Isotopic evidence of sea-surface freshening, enhanced productivity, and improved organic matter preservation during sapropel deposition in the Tyrrhenian Sea

Research Article| March 01, 2000 Isotopic evidence of sea-surface freshening, enhanced productivity, and improved organic matter preservation during sapropel deposition in the Tyrrhenian Sea R. V. Krishnamurthy; R. V. Krishnamurthy 1Department of Geosciences, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, Michigan 49008, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Philip A. Meyers; Philip A. Meyers 2Department of Geological Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-1063, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Norman A. Lovan Norman A. Lovan 1Department of Geosciences, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, Michigan 49008, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information R. V. Krishnamurthy 1Department of Geosciences, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, Michigan 49008, USA Philip A. Meyers 2Department of Geological Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-1063, USA Norman A. Lovan 1Department of Geosciences, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, Michigan 49008, USA Publisher: Geological Society of America Received: 11 Aug 1999 Revision Received: 06 Dec 1999 Accepted: 14 Dec 1999 First Online: 02 Jun 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2682 Print ISSN: 0091-7613 Geological Society of America Geology (2000) 28 (3): 263–266. https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(2000)28<263:IEOSFE>2.0.CO;2 Article history Received: 11 Aug 1999 Revision Received: 06 Dec 1999 Accepted: 14 Dec 1999 First Online: 02 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation R. V. Krishnamurthy, Philip A. Meyers, Norman A. Lovan; Isotopic evidence of sea-surface freshening, enhanced productivity, and improved organic matter preservation during sapropel deposition in the Tyrrhenian Sea. Geology 2000;; 28 (3): 263–266. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(2000)28<263:IEOSFE>2.0.CO;2 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract Multiple layers of sapropels occur widely in the sedimentary record of the Mediterranean Sea and record repetitions of paleoclimatic conditions that favored increased production and preservation of marine organic matter. A combination of hydrogen and carbon isotope analyses of Pleistocene sapropels from the Tyrrhenian Sea reveals new aspects of the factors leading to their deposition. Organic matter dD values that are significantly more negative in sapropels than in adjacent marls indicate a combination of dilution of surface waters by meteoric waters and increased burial of lipid-rich organic matter during periods of sapropel deposition. Organic δ13C values in sapropels that are less negative than those in marls suggest periods of markedly elevated marine biological production. The opposite but concordant excursions of these two isotopic parameters imply that the sapropel layers formed from increased export of marine organic matter from the photic zone to the sea floor during periods of greater fluvial delivery of continental nutrients to the Mediterranean Sea. Furthermore, the isotopic evidence indicates that periods of wetter climate were widespread in southern Europe at the same times as in northern Africa. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.