Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Surface Sediment Bulk Geochemistry and Grain-Size Composition Related to the Oceanic Circulation along the South American Continental Margin in the Southwest Atlantic

  • Chapter
The South Atlantic in the Late Quaternary

Abstract

Surface sediments from the South American continental margin surrounding the Argentine Basin were studied with respect to bulk geochemistry (CaCO3 and Corg) and grain-size composition (sand/silt/clay relation and terrigenous silt grain-size distribution). The grain-size distributions of the terrigenous silt fraction were unmixed into three end members (EMs), using an end-member modelling algorithm. Three unimodal EMs appear to satisfactorily explain the variations in the data set of the grain-size distributions of terrigenous silt. The EMs are related to sediment supply by rivers, downslope transport, winnowing, dispersal and re-deposition by currents. The bulk geochemical composition was used to trace the distribution of prominent water masses within the vertical profile. The sediments of the eastern South American continental margin are generally divided into a coarse-grained and carbonate-depleted southwestern part, and a finer-grained and carbonate-rich north eastern part. The transition of both environments is located at the position of the Brazil Malvinas Confluence (BMC). The sediments below the confluence mixing zone of the Malvinas and Brazil Currents and its extensions are characterised by high concentrations of organic carbon, low carbonate contents and high proportions of the intermediate grain-size end member. Tracing these properties, the BMC emerges as a distinct north-south striking feature centered at 52–54°W crossing the continental margin diagonally. Adjacent to this prominent feature in the southwest, the direct detrital sediment discharge of the Rio de la Plata is clearly recognised by a downslope tongue of sand and high proportions of the coarsest EM. A similar coarse grain-size composition extends further south along the continental slope. However, it displays better sorting due to intense winnowing by the vigorous Malvinas Current. Fine-grained sedimentary deposition zones are located at the southwestern deeper part of the Rio Grande Rise and the southern abyssal Brazil Basin, both within the AABW domain. Less conspicuous winnowing/accumulation patterns are indicated north of the La Plata within the NADW level according to the continental margin topography. We demonstrate that combined bulk geochemical and grain-size properties of surface sediments, unmixed with an end-member algorithm, provide a powerful tool to reconstruct the complex interplay of sedimentology and oceanography along a time slice.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Arhan M, Heywood KJ, King BA (1999) The deep waters from the Southern Ocean at the entry to the Argentine Basin. Deep-Sea Res 46: 475–499

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Benthien A, Müller PJ (2000) Anomalously low alkenone temperatures caused by lateral particle and sediment transport in the Malvinas Current region, western Argentine Basin. Deep-Sea Res 47: 2369–2393

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bianchi GG, McCave IN (1999) Holocene periodicity in North Atlantic climate and deep-ocean flow south of Iceland. Nature 397: 515–517

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bianchi GG, McCave IN (2000) Hydrography and sedimentation under the deep western boundary current on Björn and Gardar Drifts, Iceland Basin. Mar Geol 165: 137–169

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bianchi GG, Vautravers M, Shackleton NJ (2001) Deep flow variability under apparently stable North Atlantic Deep Water production during the last interglacial of the subtropical NW Atlantic. Paleoceanography 16: 306–316

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bleil U, cruise participants (2001) Report and preliminary results of Meteor-cruise M46/3. Ber Fachber Geowiss Univ Bremen 172, 161 p

    Google Scholar 

  • Boebel O, Schmid C, Zenk W (1997) Flow and recirculation ofAntarctic Intermediate Water across the Rio Grande Rise. J Geophys Res 102 (C9): 20967–20986

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Boebel O, Schmid C, Zenk W (1999) Kinematic elements of Antarctic Intermediate Water in the western South Atlantic. Deep-Sea Res 46: 355–392

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Broecker WS, Peng TH (1982) Tracers in the Sea. Lamont Doherty Geol Obs Publ. Columbia University, New York, 690 p

    Google Scholar 

  • Chamley H (1990) Sedimentology. Springer, Berlin, 628 p

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Depetris PJ, Paolini JE (1991) Beiogeochemical aspects of South American rivers: The Parana and the Orinoco. In: Degens ET, Kempe S, Richey JE (eds) Biogeochemistry of major world rivers. J Wiley & Sons, Chichester, pp 323–348

    Google Scholar 

  • Dittert N, Baumann KH, Bickert T, Henrich R, Huber R, Kinkel H, Meggers H (1999) Carbonate dissolution in the deep-sea: Methods, quantification and paleoceanographic application. In: Fischer G, Wefer G (eds) Use of Proxies in Paleoceanography: Examples from the South Atlantic. Springer, Berlin, pp 255–284

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Flood RD, Shor AN (1988) Mud waves in the Argentine Basin and their relationship to regional bottom circulation patterns. Deep-Sea Res 35: 943–971

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • GEBCO (1984) General bathymetric chart of the Oceans. Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Ottawa, Canada

    Google Scholar 

  • Gerhardt S, Henrich R (2001) Shell preservation of Limacina injlata (pteropoda) in surface sediments from the Central and South Atlantic Ocean: A new proxy to determine the aragonite saturation state of water masses. Deep-Sea Res 48: 2051–2071

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gröger M, Henrich H (2003) Deep-water circulation during the Pleistocene (0.8–0.25 Ma): Inferences from near-bottom-current flow variability and deepwater chemistry in the western equatorial atlantic. Mar Geol, submitted

    Google Scholar 

  • Gordon AL (1986) Interocean exchange to thermocline water. J Geophys Res 91(C4): 5037–5046

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gordon AL, Greengrove C (1986) Geostrophic circulation of the Brazil-Falkland Confluence. Deep-Sea Res 36: 359–384

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Haese RR, Schramm J, Rutgers van der Loeff MM, Schulz HD (2000) A comparative study of iron and manganese diagenesis in continental slope and deep-sea basin sediments offUruguay (SW Atlantic). Int J Earth Sci 88: 619–629

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hensen C, Zabel M, Schulz H (2000) A comparison of benthic nutrient fluxes from deep-sea sediments off Namibia and Argentina. Deep-Sea Res 47: 2029–2050

    Google Scholar 

  • Höppner R Henrich R (1997) Kornsortierungsprozesse am Argentinschen Kontinentalhang anhand von Siltkorn-Analysen. Zentralblatt Geol Pal I 7–9: 897–905

    Google Scholar 

  • Hogg N, Siedler G, Zenk W (1999) Circulation and variability at the southern boundary of the Brazil Basin. J Phys Oceanogr 29: 145–157

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Krumbein WC (1936) Application of logarithmic moments to size frequency distributions of sediments. J Sed Petrol 6: 35–47

    Google Scholar 

  • Larqué L, Maamaatuaiahutapu K, Garçon V (1997) On the intermediate and deep water flows in the South Atlantic Ocean. J Geophys Res 102 (C6): 12425–12440

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ledbetter MT (1984) Bottom-current speed in the Vema Channel recorded by particle size of sediment fine-fraction. Mar Geo 158: 137–149

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ledbetter MT (1986) Bottom-current pathways in the Argentine Basin revealed by mean particle size. Nature 321: 423–425

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ledbetter MT, Ellwood BB (1980) Spatial and temporal changes in bottom water velocity and direction from analysis of particle size and alignment in deep-sea sediment. Mar Geol 38: 245–261

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Maamaatuaiahutapu K, Garcon VC, Provost C, Boulahdid M, Osiroff AP (1992) Brazil-Malvinas Confluence: Water mass composition. J Geophys Res 97(C6): 9493–9505

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Maamaatuaiahutapu K, Garçon VC, Provost C, Mercier H (1998) Transports of the Brazil and Malvinas Currents at their confluence. J Mar Res 56: 417–438

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McCave IN, Manighetti B, Beveridge NAS (1995) Circulation in the glacial North Atlantic inferred from grain-size measurements. Nature 374: 149–152

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mello GA, Flood RD, Orsi TH, Lowrie A (1992) Southern Brazil Basin: Sedimentary processes and features and implications for continental-rise evolution. In: Poag CW, de Graciansky PC (eds) Geologic Evolution of Atlantic Continental Rises. Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York, pp 189–213

    Google Scholar 

  • Mémery L, Arhan M, Alvarez-Salgado XA, Messias MJ, Mercier H, Castro CG, Rios AF (2000) The water masses along the western boundary of the south and equatorial Atlantic. Prog Oceanogr 47: 69–98

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Michaelovitch de Mahiques M, Almeidada Silveira IC, de Melloe Sousa SH, Rodrigues M (2002) Post-LGM sedimentation on the outer shelf-upper slope of the northernmost part of the São Paulo Bight, southeastern Brazil. Mar Geol 181: 387–400

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Michels KH (2000) Inferring maximum current velocities in the Norwegian-Greenland Sea from settling velocity measurements of sediment surface samples: methods, application, and results. J Sed Res 70: 1036–1050

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Milliman JD, Meade RH (1983) World-delivery of river sediment to the oceans. J Geol 91: 1 21

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mollenhauer G, Jennerjahn T, Müller PJ, Schneider RR, Wefer G (2003) Spatial distribution and accumulation of organic carbon in the South Atlantic Ocean: Its modem and glacial contribution to the carbon cycle. Glob Planet Change, submitted

    Google Scholar 

  • Olson DB, Podestá GP, Evans RH, Brown OB (1988) Temporal variations in the separation of Brazil and Malvinas Currents. Deep-Sea Res 35: 1971–1990

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Peterson RG (1992) The boundary currents in the western Argentine Basin. Deep-Sea Res 39: 623–644

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Peterson RG, Whitworth III T (1989) The subantarctic and polar fronts in relation to deep water masses through the southwestern Atlantic. J Geophys Res 94: 10817–10838

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Piola AR, Campos EJD, Möller OO Jr, Charo M, Martinez C (2000) Subtropical shelffront off eastern South America. J Geophys Res 105(C3): 6565–6578

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Piola AR, Matano RP (2001) Brazil and Falklands (Malvinas) Currents. In: Steele JH, Thorpe SA, Turekian KK (eds) Encyclopedia of Ocean Sciences. Academic Press, San Diego, pp 340–349

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Prins MA, Bouwer LM, Beets CJ, Troelstra SR, Weltje GJ, Kruk RW, Kuijpers A, Vroon PZ (2002) Ocean circulation and iceberg discharge in the glacial North Atlantic: Inferences from unmixing of sediment size distribution. Geology 30: 555–558

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Prins MA, Postma G, Weltje GJ (2000) Controls on terrigenous sediment supply to the Arabian Sea during the late Quaternary: The Makran continental slope. Mar Geol 169: 351–371

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Prins MA, Troelstra SR, Kruk RW, Borgvan der K, Jong de AJ, Weltje GJ (2001) The Late Quaternary sediment record from Reykjanes Ridge, North Atlantic. Radiocarbon 43: 939–947

    Google Scholar 

  • Prins M, Weltje G (1999): End-member modelling of siliciclastic grain-size distributions: The late Quaternary record of eolian and fluvial sediment supply to the Arabian Sea and its paleoclimatic significance. SEPM Spec Publ 62: 91–111

    Google Scholar 

  • Romero O, Hensen C (2002) Oceanographic control of biogenic opal and diatoms in surface sediments of the Southwestern Atlantic. Mar Geo 1186: 263–280

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Segl M, cruise participants (1994) Report and preliminary results of Meteor-cruise M29/1. Ber Fachber Geowiss Univ Bremen 58, 94 p

    Google Scholar 

  • Stramma L, England M (1999) On the water masses and mean circulation of the South Atlantic Ocean. J Geophys Res 104(C9): 20863–20883

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stommel H (1958) The abyssal circulation. Deep-Sea Res 5: 80–82

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stuut JB, Prins MA, Schneider RR, Weltje GJ, Jansen JHF, Postma G. (2002) A 300 kyr record of aridity and wind strength in southwestern Africa: Inferences from grain-size distributions of sediments on Walvis Ridge, SE Atlantic. Mar Geol 180: 221–233

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thunell RC (1982) Carbonate dissolution and abyssal hydrography in the Atlantic Ocean. Mar Geol 47: 165–180

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Van Dam JA, Weltje GJ (1999) Reconstruction of the Late Miocene climate of Spain using rodent palaeocom-munity successions: an application of end-member modelling. Palaeogeogr Palaeoclimat Palaeoecol 151: 267–305

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vivier F, Provost C (1999) Direct velocity measurements in the Malvinas Current. J Geophys Res 104(C9): 21083–21103

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Volbers A, Henrich R (2002) Present water mass calcium carbonate corrosiveness in the eastern South Atlantic inferred from ultrastructural breakdown of Globigerina bulloides in surface sediments. Mar Geol 186: 471–486

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Walker GPL (1971) Grain-size characteristics of pyroclastic deposits. J Geol 79: 696–741

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Weatherly GL (1993) On deep-current and hydrographic observations from a mudwave region and elsewhere in the Argentine Basin. Deep-Sea Res 40: 939–961

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Weltje G (1997) End-member modelling of compositional data: Numerical-statistical algorithms for solving the explicit mixing problem. J Mat Geol 29: 503–549

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Fachbereich Geowissenschaften, Universität Bremen, Klagenfurter Strasse, 28359, Bremen, Germany

    M. Frenz, R. Höppner, J. -B. W. Stuut, T. Wagner & R. Henrich

Authors
  1. M. Frenz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. R. Höppner
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. J. -B. W. Stuut
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. T. Wagner
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. R. Henrich
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. DFG Research Center Ocean Margins, University of Bremen, Klagenfurter Straße, 28359, Bremen, Germany

    Gerold Wefer , Stefan Mulitza  & Volker Ratmeyer ,  & 

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2003 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Frenz, M., Höppner, R., Stuut, J.B.W., Wagner, T., Henrich, R. (2003). Surface Sediment Bulk Geochemistry and Grain-Size Composition Related to the Oceanic Circulation along the South American Continental Margin in the Southwest Atlantic. In: Wefer, G., Mulitza, S., Ratmeyer, V. (eds) The South Atlantic in the Late Quaternary. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-18917-3_17

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-18917-3_17

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-62354-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-18917-3

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation