Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-xbtfd Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-17T14:38:34.559Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Late Quaternary Sapropel Sediments in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea: Faunal Variations and Chronology

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

David R. Muerdter ,
James P. Kennett  and
Robert C. Thunell
David R. Muerdter
Affiliation:
Graduate School of Oceanography, University of Rhode Island, Narragansett, Rhode Island 02882-1197
James P. Kennett
Affiliation:
Graduate School of Oceanography, University of Rhode Island, Narragansett, Rhode Island 02882-1197
Robert C. Thunell
Affiliation:
Department of Geology, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina 29208
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Distinctive planktonic foraminiferal assemblages which characterize particular late Quaternary sapropel layers in deep basin sediments from the eastern Mediterranean Sea have been identified using cluster analysis. Three distinct clusters allow for identification and intercore correlation of the nine sapropels deposited during the last 250,000 yr. Cluster 1, representing sapropel layers S1 and S9, exhibits low abundances of Neogloboquadrina dutertrei and high abundances of Globigerinoides ruber; Cluster 2, which groups S3, S5, and S7, contains high abundances of G. ruber, N. dutertrei, and Globigerina bulloides, and Cluster 3, which includes samples from S4, S6, and S8, is marked by extremely abundant N. dutertrei and G. bulloides, and rare G. ruber. Analysis of sedimentation rates in 14 cores reveals the following approximate ages for the sapropel layers: S2 = 52,000 yr B.P.; S3 = 81,000–78,000 yr B.P.; S4 = 100,000–98,000 yr B.P.; and S5 = 125,000–116,000 yr B.P. As previously suggested, sedimentation rates on the Mediterranean Ridge were determined to be relatively constant during the last 127,000 yr. In contrast, basin sedimentation rates have fluctuated markedly from lower rates during interglacial stage 5 to higher rates during the last glacial episode. These glacial/interglacial differences are most pronounced in the northern Ionian Basin, because of increased terrigenous sediment deposition during glacial episodes. Unusually high biogenic sedimentation rates occurred in an arc south of Crete during the deposition of sapropel S5, probably due to higher productivity in this region.

Type
Research Article
Information
Quaternary Research , Volume 21 , Issue 3 , May 1984 , pp. 385 - 403
Copyright
University of Washington

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Alessio, M., Bella, F., Improta, S., Belluomini, G., Calderoni, G., Cortesi, C., Truri, B. (1971–1974). University of Rome, carbon-14 dates, IX–XII Radiocarbon 13–16 Google Scholar
Blanc-Vernet, L., Chamley, H. (1971). Sédimentation à attapulgite et Globigerinoides trilobus cf. dehiscens dans une carotte profonde de Méditerranée Deep-Sea Research 18, 631–637 Google Scholar
Blechschmidt, G., Cita, M.B., Mazzei, R., Salvatorini, G. (1982). Stratigraphy of the western Mediterranean and southern Calabrian ridges, eastern Mediterranean Marine Micropaleontology 7, 101–134 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bradley, W.H. (1938). Mediterranean sediments and Pleistocene sea levels Science 88, 376–379 Google Scholar
Broecker, W., Van Donk, J. (1970). Insolation changes, ice volumes and the 18O record in deep sea cores Reviews of Geophysics and Space Physics 8, 169–199 Google Scholar
Buckley, H.A., Johnson, L.C., Shackleton, N.J., Blow, R.A. (1982). Late glacial to Recent cores from the eastern Mediterranean Deep-Sea Research 29, 739–766 Google Scholar
Carter, T.G., Flanagan, J.P., Jones, C.R., Marchant, F.I., Murchison, R.R., Rebman, J.H., Sylvester, J.C., Whitney, J.C. (1972). A new bathymetric chart and physiography of the Mediterranean Sea Stanley, D.J. The Mediterranean Sea Dowden, Hutchinson & Ross Stroudsburg, Pa 1–14 Google Scholar
Chamley, H. (1971). Place des argiles marines parmi les divers indicateurs paléoclimatiques Colloques Internatinaux du Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique 129, 25–37 Google Scholar
Cita, M.B., Broglia, C., Malinverno, A., Spezzibottiani, G., Tomadin, L., Violanti, D. (1982). Late Quaternary pelagic sedimentation on the southern Calabrian Ridge and western Mediterranean Ridge, eastern Mediterranean Marine Micropaleontology 7, 135–162 Google Scholar
Cita, M.B., Podenzani, M. (1980). Destructive effects of oxygen starvation and ash falls on benthic life: A pilot study Quaternary Research 13, 230–241 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cita, M.B., Ryan, W.B.F. (1978). The deep-sea record of the eastern Mediterranean in the last 150,000 years Doumas, C. Thera and the Agean World I: Papers Int. Scholarly Book Services Forest Grove, Oreg 45–60 Google Scholar
Cita, M.B., Vergnaud-Grazzini, C., Robert, C., Chamley, H., Ciaranfi, N., d'Onofrio, S. (1977). Paleoclimatic record of a long deep sea core from the eastern Mediterranean Quaternary Research 8, 205–235 Google Scholar
Delitala, M.C., Federici, C., Taddeucci, A. (1972). U and Th isotopes in minerals from the Cetera-Serrara-Fontana Tuff (Ischia Island, Italy) Bulletin of Volcanology 38, 1015–1022 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
DiGirolamo, P., Keller, J. (1972). Zur Stellung des Graven Campanischen Tuffs innerhald des quartaren Vulkanismus Campaniens Naturf. Gesell. Freiburg, Berlin 61/62, 89–92 Google Scholar
Dominik, J., Mangini, A. (1979). Late Quaternary sedimentation rate variations on the Mediterranean Ridge, as results from the 230th excess method Sedimentology Geology 23, 95–112 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Emiliani, C. (1955). Pleistocene temperature variations in the Mediterranean Quaternaria 2, 87–93 Google Scholar
Fairbridge, R.W. (1972). Quaternary sedimentation in the Mediterranean region controlled by tectonics, paleoclimates and sea level Stanley, D.J. The Mediterranean Sea Dowden, Hutchinson & Ross Stroudsberg, Pa 99–114 Google Scholar
Farrand, W.R. (1977). Occurrence and age of Ischia Tephra in Franchthi Cave, Peloponnesos, Greece Abstracts with Programs, Geological Society of America 9, 971 Google Scholar
Hays, J.D., Imbrie, J., Shackleton, N.J. (1976). Variations in the earth's orbit: Pacemaker of the ice ages Science 194, 1121–1126 Google Scholar
Hieke, W. (1976). Problems of eastern Mediterranean late Quaternary stratigraphy—A critical evaluation of literature “Meteor” Forschung ergebnisse 24, 68–88 Google Scholar
Jenkins, J., Williams, D.F. (1981). Sapropel formation in the Nile Cone region of the Mediterranean Sea (abds.) Eos 62, 17 296 Google Scholar
Keller, J. (1971). The major volcanic events in Recent eastern Mediterranean volcanism and their bearing on the problem of Santorini ash-layers Acta, 1st International Scientific Congress on the Volcano Thera, Greece, 1969 Greek Archeological Service 152–167 Google Scholar
Keller, J., Ryan, W.B.F., Ninkovich, D., Althern, R. (1978). Explosive volcanic activity in the Mediterranean over the past 200,000 years as recorded in deep-sea sediments Geological Society of America, Bulletin 89, 591–604 Google Scholar
Kidd, B., Cita, M.B., Ryan, W.B.F. (1978). Stratigraphy of eastern Mediterranean sapropel sequences recovered during DSDP Leg 42A and their paleoenvironmental significance Hsu, K.J., Montadert, L. Initial Reports of the Deep Sea Drilling Project Vol. 42A, U.S. Govt. Printing Office Washington D.C 421–443 Google Scholar
Kominz, M., Heath, G.R., Ku, T.L., Pisias, N.G. (1979). Brunhes time scales and the interpretation of climatic change Earth and Planetary Science Letters 45, 394–410 Google Scholar
Kullenberg, B. (1951). On the salinity of the water contained in marine sediments Medd. Oceanogr. Inst. Goteborg 21, 1–38 Google Scholar
Loubere, P. (1981). Oceanographic parameters reflected in the seabed distribution of planktonic foraminifera from the North Atlantic and Mediterranean Sea Journal of Foraminiferal Research 11, 137–158 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Maldonado, A., Stanley, D.J. (1976). Late Quaternary sedimentation and stratigraphy in the Strait of Sicily Smithsonian Contributions to the Earth Sciences No. 10 Google Scholar
Mangini, A., Dominik, J. (1982). The problem of missing sapropels in SW Ionian Sea sediments (core TR171-20) Marine Geology 45, M1–M8 Google Scholar
McCoy, F.W. Jr. (1974). Late Quaternary Sedimentation in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea Doctoral dissertation Harvard University Cambridge, Mass Google Scholar
McCoy, F.W. Jr. (1980). The upper Thera (Minoan) ash in deep-sea sediments: Distribution and comparison with other ash layers Doumas, C. Thera and the Agean World II Int. Scholarly Book Services Forest Grove, Oreg 57–78 Google Scholar
Muerdter, D.R. (1982). The Late Quaternary Biostratigraphy and Paleoceanography of the Strait of Sicily, Mediterranean Sea Ph.D. dissertation University of Rhode Island Google Scholar
Muerdter, D.R. (1984). Low salinity surface water incursions into the Strait of Sicily during late Quaternary sapropel intervals Marine Geology Google Scholar
Muerdter, D.R., Kennett, J.P. (1984). Late Quaternary planktonic foraminiferal biostratigraphy, Strait of Sicily, Mediterranean Sea Marine Micropaleontology Google Scholar
Muller, C. (1973). Calcareous nannoplankton assemblages of Pleistocene-Recent sediments of the Mediterranean Sea Bulletin of the Geological Society of Greece 10, 133–144 Google Scholar
Mullineaux, L.S., Lohmann, G.P. (1981). Late Quaternary stagnations and recirculation of the eastern Mediterranean: Changes in the deep water recorded by fossil benthic foraminifera Journal of Foraminiferal Research 11, 20–39 Google Scholar
Nesteroff, W.D. (1973). Petrography and mineralogy of sapropels Ryan, W.B.F. Initial Reports of the Deep Sea Drilling Project Vol. 13, U.S. Govt. Printing Office Washington, D.C 713–720 (2)Google Scholar
Ninkovitch, D., Heezen, B.C. (1967). Physical and chemical properties of volcanic glass shards from Pozzuolana ash, Thera Island and from upper and lower ash layers in eastern Mediterranean deep sea sediments Nature (London) 213, 582–584 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Olausson, E. (1960). Descriptions of sediment from the Mediterranean and the Red Sea Reports of the Swedish Deep-Sea Expedition 8, 3 287 1947–1948Google Scholar
Olausson, E. (1961). Studies of deep sea cores Reports of the Swedish Deep-Sea Expedition 8, 4 353–391 1947–1948Google Scholar
Parker, F.L. (1958). Eastern Mediterranean foraminifera Reports of the Swedish Deep Sea Expedition 8, 217–283 1947–1948Google Scholar
Richardson, D., Ninkovich, D. (1976). Use of K2O, Rd, Zr and Y versus SiO2 in volcanic ash layers of the eastern Mediterranean to trace their source Geological Society of America, Bulletin 87, 110–116 Google Scholar
Robert, C. (1974). Contribution à l'étude de la sédimentation argileuse en Méditerranée orientale Thèse, 3ème cycle University of Aix-Marseille, II Google Scholar
Rossignol-Strick, M. (1983). African monssons, an immediate climate response to orbital insolation Nature (London) 304, 46–49 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rossignol-Strick, M., Nesteroff, W., Olive, P., Vergnaud-Grazzini, C. (1982). After the deluge: Mediterranean stagnation and sapropel formation Nature (London) 295, 105–110 Google Scholar
Ruddiman, W.F. (1971). Pleistocene sedimentation in the equatorial Atlantic: Stratigraphy and climatology Geological Society of America, Bulletin 82, 283–302 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ryan, W.B.F. (1972). Stratigraphy of the Late Quaternary sediments in the eastern Mediterranean Stanley, D.J. The Mediterranean Sea Dowden, Hutchinson & Ross Stroudsburg, Pa 149–169 Google Scholar
Schrader, H., Matherne, A. (1981). Sapropel formation in the eastern Mediterranean Sea: Evidence from preserved opal assemblages Micropaleontology 27, 191–203 Google Scholar
Sigl, W., Chamley, H., Fabricisu, F., d'Argoud, G., Muller, J. (1978). Sedimentology and environmental conditions of sapropels Hsu, K.J., Montadert, L. Initial Reports of the Deep Sea Drilling Project Vol. 42A, U.S. Govt. Printing Office Washington, D.C 445–465 Google Scholar
Sigl, W., Miller, J. (1975). Identification and correlation of stagnation layers in cores from the eastern Mediterranean Sea Rapp. Comm. Int. Mer. Mediterranean 23, 4a 277–279 Google Scholar
Stanley, D.J. (1978). Ionian Sea sapropel distribution and late Quaternary palaeoceanography in the eastern Mediterranean Nature (London) 274, 149–151 Google Scholar
Thunell, R.C. (1978)a. Distribution of Recent planktonic foraminifera in surface sediments of the Mediterranean Sea Marine Micropaleontology 3, 147–173 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Thunell, R.C. (1978)b. Late Cenozoic Biostratigraphy and Paleoceanography of the Mediterranean Sea Ph.D. thesis University of Rhode Island Kingston Google Scholar
Thunell, R.C., Federman, A., Sparks, S., Williams, D.F. (1979). The age, origin, and volcanological significance of the Y-5 ash layer in the Mediterranean Quaternary Research 12, 241–253 Google Scholar
Thunell, R.C., Lohmann, G.P. (1979). Planktonic foraminifera fauna associated with eastern Mediterranean Quaternary stagnations Nature (London) 281, 211–213 Google Scholar
Thunell, R.C., Williams, D.F. (1982). Paleoceanographic events associated with Termination II in the eastern Mediterranean Oceanologica Acta 5, 229–233 Google Scholar
Thunell, R.C., Williams, D.F., Cita, M.B. (1983). Glacial anoxia in the eatern Mediterranean Journal of Foraminiferal Research 13, 4 283–290 Google Scholar
Thunell, R.C., Williams, D.F., Kennett, J.P. (1977). Late Quaternary paleoclimatology, stratigraphy and sapropel history in eastern Mediterranean deep sea sediments Marine Micropaleontology 2, 371–388 Google Scholar
Vergnaud-Grazzini, C., Herman-Rosenberg, Y. (1969). Etude paléoclimatique d'une carotte en Méditerranée orientale Revue de Géographie Physique et de Géologie Dynamique 11, 3 279–292 Google Scholar
Vergnaud-Grazzini, D., Ryan, W.B.F., Cita, M.B. (1977). Stable isotopic fractionaton, climatic change and episodic stagnation in the eastern Mediterranean during the last Quaternary Marine Micropaleontology 2, 353–370 Google Scholar
von Straaten, L. (1972). Holocene stages of oxygen depletion in deep waters of the Adriatic Sea Stanley, D.J. The Mediterranean Sea Dowden, Hutchinson & Ross Stroudsburg, Pa 631–643 Google Scholar
Williams, D.F., Thunell, R.C. (1979). Faunal and oxygen isotopic evidence for surface water salinity changes during sapropel formation in the eastern Mediterranean Sedimentary Geology 23, 81–93 Google Scholar