Wei Gangjian et al. (2009): Mn/Ca ratio in planktonic foraminifer from ODP Site 1144, the northern South China Sea; a possible paleoclimate indicator

Leg/Site/Hole:
ODP 184
ODP 184 1144
Identifier:
2010-047734
georefid

Creator:
Wei Gangjian
Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Guangzhou, China
author

Zou Liang
Second Institute of Oceanography, China
author

Deng Wenfeng
author

Li Xianhua
author

Liu Ying
author

Chen Jianfang
author

Identification:
Mn/Ca ratio in planktonic foraminifer from ODP Site 1144, the northern South China Sea; a possible paleoclimate indicator
2009
Geochemical Journal
Geochemical Society of Japan, Nagoya, Japan
43
4
235-246
We report here high-resolution Mn/Ca ratios of planktonic foraminifer, Globigerinoides sacculifer from ODP Site 1144 in the northern South China Sea (SCS). The variation pattern of the Mn/Ca ratios of G. sacculifer from the top 170 mcd is very similar to those of the generally used paleoclimate records, such as delta (super 18) O of Globigerinoides ruber and SSTs derived from Mg/Ca ratios of G. sacculifer. Robust Milankovitch periodicities are presented in the power spectrum of the Mn/Ca record, as well as in those of the other paleoclimate records, suggesting orbital forcing for the variation of the Mn/Ca ratios. Further spectral analysis indicates that the variations of the Mn/Ca ratios lead those of the delta (super 18) O of G. ruber at all the orbital periodicities, and are roughly in pace with or slightly lead those of the SSTs at eccentricity and obliquity periodicities, but lag behind that of the SSTs at precession periodicity. This suggests that the driven forcing for the variation of the Mn/Ca ratios mainly associate with those for the SSTs. Comparisons between the Mn/Ca ratios and other geochemical proxies for redox condition in sediments show that higher Mn/Ca ratios of G. sacculifer generally correspond to higher authigenic Mn concentrations and lower contents of total sulfur (TS) and total organic carbon (TOC) Thus, the Mn coatings in the G. sacculifer at ODP Site 1144 are mainly associated with Mn oxides, and the variation of the Mn/Ca ratios of G. sacculifer appears to indicate changes of redox condition in sediments. Exception is observed at the top 10 mcd, in which the Mn/Ca ratios show an upward decreasing trend and low core-top values, while other proxies suggest oxic environment in this section. The low Mn/Ca ratios agree with the general low Mn/Ca ratios in foraminifer tests from core-top sediments in the SCS, and seem to attribute to the fact that authigenic Mn precipitation are mainly generated within sediment column rather than at sediment surface and the oxidation states for them may change from Mn(III) oxyhydroxides to Mn(IV) oxides after burial. However, details are not well known yet. Despite of such uncertainties, the response of the variation of the Mn/Ca ratios of G. sacculifer to paleoclimate changes is significant, indicating that it is an informative paleoclimate indicator.
English
Serial
Coverage:Geographic coordinates:
North:20.0311
West:117.2508East: 117.2508
South:20.0311

General geochemistry; Oceanography; authigenesis; chemical ratios; climate forcing; eccentricity; Eh; Foraminifera; Globigerinacea; Globigerinidae; Globigerinoides; Globigerinoides sacculifer; indicators; Invertebrata; Leg 184; manganese; metals; microfossils; Milankovitch theory; Mn/Ca; North Pacific; Northwest Pacific; obliquity of the ecliptic; Ocean Drilling Program; ODP Site 1144; orbital forcing; oxidation; Pacific Ocean; paleoclimatology; periodicity; planktonic taxa; precession; Protista; Rotaliina; sea-surface temperature; South China Sea; West Pacific;

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