First results of comparative analysis of Pleistocene sediments chemical composition from the Indian and Atlantic oceans

Geochemical peculiarities of Pleistocene sediments from the Indian and Atlantic oceans have been compared. We used 20000 determinations of elements for each ocean sediments to calculate their mean chemical composition. It was revealed that in average Atlantic sediments are more calcareous than Pleistocene sediments of the Indian Ocean (32.17 mass% СаСО3 vs 24.51 mass% СаСО3). They are enriched by Fe2O3, Na2O, P2O5, Zr. The Pleistocene of the Indian Ocean is enriched by K2O, Co, Ni. Mass accumulation rates of all chemical components for main lithological types dominate in the Atlantic. We proposed that these results are due to higher ratio of watershed area to accumulation basin area, and higher primary productivity in the Atlantic Ocean. Geochemical specifics of the Indian Ocean Pleistocene sediments can be explained by specifics of the clay minerals composition and larger area of pelagic clays distribution.