Frenz, Michael; Baumann, Karl-Heinz; Boeckel, Babette; Höppner, René; Henrich, Rüdiger (2005): Coccoliths and carbonate grain-size compositions in sediment samples from the Mid-Atlantic Ridge [dataset publication series]. PANGAEA, https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.779778, Supplement to: Frenz, M et al. (2005): Quantification of foraminifer and coccolith carbonate in South Atlantic surface sediments by means of carbonate grain-size distributions. Journal of Sedimentary Research, 75(3), 446-475, https://doi.org/10.2110/jsr.2005.036
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Published: 2005 (exact date unknown) • DOI registered: 2012-05-21
Abstract:
This study presents a differentiated carbonate budget for marine surface sediments from the Mid-Atlantic Ridge of the South Atlantic, with results based on carbonate grain-size composition. Upon separation into sand, silt, and clay sub-fractions, the silt grain-size distribution was measured using a SediGraph 5100. We found regionally characteristic grain-size distributions with an overall minimum at 8 µm equivalent spherical diameter (ESD). SEM observations reveal that the coarse particles (>8 µm ESD) are attributed to planktic foraminifers and their fragments, and the fine particles (<8 µm ESD) to coccoliths. On the basis of this division, the regional variation of the contribution of foraminifers and coccoliths to the carbonate budget of the sediments are calculated. Foraminifer carbonate dominates the sediments in mesotropic regions whereas coccoliths contribute most carbonate in oligotrophic regions. The grain size of the coccolith share is constant over water depth, indicating a lower susceptibility for carbonate dissolution compared to foraminifers. Finally, the characteristic grain-size distribution in fine silt (<8 µm ESD) is set into context with the coccolith assemblage counted and biometrically measured using a SEM. The coccoliths present in the silt fraction are predominantly large species (length > 4 µm). Smaller species (length < 4 µm) belong to the clay fraction (<2 µm ESD). The average length of most frequent coccolith species is connected to prominent peaks in grain-size distributions (ESD) with a shape factor. The area below Gaussian distributions fitted to these peaks is suggested as a way to quantitatively estimate the carbonate contribution of single coccolith species more precisely compared to conventional volume estimates.
The quantitative division of carbonate into the fraction produced by coccoliths and that secreted by foraminifers enables a more precise estimate for source/sink relations of consumed and released CO2 in the carbon cycle. The allocation of coccolith length and grain size (ESD) suggests size windows for the separation or accumulation of distinct coccolith species in investigations that depend on non to slightly-mixed signals (e.g., isotopic studies).
Related to:
Frenz, Michael (2003): Grain-size composition of Quaternary South Atlantic sediments and its paleoceanographic significance. Berichte aus dem Fachbereich Geowissenschaften der Universität Bremen, 213, 123 pp, urn:nbn:de:gbv:46-ep000103333
Project(s):
Coverage:
Median Latitude: -19.215819 * Median Longitude: -13.890204 * South-bound Latitude: -44.516800 * West-bound Longitude: -24.248300 * North-bound Latitude: 1.790000 * East-bound Longitude: 0.875000
Date/Time Start: 1988-03-10T00:00:00 * Date/Time End: 2000-03-04T02:21:00
Event(s):
GeoB1039-1 * Latitude: -6.206667 * Longitude: 0.875000 * Date/Time: 1988-03-10T00:00:00 * Elevation: -4135.0 m * Location: Walvis Ridge * Campaign: M6/6 * Basis: Meteor (1986) * Method/Device: Giant box corer (GKG) * Comment: Karb.schlamm, Forams.
GeoB1040-3 * Latitude: -5.545000 * Longitude: -1.773333 * Date/Time: 1988-03-10T00:00:00 * Elevation: -4860.0 m * Penetration: 0.5 m * Location: Walvis Ridge * Campaign: M6/6 * Basis: Meteor (1986) * Method/Device: Giant box corer (GKG) * Comment: Karb.-schl., benth. Forams
GeoB1041-1 * Latitude: -3.480000 * Longitude: -7.591667 * Date/Time: 1988-03-12T00:00:00 * Elevation: -4035.0 m * Penetration: 0.42 m * Location: Walvis Ridge * Campaign: M6/6 * Basis: Meteor (1986) * Method/Device: Giant box corer (GKG) * Comment: Karb.-schl., Forams
License:
Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported (CC-BY-3.0)
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7 datasets
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Datasets listed in this publication series
- Frenz, M; Baumann, K-H; Boeckel, B et al. (2005): Coccolith biometry in 2-63 µm fraction of sediment core GeoB1415-1. https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.95411
- Frenz, M; Baumann, K-H; Boeckel, B et al. (2005): Coccolith biometry in clay fraction of sediment core GeoB1903-1. https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.95412
- Frenz, M; Baumann, K-H; Boeckel, B et al. (2005): Coccolith biometry in 2-63 µm fraction of sediment core GeoB1903-1. https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.95413
- Frenz, M; Baumann, K-H; Boeckel, B et al. (2005): Coccolith biometry in 2-63 µm fraction of sediment core GeoB6418-3. https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.95414
- Frenz, M; Baumann, K-H; Boeckel, B et al. (2005): Bulk sedimentological parameters of surface sediment samples from the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.95352
- Frenz, M; Baumann, K-H; Boeckel, B et al. (2005): Relative abundance of coccolith species in surface sediment samples from the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.95579
- Frenz, M; Baumann, K-H; Boeckel, B et al. (2005): Carbonate silt grain-size distribution of surface sediment samples from the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.95378