu, Cr Mo and Mn, in the kerogen samples suggest dysoxic bottom water conditions within the Gongila and Fika sediments. Cross-plots of V and Ni and V/(V+Ni) ratio also indicate that the organic matter of these samples was deposited in slightly reducing environments.

Gradual onset of anoxia across the Permian–Triassic Boundary in Svalbard, Norway

The Permian–Triassic extinction event is considered to be the most devastating environmental crisis of the Phanerozoic. With many coinciding factors involved, the role of marine anoxia during the extinction is still poorly understood. In this study a boreal Permian–Triassic Boundary (PTB) section from Svalbard, Norway has been investigated with the aim of better understanding the timing and nature of local marine anoxia onset and extinction events across the PTB. The section comprises the Kapp Starostin and Vikinghøgda formations; δ13Corg values indicate the PTB is located within the lower part of the Vikinghøgda Formation. Lag deposits at the top of the Kapp Starostin Formation indicate a marine hiatus and ensuing transgression during the Late Permian shortly before the extinction event, implying concurrence of major ecological changes and sea-level rise. Pyrite framboid size distributions and total organic carbon (TOC) were used to evaluate bottom water oxygen conditions, and show that changes in bottom water redox conditions and extinction are clearly linked. Oxic to dysoxic bottom water conditions prevailed during deposition of Kapp Starostin Formation sediments and changed to anoxic to euxinic conditions above the formation boundary. The onset of anoxia is not abrupt but rather shows a gradual increase within the Kapp Starostin Formation during the Late Permian. The tipping point where bottom waters reach a long-term state of anoxia to euxinia coincides with the final extinction event, though changes in biotic assemblages at the top of the Kapp Starostin Formation indicate a marine ecosystem crisis prior to this. Oxygen depletion in the boreal region, as seen in our study section and correlating to Greenland and Arctic Canada, seems to be consistently more severe than in lower latitude settings.

Millennial-scale paleoceanographic events and implication for the intermediate-water ventilation in the northern slope area of the Bering Sea during the last 71 kyrs

Millennial-scale paleoceanographic changes in the Bering Sea during the last 71 kyrs were reconstructed using geochemical and isotope proxies (biogenic opal, CaCO 3, and total organic carbon (TOC), nitrogen and carbon isotopes of sedimentary organic matters) and microfossil (radiolaria and foraminifera) data from two cores (PC23A and PC24A) which were collected from the northern continental slope area at intermediate water depths. Biogenic opal and TOC contents were generally high with high sedimentation rates during the last deglaciation. Laminated sediment depositions during the Early-Holocene (EH) and Bølling-Allerød (BA) were closely related with the increased primary productivity recorded by high biogenic opal and TOC contents and high δ 15N values. Enhanced surface-water productivity was attributed to increased nutrient supply from strengthened Bering Slope Current (BSC) and from increased amount of glacial melt-water, resulting in high C/N ratios and low δ 13C values, and high proportion of Rhizoplegma boreale during the last deglaciation. In contrast, low surface-water productivity during the last glacial period was due to depleted nutrient supply caused by strong stratification and to restricted phytoplankton bloom by extensive sea ice distribution under cold climates. Extensive formation of sea ice produces more oxygen-rich intermediate-water, leading to oxic bottom-water conditions due to active ventilation, which favored good preservation of oxic benthic foraminifera species. Remarkable CaCO 3 peaks coeval with high biogenic opal and TOC contents in both cores during MIS 3 to MIS 4 are most likely correlated with Dansgaard–Oeschger (D–O) events. High δ 15N and δ 13C org values during D–O interstadials support increased surface-water productivity resulting from nutrients supplied mainly by intensified BSC. During the EH, BA and D–O interstadials, dominant benthic foraminifera species indicate dysoxic bottom-water conditions as a result of increased surface-water productivity and weak ventilation of intermediate-water with mitigated sea ice development caused by strengthening of the Alaskan Stream. It is of note that the bottom-water conditions and formation of intermediate-water in the Bering Sea during the last glacial period are related to the variation of dissolved oxygen concentration of the bottom-water in the northeastern Pacific and to strong ventilation of intermediate-water in the northwestern Pacific. Thus, the millennial-scale paleoceanographic events in the Bering Sea during the D–O interstadials are closely associated with the intermediate-water ventilation, ultimately leading to weakening of North Pacific Intermediate Water.

Palynofacies Analysis of Inner Continental Shelf and Middle Slope Sediments offshore Egypt, South-eastern Mediterranean

Marine palynological studies of Quaternary sediments usually focus on dinoflagellate and pollen assemblages for paleoceanographic and paleohydrographic interpretations of past events. This paper focuses on the use of palynofacies analysis for paleohydrological reconstructions of deltaic and deep sea environments to evaluate transport of organic matter to the ocean. These palynodebris data are used to interpret palaeoenvironmental and paleohydrographic changes in two marine cores from the continental shelf (core-1, 27 m water depth) and middle slope (core-2, 1030 m) offshore Egypt, south-eastern Mediterranean Sea, during the latest Pleistocene and the Holocene. The relative abundances of various types of sedimentary organic matter such as phytoclasts, zooclasts, amorphous organic matter and palynomorphs are related to paleohydrographic changes of the overlying water column. Based on the total palynodebris and organic carbon content, sediments of the inner continental shelf core are characteristic of a prodelta environment proximal to a fluvio-deltaic source and moderately distal oxic environments with enhanced structured organic matter preservation potential. In contrast, the palynodebris of the middle slope core show that the basal sediments (105–140 cm depth) indicate suboxic to dysoxic bottom water conditions, followed by anoxic-suboxic bottom water conditions for the interval from 30–85 cm, which represents the S1 Sapropel. The top sediments of core-2 (0–25 cm) were deposited under oxic bottom water conditions, suggesting good ventilation in the water column. A quantitative approach was also used for interpreting the Holocene sea-level changes, based on the correlation between phytoclast and organic matter abundances. Sedimentation rate in the continental shelf is varied, being relatively very low (6.7 cm/kyr) in the basal part and increased upward to be 20 cm/kyr (depth 115–120 cm). In the upper Gray clayey silt layer the sedimentation rate was high (about 40–45 cm/kyr) due to the high discharge from El Manzala Lagoon and Damietta Nile branch. In the middle slope depth the sedimentation rate was relatively low and uniform, around 14 cm/kyr.

Paleoenvironmental changes across the Mid Cenomanian Event in the tropical Atlantic Ocean (Demerara Rise, ODP Leg 207) inferred from benthic foraminiferal assemblages

This study is based on Cenomanian sediments of Ocean Drilling Program (ODP) Sites 1258 and 1260 from Demerara Rise (Leg 207, western tropical Atlantic, off Suriname, ~ 1000 and ~ 500 m paleo-water depth, respectively). Studied sediments consist of laminated black shales with TOC values between 3 and 18% and include the Mid Cenomanian Event (MCE), a positive carbon isotope excursion predating the well-known Oceanic Anoxic Event 2 (OAE 2). Benthic foraminiferal assemblages of the continuously eutrophic environment at Demerara Rise are characterized by low diversities (≤ 9 species per sample) and large fluctuations in abundances, indicating oxygen depletion and varying organic matter fluxes. Dominant species at both sites are Bolivina anambra, Gabonita levis, Gavelinella dakotensis, Neobulimina albertensis, Praebulimina prolixa, and Tappanina cf. laciniosa. Benthic foraminiferal assemblages across the MCE show a threefold pattern: (1) stable ecological conditions below the MCE interval indicated by relatively high oxygenation and fluctuating organic matter flux, (2) decreasing oxygenation and/or higher organic matter flux during the MCE with decreasing benthic foraminiferal numbers and diversities (Site 1258) and a dominance of opportunistic species (Site 1260), and (3) anoxic to slightly dysoxic bottom-water conditions above the MCE as indicated by very low diversities and abundances or even the absence of benthic foraminifera. Slightly dysoxic conditions prevailed until OAE 2 at Demerara Rise. A comparison with other Atlantic Ocean and Tethyan sections indicates that the MCE reflects a paleoceanographic turning point towards lower bottom-water oxygenation, at least in the proto-North Atlantic Ocean and in the Tethyan and Boreal Realms. This general trend towards lower oxygenation of bottom waters across the MCE is accompanied by ongoing climate warming in combination with rising sea-level and the development of vast shallow epicontinental seas during the Middle and Late Cenomanian. These changes are proposed to have favoured the formation of warm and saline waters that may have contributed to intermediate- and deep-water masses at least in the restricted proto-North Atlantic and Tethyan Ocean basins, poor oxygenation of the Late Cenomanian sediments, and the changes in benthic foraminiferal assemblages across the MCE.

The relationships between Late Ordovician sea-level changes and faunal turnover in western Baltica: Geochemical evidence of oxic and dysoxic bottom-water conditions

The late Sandbian to the early Katian (Late Ordovician) in southeastern Norway is dominated by marine mudstones that contain an exceptional spectrum of macrofauna and trace element geochemistry, recording both abrupt and gradual faunal changes during major sea-level and environmental shifts. This study investigates the relationships between sea-level changes and their influence on the source of clastic material, oxygen levels in the bottom water and faunal changes, with special emphasis on the brachiopod fauna. Trace element ratios indicate that nearly stable upper dysoxic bottom-water conditions prevailed in the northwestern part of the Baltoscandian Sea. The exception is during the major shallowing in the earliest Katian, when there was an abrupt shift to oxic conditions as the sea bottom came within a normal storm wave base. Nonetheless, the pre-shallowing epibenthic fauna (though not the shelly endobenthic) in this area was rich and diverse and two major immigration phases of new brachiopod taxa are seen well before the shallowing. This indicates that the immigration of new taxa was not the result of an increase in oxygen content in the bottom water. More brachiopod genera stayed during the abrupt shallowing and increased oxic level than did during the following gradual return to deeper, dysoxic environments. The major brachiopod immigration phases took place markedly earlier in this northwestern part of the Baltoscandian Sea than in the central part (Eastern Baltic) and possibly also the comparable faunal turnover in Laurentia. The following disappearance of taxa during an early Katian transgressive event coincided with the faunal turnover in the shallow-water environments of the East Baltic. The depositional history was consistent within the investigated mudstone-dominated offshore facies of the Oslo Region, which are comparable to the Central Baltoscandian Confacies Belt of Baltoscandia. The composition of the siliciclastic material which was deposited in the basin was nearly constant through the sequence, though the land area expanded to include ophiolites, expressed by Cr enrichment, coinciding with the major sea-level drop. The Cr enrichment indicates that, by that time at least, the ophiolite complexes north of the Oslo Region became subaerially exposed. This enrichment thus forms a potential geochemical marker horizon representing the basal Katian Stage.

Paleoenvironmental changes across the Cenomanian/Turonian Boundary Event (Oceanic Anoxic Event 2) as indicated by benthic foraminifera from the Demerara Rise (ODP Leg 207)

This study is based on Cenomanian to lower Turonian sediments of Ocean Drilling Program (ODP) Sites 1258, 1259, 1260, and 1261 from the Demerara Rise (Leg 207, western tropical Atlantic, off Suriname) that are oriented along a paleodepth transect. Studied sediments include the Cenomanian/Turonian Boundary Event (CTBE) or Oceanic Anoxic Event 2 (OAE 2) and consist of laminated black shales with TOC values between 5% and 10% below and above OAE 2 and up to 29% within the OAE 2 interval. Benthic foraminiferal assemblages in this eutrophic environment are generally characterized by low diversities and strong fluctuations of abundances, indicating oxygen depletion and high organic matter fluxes. Dominant taxa at all sites are Bolivina anambra, Gavelinella dakotensis, Tappanina sp., Praebulimina prolixa, and Neobulimina albertensis. Based on the positive stable carbon isotope excursion characteristics of OAE 2 we subdivided the studied successions into three intervals: (1) the interval below OAE 2; (2) the carbon isotope excursion reflecting OAE 2; and (3) the interval above OAE 2. In the bathymetrically shallower Sites 1260 and 1261 benthic foraminiferal assemblages indicate anoxic to sometimes slightly dysoxic bottom-water conditions below the OAE 2 interval. The bathymetrically deepest Site 1258, in contrast, reflects more oxygenated bottom waters with an almost continuous occurrence of benthic foraminifera. It is therefore suggested that the shallower sites were located within the oxygen minimum zone (OMZ), whereas Site 1258 was below the OMZ. During OAE 2 anoxic conditions prevailed at the shallower sites. At Site 1258 benthic foraminifera indicate severe dysoxic but not anoxic conditions. This pattern is proposed to reflect a strengthening of the OMZ possibly related to increased primary production during OAE 2. A short-term repopulation event of benthic foraminifera in the lower third of the OAE 2 interval was observed at all sites, reflecting a brief bottom-water oxygenation event. This short-lived event parallels a surface-water cooling and is probably equivalent to the “Plenus Cool Event” in Europe and the “benthonic zone” in the U.S. Western Interior. The benthic foraminifera of a ~0.5 Ma interval following OAE 2 still indicate oxygen depletion of bottom waters. Subsequently, however, a strong increase in benthic foraminiferal abundance and diversity reflects better oxygenation of the bottom-water masses, probably related to a weakening of the OMZ due to decreasing organic matter flux.

Palynofacies analysis and organic-walled dinoflagellate cysts as indicators of palaeo-hydrographic changes: an example from Holocene sediments in Skálafjord, Faroe Islands

This study documents Holocene variations in organic matter deposition from ca. 6350 cal yr BC to AD 1430 in Skálafjord, Faroe Islands, and uses this information to assess palaeo-hydrographic conditions. The chronology of the interval studied is based on five AMS 14C ages. Based on the total sedimentary organic content, the sediments dating to ca. 6350 cal yr BC to AD 160 have been deposited under dysoxic bottom water conditions suggesting good ventilation in the water column. The sediments dating to ca. AD 160–1090 have been deposited under decreasing oxygen availability; from AD 1090 to 1430, suboxic bottom water conditions characterised the fjord. High terrestrial influx characterised most sediments in the study interval; however, moderate terrestrial influx was recorded in sediments dating to ca. 6350–5670 cal yr BC. Based on the dinoflagellate cyst assemblages, changes in the nutrient availability were inferred in the waters of the fjord over the study period. The nutrients were minimal at ca. 6350–5670 cal yr BC; they increased in the interval ca. 5670–685 cal yr BC and became very abundant at ca. 685 cal yr BC to AD 1260. A decreasing trend in nutrient availability was inferred in sediments of age ca. AD 1260–1430. A qualitative approach was used for the reconstruction of Holocene sea-surface temperature conditions based on dinoflagellate cyst and acritarch assemblages. The estimated sea-surface parameters highlighted the Mid-Holocene final stage of the Climatic Optimum (ca. 6350–5300 cal yr BC), the Neo-glaciation period (ca. 5300 cal yr BC to AD 260), a general climatic amelioration during the period ca. AD 260–1090 and a cooling at ca. AD 1090–1260.