Contribution of mineralogical and geochemical data to the study of northeast atlantic deep quaternary sediments: trace-elements as bottom-current indicators

Geochemical and mineralogical study of sixty cores from the northeast Atlantic Ocean used various analyses by X-ray diffraction and fluorescence spectrometry. Thus, we know the clay mineral, carbonate, quartz, feldspar, and trace-element content of the Quaternary sediments from the last interglacial period. These data have been treated in two ways: (1) analysis of the geographical distribution of the components calculated on a carbonate free basis; and (2) statistical analysis establishing the correlation coefficient that exists between the lithological supports and chemical elements.Thus, genetic groups are defined and are correlated to their original sources. For example, smectite-FeTi group is associated with Iceland; feldspar-NiCu with the Faeroe Islands; Illite-Chlorite-RbPb to acidic continental provinces; and SrCaCO₃ to plankton (pàrtially).The lithological supports (smectite, feldspar, carbonate, etc.) are scattered by currents, since chemical elements are associated with them, having a high degree of correlation, it should be possible to utilize these elements as paleohydrologic tracers.