Geology Reference
In-Depth Information
existence of pelagic records (Berner, 1987; Kump &
Arthur, 1999). It is well documented that global
changes in the
proportion of periplatform and pelagic material
(Swart & Eberli, 2005; Reuning
et al.,
2006). In
this paper the origin of the
13
C of platform carbonates can
be correlated between various strata during cer-
tain periods of the geological record (Föllmi
et al.,
1994; Vahrenkamp, 1996; Valladares
et al.,
1996;
Weissert
et al.,
1998; Kump & Arthur, 1999; Veizer
et al.,
1999; Immenhauser
et al.,
2002; Saltzman,
2002a,b; Saltzman
et al.,
2004; Saltzman & Young,
2005) as well as related to the pelagic record of
18
O and
mineralogy of ~290 samples collected from Great
Bahama Bank on a regular grid spacing of ~10 km
between 2001 and 2004 are reported.
13
C and
SAMPLES
13
C change (Gale, 1993; Weissert
et al.,
1998).
Such variations are normally interpreted as
refl ecting changes in the partitioning of the global
carbon cycle, with elevated values indicating the
increased burial of organic carbon (Berner
et al.,
1983; Kump & Arthur, 1999). However, it is well
established that changes in
Samples were collected using a Shipek
sampler during four cruises aboard the RV
Bellows
between 2001 and 2004 (Fig. 1). The Shipek
sampler differs from the Van-Veen sampler used
during earlier studies (Purdy, 1963a,b) in that it
is better at retaining the mud material. In total
291 bulk samples were analysed. Of these approx-
imately 120 were separated into size fractions
(>1000, 500-1000, 250-500, 125-250, 125-63 and
13
C can also refl ect
diagenesis (Allan & Matthews, 1982; Immenhauser
et al.,
2003) as well as variations in the relative
Fig. 1.
Location map of the Bahamas and
position of sample collection points (black
diamonds).
