南海中部地震反射波特征及其地质解释

20世纪70年代以来,在南海中部海区开展了各种地震调查,为研究盖层和基底发育、断裂和岩浆活动、海盆成生演化提供了重要依据。在对南海中部海区4112km48道反射地震资料解释的基础上,识别出了T₁,T₂,T₄,T₆,T_g等五个反射界面;识别出了I～V五套地震反射层组,推测时代分别为上新世-第四纪、中新世晚期、中新世早-中期、渐新世和前渐新世。层组I～Ⅱ全区广布。在陆坡、岛坡区,层组Ⅲ以下层组主要见于断陷中;在深海盆,层组Ⅲ分布仍较广,除了在深海盆北段见到层组Ⅳ外,在西南次海盆剖面两缘也见到该层组。在东部次海盆剖面中还不同程度见到了双程反射时间为8.4～8.7s的莫霍面反射,埋深为10～12km,地壳厚度为6～8km.西南次海盆水深和新生界基底埋深均比深海盆北段除外的东部次海盆深,分别为4000-4300和5200～5500m.根据年龄和基底深度关系经验公式,计算西南次海盆基底年龄为距今51～39Ma.地震反射层组解释和年龄一基底深度关系计算表明,西南次海盆形成并非晚于东部次海盆,而是同时或早于东部次海盆。     

Large phillipsite crystal as ferromanganese nodule nucleus

We report here the occurrence of, to date, the largest (21 × 10 × 8 mm) phillipsite crystal forming the nucleus of a diagenetically formed ferromanganese nodule from the Central Indian Ocean Basin (CIOB). Assuming an average rate of ferromanganese nodule accretion as ~ 2 mm/Ma and that of phillipsite growth as ~ 0.65 mm/Ka, the nucleus material appears to have been growing for ~4.5–5 Ma. Originally surfaced as a rock fragment from late Miocene volcanism, this nucleus was later altered to phillipsite under alkaline, silica-undersaturated, low-temperature conditions through the length of the Neogene sedimentary hiatus.     

南海北部晚渐新世与早中新世之交T60构造运动的古水深响应

本文采用国际大洋发现计划(IODP)第368航次U1501站位井深264.0～331.1 m的样品,通过有孔虫壳体氧同位素地层和锶同位素定年,得出该段井深年龄为晚渐新世?早中新世20.3～32.0 Ma(地震反射不整合面T60的底部年龄在28～30.5 Ma左右)。T60构造运动之后,岩芯沉积物中有机碳含量、底栖有孔虫壳体稳定碳同位素δ13C、浮游与底栖有孔虫碳同位素差值Δδ13C_P-B指示海水表层生产力的降低;碳酸钙含量、有机碳/氮比值反映了陆源物质输入的减少;结合浮游有孔虫相对丰度以及底栖有孔虫的属种组合变化,共同揭示了南海北部在晚渐新世?早中新世时期,区域构造沉降运动导致了U1501站位在T60之后古水深逐步加深、离岸距离变远,相关结论从微体古生物学角度为认识T60构造事件及其沉积环境变化提供了科学证据。     

Cerium anomaly variations in ferromanganese nodules and crusts from the Indian Ocean

Fifty analyses of rare earth elements as well as mineralogical studies have been carried out on a suite of manganese nodules and crusts from the Central Indian Basin and the Western Indian Ocean. The aim was to identify the processes controlling the REE patterns of the phases hosting the REE in the manganese nodules, with an emphasis on an understanding of the Ce anomaly. This has involved separating the encrusting layers and nuclei physically as well as Fe-Mn oxides from the aluminosilicate phase chemically (using a 2 M HCl leach) prior to analysis.

The presence of nodule nuclei seems to have little influence (mostly <5% to a maximum of 30%) on the overall magnitude of the Ce anomalies in these nodules. The ratios of concentrations of elements in the acid leachates and the corresponding bulk values yield flat REE patterns indicating that the aluminosilicate phase contributes very little to the Ce anomalies. Interelement relations indicate that the Ce anomalies are largely controlled by the amorphous mineral phase FeOOH.xH₂O. The relationship of Fe, Ce anomaly and δ-MnO₂ further suggests that Ce is chemisorbed onto iron oxyhydroxides which are epitaxially intergrown with δ-MnO₂.

The regional distribution of the Ce anomaly values appears to depend on many of the factors responsible for the uptake of other minor metals in nodules and crusts.     

Aliphatic biomarker signatures of early Oligocene-early Miocene source rocks in the central Qiongdongnan Basin: Source analyses of organic matter

The geochemical signatures of fifty-four rock samples and three supplementary drill stem test(DST) oils from the Yacheng-Sanya formations in the central Qiongdongnan Basin(CQB) were analysed. Reconstruction of the early Oligocene-early Miocene(36–16 Ma) palaeovegetation and source analyses of organic matter(OM) were conducted using aliphatic biomarkers in ancient sediments and DST oils. Both the interpreted aquatic and terrigenous OM contributed to the CQB source rocks(SRs) but had varying relat...     

The influence of organic sources and environments on source rock deposition during the periods of Cretaceous–Eocene and Oligocene–Miocene,northern Kalimantan

The sedimentary system of Kalimantan has undergone significant development since the Oligocene. Previous research have largely ignored the capacity of the Cretaceous–Eocene sediments to produce hydrocarbons,focusing instead primarily on the Oligocene–Miocene coal as the principal source rocks. Shales and coals from the outcrops in the northern margin of Kalimantan were analyzed with palynological and geochemical methods to characterize the palaeoenvironmental and palaeoecological differences bet...     

Carbon isotopic composition and lattice-bound carbonate of Peru-Chile margin phosphorites

New light-stable carbonate-carbon isotope and lattice-bound CO₂ data from Quaternary Peru-Chile margin phosphatic nodules, crusts and pelletal grains, and from associated dolomicritic concretions, are presented, which provide constraints on the timing and mechanisms of growth of these phases in organic carbon-rich sediments. Comparison of δ¹³C values from carbonate fluorapatite (CFA) nodules and pelletal grains (−4.8 to 0.0‰ and −2.9 to +1.0‰ PDB, respectively) with pore-water total dissolved δ¹³C values from these sediments suggests early authigenic CFA precipitation from pore waters within a few centimeters of the sediment-water interface in association with suboxic to perhaps anoxic microbial degradation of organic matter. In contrast, the dolomicritic cores of nodules recovered from about 12°S display both strongly negative to positive δ¹³C values (−10.8 to +6.1‰) characteristic of formation deeper in the sediments in association with methanogenic and perhaps sulfate reduction microbial processes.

The amount of structural carbonate in CFA suggests that carbonate substitution generally increases as δ¹³C in CFA decreases, a probable consequence of increasing carbonate and accompanying charge-balancing substitutions in the CFA lattice in response to increasing pore-water carbonate ion concentrations with depth below the sediment-water interface. In one buried upward-growing nodule, decreasing CFA δ¹³C and increasing structural CO₂ also correspond to decreasing CFA growth rates. These data suggest that in addition to other constraints such as pore-water phosphorus and fluoride availability, the lower limit of CFA precipitation in suboxic to anoxic sediments may be controlled by lattice poisoning due to excessive dissolved carbonate ion concentrations. In organic-rich Peru-Chile margin sediments this depth threshold appears to be at approximately 5–10 cm below the sediment-water interface where maximum CFA CO₂ contents of about 6 Wt.% occur; in less organic-rich settings, greater depths of precipitation of CFA may be anticipated. Below this relatively shallow depth of CFA precipitation on the Peru shelf, high pore-water alkalinity and associated elevated total dissolved carbon and carbonate ion concentration apparently favor the precipitation of authigenic carbonates.     

Low-Temperature Thermal History Using Fission Track Dating in Three Wells in Southern Alaska Offshore Basins: Lower Cook Inlet,Shelikof Strait,and Stevenson Trough

Three wells, all offshore, in southern Alaska studied using apatite fission track dating make a transect southward from Lower Cook Inlet to the Kodiak Shelf and include ARCO Lower Cook Inlet COST #1 well (LCI well), Chevron OCS-0248 #1A well (Shelikof Strait), and Kodiak COST KSSD #1 OCS 77-1 well (Stevenson Basin, Kodiak). The ages of deep partially annealed samples from Lower Cook Inlet well suggest that the region cooled between ~100 and 75 Ma and or sometime after. Two scenarios are presented: (1) maximum heating before cooling in Late Creta ceous times and (2) maximum heating before cooling during mid-Tertiary times. Which is better is uncertain from the thermal and age data alone, but mid-Tertiary or later uplift, erosion, and cooling is preferred because data from Shelikof well suggests that the mid-Cretaceous unconformity was minor relative to the mid-Tertiary unconformity. Finally, because of the ~12 C warmer past than present bottom-hole temperature, the base of the LCI well is now ~500 m shallower than during maximum, burial (12 C/24 C/km geothermal gradient). Single-grain apatite fission track ages (20-25 Ma) from deep in the Shelikof well approach the age of the overlying mid-Tertiary (Miocene; ~23 Ma) unconform ity, suggesting significant and rapid exhumation. This suggests that strongly annealed, once deeply buried strata were uplifted and cooled quickly prior to onlap of the unconformity. The Miocene unconformity, therefore, is interpreted to be the major unconformity in the Shelikof well section. In this scenario the section was buried deepest, and was therefore hottest, until the onset of mid-Tertiary erosion. Approximately 665 m of late Tertiary and Quaternary strata have since been deposited in Shelikof Strait and have reburied the Shelikof section to within ~536 m of its original maximum burial depth. Including modern water depth, the Shelikof well section has experienced ~1 km of burial+submergence since ~25 Ma (832 m section+166 m water=998 m). It follows that the depth to the base of the well is now ~290 m shallower than it would have been during maximum burial. Single-grain apatite fission track ages deep in the Kodiak KSSD1 well are as young as 20-25 Ma and approach the age of overlap of a mid-Miocene regional unconformity (<23 Ma). The deepest Eocene samples were exhumed to within 574 m of the Miocene unconformity surface during Miocene time and were reburied by ~1.7 km of late Tertiary strata. The total section before exhumation was ~5 km; this suggests that Oligocene-age deposits may have existed in the Stevenson Basin. Together with the known Eocene strata, such deposits were exhumed during ~4.4 km of uplift and erosion during a short interval culminating in early to middle Miocene times (>25-23 Ma). Unique and anomalous apatite compositions (high F-, low Cl-, moderate OH-) from the Eocene section could provide a chemical tracer for determining their sediment source along the northeast Pacific rim prior to translation and accretion.     

STUDY ON FORAMINIFERA AND CaCO3 IN SEDIMENTS OF THE WESTERN MID-PACIFIC

Two cores and ten surface sediment samples were taken in the western area of Mid-Pacific during the investigation from December 1978 to July 1979. According to the analysis of planktonic foraminifera and CaCO3 in the surface samples, the investigated area is divided into three different sediment regions. The initial depth of lysocline of this area is estimated at about 3500 m and the CaCO3 compensation depth (CCD) is 5000 m. The water depth of the sediment core at L2016 is 2705 m and it is located above the lysocline. The sediments belong to white plank-tonic foraminiferal ooze. The evolution of paleoclimate is studied according to the variation of the following three parameters: the abundance value of the species indicating warm of planktonic fo-riminifera, the solution index and the determination of the paleotemperature carve of δ13O. The age of 4.2 in-long core is estimated at about 300,000 years BP according to the extinct time of the pink shell G. rubra, and the comparison between cores.     

晚中新世南海珍贝-黄岩海山岩浆活动及其演化:岩石地球化学和年代学证据

南海海盆15°N附近呈东西向展布的珍贝-黄岩海山被认为是32~17Ma前南海海盆的残留扩张中心.对采自黄岩海山的两个火山岩样品(9DG,9DG-2)进行了岩石学、地球化学和年代学研究.两个样品的SiO₂含量分别为60.3%和63.6%,Al₂O₃含量分别为17.56%和17.55%,TiO₂含量分别为0.48%和0.31%,碱度率分别为3.88和3.62.根据岩石学和岩石化学分类,样品属碱性系列的粗面岩.对稀土元素和微量元素分析表明岩石具有洋岛玄武岩(OIB)型配分型式,轻重稀土总量比(∑c(LREE)/∑c(HREE))和球粒陨石标准化镧镱比((La/Yb)N)分别高达17.22和27.23,并具有铕负异常和锶、磷、钛亏损的特点.样品9DG的锶-钕-铅同位素分析结果为锶-87的含量与锶-86的含量之比值为0.704183,钕-143的含量与钕-144的含量之比值为0.512827,铅-206的含量与铅-207的含量之比值为18.68668,铅-207的含量与铅-204的含量之值为15.67962,铅-208的含量与铅-204的含量之比值为39.00261,表明初始岩浆来自软流圈地幔,具有与珍贝海山玄武岩相似的同位素组成.经钾-氩法测年,粗面岩的年龄为(7.77±0.49)Ma,略晚于珍贝海山玄武岩的年龄[(9.1±1.29)~10.0±1.80Ma],属于南海扩张期后晚中新世火山活动的产物.对比珍贝海山玄武岩的地球化学和同位素特征,认为两者有相同的岩浆源区,但是它们经历了不同程度的结晶分异过程,在晚中新世期间珍贝-黄岩海山可能有地幔柱活动.     

太平洋中部多金属结核生物地层学研究

本文利用钙质超微化生物地质学研究方法，分析鉴定了多金属结核中的钙质超微化石，建立了多金属结核生长层柱状剖面图，确定了多金属结核形成的三个生长阶段及其年代，为揭示多金属结核的成矿规律和分布规律提供了必要的地质资料。     

光合膜膜脂在八种海洋硅藻中的分布研究

利用超高效液相色谱-四级杆-飞行时间串联质谱(UPLC-Q-TOF-MS)对8种海洋硅藻的四种主要光合膜膜脂的分子结构和组成进行了定性定量分析。结果表明,海洋硅藻中MGDG含量最高,占四种光合膜膜脂的40%~70%左右,SQDG其次占10%~40%,而PG在4%~20%之间,DGDG占5%~20%;其中,各脂类分子的含量在0.14~99.79 nmol/mg干藻之间,而C_16:3/C_16:3-MGDG,C_20:5/C_16:3-MGDG,C_20:5/C_16:2-DGDG,C_20:5/C_16:1-DGDG,C_16:1/C_16:1-DGDG,C_14:0/C_14:0-SQDG,C_14:0/C_16:0-SQDG,C_14:0/16:1-SQDG,C_14:0/C_16:3-SQDG和C_18:1/C_18:1-PG等脂类分子在8种海洋硅藻的每一类膜脂中均有分布;与高等植物膜脂的脂肪酰基分布不同的是,海洋硅藻的MGDG与DGDG的sn-2位上的脂肪酸全部为C₁₆酸,可推断是通过类似高等植物典型的原核途径合成,而C₁₆酸和C₁₈酸在SQDG和PG的sn-2位上均有分布,可推断SQDG和PG存在原核和真核两种合成途径。     

Carbon and oxygen isotope composition of foraminifera in two cores from the Bannock Basin area, eastern Mediterranean

Two cores from the Bannock Basin in the eastern Mediterranean have been analysed for δ¹⁸0 and the δ¹³C in planktonic foraminifera. One core (02-PC) was extracted from the anoxic brine, the other (08-GC) from a plateau east of the brine.

The absence of sapropelic muds in Core 08-GC from the two Holsteinian euxinic cycles, together with the presence of isotopic spikes, suggests that the plateau has risen during the last ca. 200,000 years by ca. 2.5 mm/yr.

The δ¹⁸0 amplitude of Globigerinoides ruber in eastern Mediterranean cores is only ca. 0.5%. larger than for this species in North Atlantic cores. This suggests that the surface oxygen isotopic composition of both bodies of water followed each other fairly closely during the Late Pleistocene, except during the stagnant phases.     

Early diagenesis of organic matter in Peru continental margin sediments: Phosphorite precipitation

Pore water chemistry (total dissolved CO₂, NH₄, NO₃, NO₂, PO₄, Si(OH)₄, Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn, SO₄, H₂S and F, and titration alkalinity), solid phase chemistry (C_org, P_org, C_TOT, N_TOT, F, Si_OPAL and S_II), and sediment characteristics (porosity, dry bulk density and formation factors) were determined on a centimeter-scale spacing in the upper 20–40 cm of sediments under intense upwelling areas on the Peru continental shelf. These data demonstrate that carbonate fluorapatite (CFA) is precipitating from pore waters in the upper few centimeters of a gelatinous mud with high organic carbon content (up to 20% C_org), very high porosity ( > 0.96 ml cm⁻³) and very low dry bulk density (< 0.1 g cm⁻³). Dissolved phosphate concentrations at the sediment-water interface range from 20 to 100 μM, orders of magnitude higher than bottom-water concentrations, and much higher than predicted from regeneration of organic matter. The mechanism of this interfacial phosphate release is unclear, but is apparently uncoupled from carbon and nitrogen metabolism and thus may be linked either to dissolution of fish debris or to the presence of a microbial mat in surficial sediments. Fluoride is incorporated into CFA by diffusion from the overlying seawater, and carbonate ions are provided from pore-water alkalinity. Magnesium concentrations in this reaction zone are not significantly different from those of seawater, suggesting that magnesium depletion is not a necessary prerequisite for CFA precipitation.

The environment of precipitation is interface-linked rather than driven by organic diagenesis of phosphorus deeper in the sediment. Most of the cores display a wide range of diagenetic characteristics below the immediate interfacial region, but almost all show the precipitation signature near the interface. This interface-linked early diagenetic porewater environment for the precipitation of CFA explains many of the geochemical characteristics of phosphorites and provides a “testable” model to compare the modern phosphogenic analog with ancient phosphorite deposits. Two of the cores display very high solid phase phosphorus and fluoride contents reflecting the presence of apparently modern pelletal apatites.     

Late Miocene stable isotope stratigraphy of SE Atlantic ODP Site 1085: Relation to Messinian events

High-resolution benthic oxygen isotope and XRF (Fe and Ca) records from Site 1085 drilled in the Mid-Cape basin (ODP Leg 175) are used to investigate global climate changes during the Late Miocene in relation to Messinian geological events. The cyclic fluctuations of the time series at Site 1085 enable us to establish a reliable chronology for the time interval 7.3–4.7 Ma. Spectral analysis of the δ¹⁸O record indicates that the 41-kyr period of orbital obliquity dominates the Late Miocene record. A global climate record was extracted from the oxygen isotopic composition of benthic foraminifera. Both long- and short-term variabilities in the climate record are discussed in terms of sea-level and deep-water temperature changes. The time interval 7.3–6.25 Ma characterized by low-amplitude δ¹⁸O variations is followed by a period marked by maximum in the δ¹⁸O values (6.25–5.57 Ma). At about 5.56 Ma, a rapid decrease in δ¹⁸O values is documented that may reflect a warming of deep-water temperature associated with a global warming period. Comparison between the timing of the oceanic isotope events and the chronology of the Mediterranean Salinity Crisis suggest that global eustatic processes were not essential in the Mediterranean Salinity Crisis history. From our data, we infer that the global warmth documented in the Early/mid-Pliocene probably started during the Late Miocene (at 5.55 Ma). At the same time, the onset of evaporite deposition in the central basin of the Mediterranean Sea took place. Sharp changes in the sedimentation rates, mainly driven by terrigenous input at this site, are observed during the Messinian Stage.     

Waves, currents, sediment flux and morphological response in a barred nearshore system

A shore-normal array of seven, bi-directional electromagnetic flowmeters and nine surface piercing, continuous resistance wave staffs were deployed across a multiple barred nearshore at Wendake Beach, Georgian Bay, Canada, and monitored for a complete storm cycle. Time-integrated estimates of total (ITVF) and net (INVF) sediment volume flux together with bed elevation changes were determined using depth-of-activity rods.

The three bars, ranging in height from 0.10 to 0.40 m accreted during the storm (0.03 m), and the troughs were scoured (0.05 m). Sediment reactivation depths reached 0.14 m and 12% of the nearshore control volume was mobilized. However, the INVF value for the storm was less than 1% of the control volume revealing a near balance in sediment volume in the bar system. Landward migration of the inner, crescentic and second, sinuous bars occurred in association with an alongshore migration of the bar form itself; the outermost, straight, shore-parallel bar remained fixed in location.

The surf zone was highly dissipative throughout the storm (ε = 3.8 × 10²–192 × 10²) and the wave spectrum was dominated by energy at the incident frequency. Spectral peaks at frequencies of the first harmonic and at one quarter that of the incident wave were associated with secondary wave generation just prior to breaking and a standing edge wave, respectively. The former spectral peak was within the 95% confidence band for the spectrum while the latter contributed not more than 10% to the total energy in the surface elevation spectrum even near the shoreline.

During the storm wave height exceeded 2 m (H_s) and periods reached 5 s (T_{p k}): orbital velocities exceeded 0.5 m s⁻¹ (u_{rm s}) and were above the threshold of motion for the medium-to-fine sands throughout the storm. Shore-parallel flows in excess of 0.4 m s⁻¹ were recorded with maxima in the troughs and minima just landward of the bar crest.

The rate and direction of sediment flux is best explained by the interaction of antecedent bed slopes with spatial gradients in the mean and asymmetry of the shore-normal velocity field. These hydrodynamic parameters represent “steady” flows superimposed on the dominantly oscillatory motion and assumed a characteristic spatial pattern from the storm peak through the decay period. Increases spatially in the magnitudes of both the mean flows and flow asymmetries cause an increasing net transport potential (erosion); decreases in these values spatially cause a decreasing net transport potential and thus deposition. These transport potentials are increased or decreased through the gravity potential induced by the local bed slope. Shore-parallel flow was important in explaining sediment flux and morphological change where orbital velocities, mean flows and flow asymmetries were at a minimum.     

CO2 exchange at air-sea interface in the Huanghai Sea

INTRODUCTIONTheroleoftheoceaniscrucialintheoverallcycleofCOZ,withitsspecialpumpingmechanismssuchassolubilitypumpingattheair-seainterfacewithcarbonatechemistry,biologicalpumpinginsurfacewatersandalsointhewatercolumn,anddynamicpumpingassociatedwithoceancirculation(BroeckerandPeng,1982).Inordertounderstandthesevariouspumpingprocessesintheocean,muchresearchhasbeencarriedoutonaglobalscaleasapartofeffortstounderstandtheglobalgeochemicalcycleofCOZ.TheHuanghaiSea,atypicalmid-latitudeepicontine…     

多接收电感耦合等离子体质谱仪测定沉积物中Cu和Zn同位素

本文介绍了海洋沉积物中Cu和Zn同位素的化学预处理及测定方法,报道了冲绳海槽20件表层沉积物和5件柱状沉积物样品的Cu和Zn同位素组成.采用大孔径阴离子交换树脂AGMP-1M,分别以8.2 mol/L HCl+0.01％HF+0.001％H2O2、2 mol/L HCl+0.001％H2O2和0.5 mol/L HNO...     

Geology of the Miami Terrace and its paleo-oceanographic implications

The Miami Terrace is a drowned early to middle Tertiary carbonate platform, the outer margin of which has been deeply incised by submarine erosion subsequent to deposition of the limestone terrace. This interpretation is based on the study of high-resolution seismic reflection profiles, rock dredge samples, observations from deep-diving submersibles, and correlation with drill-hole data. The karstic upper terrace (200–375 m) yields limestones and dolostones of early middle Miocene age that have shallow-shelf affinities. Truncated beds of an eastward-dipping deeper-water slope facies are exposed on the upper surface of the erosional lower terrace at 600–700 m. The upper and lower terraces are separated by a discontinuous ridge, probably a drowned Miocene, or post-Miocene bank margin complex. Both terraces and the ridge are capped by dense conglomeratic phosphorites and phosphatic limestones. Phosphorite nodules are more common on the lower terrace whereas the upper terrace yields large phosphorite slabs as well as shark's teeth and bones of marine mammals.

Petrographic study of dredged and submersible-sampled rocks shows that two or more episodes of phosphatization took place intermittent with erosion, grain rounding, reworking and redeposition. Early stages of phosphatization appear to be selective, replacing the more unstable carbonate minerals first, while later stages are nonselective. The origin of most of the phosphorites is the diagenetic replacement of calcium carbonate by francolite.

The karst surface of the upper terrace appears to have been produced by subaerial exposure in the middle to late Miocene as evidenced by shallow-water components in the rocks of the upper terrace plus considerations of local subsidence and eustatic sea-level curves. The erosional lower terrace, 200–300 m deeper than the upper terrace, would have been too deep to have been produced by subaerial or wave erosion. An erosional hiatus of middle Miocene age in JOIDES drill holes on the Blake Plateau indicates that bottom-current velocities in this area increased over this interval. The formation of the lower erosional terrace is related to increased flow of the Gulf Stream system (Florida Current) and bioerosion concurrent with the tectonic uplift and oceanographic closure of the western Caribbean in mid-Miocene time.

The bathymetry, petrology, structure and paleontology of the Miami Terrace, along with correlative data from adjacent areas, argue that a more active Gulf Stream system began as early as the middle Miocene (10.5–16 m.y.B.P.) rather than the early to middle Pliocene (3.5–4.0 m.y.B.P.) as previously suggested.     

Pliocene export production and terrigenous provenance of the Southern Cape Basin, southwest African margin

We have analyzed 33 Pliocene bulk sediment samples from Ocean Drilling Program Site 1085 in the Cape Basin, located offshore of western Africa in the Angola–Benguela Current system, for 17 major and trace elements, and interpreted their associations and temporal variations in the context of an allied data set of CaCO₃, opal, and C_org. We base our interpretations on elemental ratios, accumulation rates, inter-element correlations, and several multi-element statistical techniques. On the basis of qualitative assessment of downhole changes in the distributions of P and Ba, utilized as proxies of export production, we conclude that highs in bulk and biogenic accumulation that occur at 3.2 Ma, 3.0 Ma, 2.4 Ma, and 2.25 Ma were caused by increases in export production as well as terrigenous flux, and record a greater sequestering of organic matter during these time periods. Studies of refractory elements and other indicator proxies (SiO₂, Al₂O₃, TiO₂, Fe₂O₃, MgO, V, Cr, Sr, and Zr) strongly suggest that the terrigenous component of the bulk sediment is composed of two compositional end-members, one being ‘basaltic’ in composition and the other similar to an ‘average shale’. The basaltic end-member comprises approximately 10–15% of the total bulk sediment and its presence is consistent with the local geology of source material in the drainage basin of the nearby Orange River. The increase in bulk accumulation at 2.4 Ma appears to reflect a greater relative increase in basaltic input than the relative increase in shale-type input. Although studies such as this cannot precisely identify the transport mechanisms of the different terrigenous components, these results are most consistent with variations in sea level (and associated changes in shelf geometry and fluvial input) being responsible for the changing depositional conditions along the Angolan Margin during this time period.