_version_ 1867170452880752640
author Hartmann, Martin
Müller, Peter J
Suess, Erwin
van der Weijden, Cornelis H
author_facet Hartmann, Martin
Müller, Peter J
Suess, Erwin
van der Weijden, Cornelis H
collection Datos científicos de ciencias marinas y ambientales
contents In the sediments of the NW African continental margin the mainly biogenic carbonate constituents become increasingly diluted with terrigenous material as one approaches the coast, as indicated by the carbonate-CO2 content, the Al2O3/SiO2-ratios, and the presence of ammonia fixed to alumino-silicates, predominantly to illites. In the norther area of the investigation – off Cape Blanc and Cape Bojador . the terrigenous constituents are mainly quartz from the Sahara Desert, whereas in the south – off Senegal – more alumino-silicates as clay minerals are admixed with the carbonate constituents. The organic carbon content of the continental slope sediments off Senegal is higher than in samples of the continental rise or of the preservation of organic matter as a result of high production and relatively rapid sedimentation. The zone of manganese-oxide enrichment follows the redox potential of + 330 mV from the surface (0-5 cm) into the sediments (20-30 cm deep) at 2000--3000 m and 3700 m of water depths, respectively. At shallower water depths, low redox potentials preclude deposition of manganese oxides and cause their mobilization from the sediments. About 1/3 of the total sedimentary Zn and 1/4 of the Cu is associated with the carbonate mineral fraction, probably in calcium phosphate overgrowths as a result of the mineralization of phosphorus-containing organic matter. Besides the precipitation of calcium phosphate, the mineralization of organic matter mediated by bacterial sulfate reduction also results in calcium carbonate precipitation and the exchange of ammonia for potassium on illites. Because of these simultaneous reactions, the depth distribution of all mineralization constituents in the interstitial water can be determined using the actual molar carbon-to-nitrogen-to phosphorus ratios of the sedimentary organic matter. The amount of sulfide sulfur in this process indicates the predominance of bacterial sulfate reduction in the sediments off NW Africa. This process also preferentially decomposes nitrogen- and phosphorus-containing organic compounds so organic matter deficient in these elements is characteristic for the rapidly accumulating sediments than today, indicating there was increased production of organic carbon compounds and more favorable conditions of their preservations. During the last interglacial times conditions were similar to those to today. This differentiation with time has also been observed in sediments from the Argentine Basin and from slope off South India indicating perhaps world-wide environmental changes throughout Late Quaternary times.
format Dataset Open Access
id pangaea_https___doi_org_10_1594_PANGAEA_548430
institution PANGAEA
language en
publishDate 1976
publisher PANGAEA
record_format pangaea
spellingShingle Chemistry of Late Quaternary sediments and their interstitial waters of sediment cores from the Nort-West African continental margin
Hartmann, Martin
Müller, Peter J
Suess, Erwin
van der Weijden, Cornelis H
Atlantic Ocean; BCR; Box corer (Reineck); East Atlantic; GIK/IfG; GIK12308-3; GIK12309-2; GIK12310-3; GIK12310-4; GIK12327-4; GIK12327-5; GIK12328-4; GIK12328-5; GIK12329-4; GIK12329-5; GIK12329-6; GIK12331-1; GIK12331-2; GIK12336-1; GIK12337-4; GIK12337-5; GIK12338-2; GIK12343-2; GIK12344-3; GIK12344-6; GIK12345-4; GIK12347-1; GIK12347-2; GIK12379-1; GIK12392-1; Glacial Atlantic Ocean Mapping; GLAMAP2000; Institute for Geosciences, Christian Albrechts University, Kiel; KAL; Kasten corer; M12392-1; M25; Meteor (1964); SPC; Sphincter corer
In the sediments of the NW African continental margin the mainly biogenic carbonate constituents become increasingly diluted with terrigenous material as one approaches the coast, as indicated by the carbonate-CO2 content, the Al2O3/SiO2-ratios, and the presence of ammonia fixed to alumino-silicates, predominantly to illites. In the norther area of the investigation – off Cape Blanc and Cape Bojador . the terrigenous constituents are mainly quartz from the Sahara Desert, whereas in the south – off Senegal – more alumino-silicates as clay minerals are admixed with the carbonate constituents. The organic carbon content of the continental slope sediments off Senegal is higher than in samples of the continental rise or of the preservation of organic matter as a result of high production and relatively rapid sedimentation. The zone of manganese-oxide enrichment follows the redox potential of + 330 mV from the surface (0-5 cm) into the sediments (20-30 cm deep) at 2000--3000 m and 3700 m of water depths, respectively. At shallower water depths, low redox potentials preclude deposition of manganese oxides and cause their mobilization from the sediments. About 1/3 of the total sedimentary Zn and 1/4 of the Cu is associated with the carbonate mineral fraction, probably in calcium phosphate overgrowths as a result of the mineralization of phosphorus-containing organic matter. Besides the precipitation of calcium phosphate, the mineralization of organic matter mediated by bacterial sulfate reduction also results in calcium carbonate precipitation and the exchange of ammonia for potassium on illites. Because of these simultaneous reactions, the depth distribution of all mineralization constituents in the interstitial water can be determined using the actual molar carbon-to-nitrogen-to phosphorus ratios of the sedimentary organic matter. The amount of sulfide sulfur in this process indicates the predominance of bacterial sulfate reduction in the sediments off NW Africa. This process also preferentially decomposes nitrogen- and phosphorus-containing organic compounds so organic matter deficient in these elements is characteristic for the rapidly accumulating sediments than today, indicating there was increased production of organic carbon compounds and more favorable conditions of their preservations. During the last interglacial times conditions were similar to those to today. This differentiation with time has also been observed in sediments from the Argentine Basin and from slope off South India indicating perhaps world-wide environmental changes throughout Late Quaternary times.
title Chemistry of Late Quaternary sediments and their interstitial waters of sediment cores from the Nort-West African continental margin
topic Atlantic Ocean; BCR; Box corer (Reineck); East Atlantic; GIK/IfG; GIK12308-3; GIK12309-2; GIK12310-3; GIK12310-4; GIK12327-4; GIK12327-5; GIK12328-4; GIK12328-5; GIK12329-4; GIK12329-5; GIK12329-6; GIK12331-1; GIK12331-2; GIK12336-1; GIK12337-4; GIK12337-5; GIK12338-2; GIK12343-2; GIK12344-3; GIK12344-6; GIK12345-4; GIK12347-1; GIK12347-2; GIK12379-1; GIK12392-1; Glacial Atlantic Ocean Mapping; GLAMAP2000; Institute for Geosciences, Christian Albrechts University, Kiel; KAL; Kasten corer; M12392-1; M25; Meteor (1964); SPC; Sphincter corer
url https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.548430