Particle sorting during sediment redistribution processes and the effect on <sup>230</sup> Th-normalized mass accumulation rates

TitleParticle sorting during sediment redistribution processes and the effect on 230 Th-normalized mass accumulation rates
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2014
AuthorsMarcantonio, F, Lyle, M, Ibrahim, R
JournalGeophysical Research Letters
Volume41
Issue15
Pagination5547 - 5554
Date PublishedApr-08-2015
Abstract

The 230Th method of determining mass accumulation rates (MARs) assumes that little to no fractionation occurs during sediment redistribution processes at the seafloor. We examine 230Th inventories in radiocarbon-dated multicore sediments from paired winnowed and focused sites at Cocos and Carnegie Ridges, Panama Basin. Radiocarbon-derived sand MARs, which likely represent the vertical rain of particles poorly transported by bottom currents, are similar at each of the paired sites but are different using 230Th normalization. 230Th-normalized MARs are about 60% lower at focused sites and likely underestimate vertical MARs, while the reverse is true for winnowed sites. We hypothesize that size fractionation occurs most frequently at lower current velocities, resulting in the coarse fraction being left behind and primarily the fine 230Th-rich grains being transported downslope. 230Th-normalization works well for recording fine-grained (detrital and opal), but not coarse-grained (carbonate), fluxes in regions that have undergone sediment redistribution.

URLhttp://doi.wiley.com/10.1002/2014GL060477https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1002%2F2014GL060477
DOI10.1002/2014GL060477