Characterization of sediments from the base and top of the West Florida Escarpment
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Geology topics
Publications and source records attributed to L. J. Poppe.
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Submarine erosion, associated with changes in position of the proto-Gulf Stream, was the dominant mechanism controlling the formation of the Cretaceous-Tertiary unconformity in AMCOR borehole 6004. Paleontologic evidence indicates that this unconformity, which is marked by a gravelly-sand enriched in glauconitic and phosphoritic concretions, represents a hiatus of about 7 m.y. Both Cretaceous and Paleocene sediments contain middle-outer neritic foraminiferal assemblages that become more diverse with distance from the contact. Of the elemental abundances measured, Al, Ba, Co, Fe, Ga, K, Mg/Ca, Mo, Ni, P, Sr/Ca, V, Y, and Zn show a strong positive correlation with proximity to the contact, probably as a result of the concentration of authigenic and heavy minerals present as lag sediments on the erosion surface.
Ferromanganese coatings have been found on glacial erratics in Lydonia Canyon, off the United States northeastern coast. The coatings, which are about 17 ??m thick, consist of an outer manganese-rich layer which covers the top of the erratic, a middle transitional layer, and an internal iron-rich layer that encircles the entire surface of the erratic. Chemical analyses of the coatings, when compared with similar data on abyssal marine ferromanganese deposits, reveal comparable Mn/Fe ratios, higher P and Ti concentrations, and an order of magnitude less of Co, Ni, Cu, and most other metals. A comparison of the Lydonia Canyon coatings with desert varnishes reveals obvious chemical, mineralogical, and morphological differences.
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Geologic and geophysical data from Laguna de Ayarza, a figure-8-shaped doublecaldera lake in the Guatemalan highlands, show no evidence of postcaldera eruptive tectonic activity. The bathymetry of the lake has evolved as a result of sedimentary infilling. The western caldera is steep-sided and contains a large flat-floored central basin 240 m deep. The smaller, older, eastern caldera is mostly filled by coalescing delta fans and is connected with the larger caldera by means of a deep channel. Seismicreflection data indicate that at least 170 m of flat-lying unfaulted sediments partly fill the central basin and that the strata of the pre-eruption edifice have collapsed partly along inward-dipping ring faults and partly by more chaotic collapses. These sediments have accumulated in the last 23,000 years at a minimum average sedimentation rate of 7 m/103 yr. The upper 9 m of these sediments is composed of > 50% turbidites, interbedded with laminated clayey silts containing separate diatom and ash layers. The bottom sediments have >1% organic material, an average of 4% pyrite, and abundant biogenic gas, all of which demonstrate that the bottom sediments are anoxic. Although thin (<0.5 cm) ash horizons are common, only one thick (7-16 cm) primary ash horizon could be identified in piston cores. Alterations in the mineralogy and variations in the diatom assemblage suggest magnesium-rich hydrothermal activity. ?? 1985.
Ferromanganese micronodules have been found on Georges Bank, off the U.S. northeast coast, distributed throughout the surficial sediments within an area about 125 km long and at least 12 km wide. These coarse, sand-sized concretions have precipitated from metal-rich interstitial waters and contain many of the textural and structural features common to other neritic nodules. Most of the nodules have accreted around detrital grains, and X-ray powder diffraction analyses indicate the presence of geothite and vernadite ( -MnO 2 ) in the ferromanganese layers. Chemical analyses of the micronodules, when compared with similar data on deep-sea manganese nodules, reveal lower Mn/Fe ratios, significantly higher concentrations of V and As, comparable values of Mo, and an order of magnitude less of Co, Ni, Ce and most other metals.
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Investigation of lithogenic particles collected by sediment traps in open-ocean stations revealed that the sediment flux increased linearly with depth in the water column. This rate of increase decreased with distance of the station from the continent; it was largest at the Panama Basin station and almost negligible at the E. Hawaii Abyssal Plain station. At the Panama Basin station, smectite flux increased with depth. We suggest that smectite resuspended from bottom sediments of the continental slope west of the sediment-trap station is advected by easterly deep currents, and the suspended particles are then possibly entrapped by large settling particles. On the other hand, the flux of hemipelagic clay particles, kaolinite and chlorite, was nearly constant at all depths; this can be explained by incorporation of these particles in fecal pellets which then settle from the surface water. At the Demerara Abyssal Basin Station, flux of illite and chlorite particles increased with depth and the flux of smectite was constant. A sudden increase of the flux of illite and chlorite was observed near the bottom traps at the So??hm Abyssal Plain station. The flux of quartz and feldspar was 10 to 15% of the clay flux.
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