High Precision Femtosecond Laser Ablation ICP‐MS Measurement of Benthic Foraminiferal Mn‐Incorporation for Paleoenvironmental Reconstruction: A Case Study From the Plio‐Pleistocene Caribbean Sea

Schiebel, R.

Jochum, K. P.

Galer, S.
Leitner, J.

Khanolkar, S.
Yücel, M.
Stoll, B.
Weis, U.

Haug, G. H.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1029/2021GC010268
Persistent URL: http://resolver.sub.uni-goettingen.de/purl?gldocs-11858/10444
Jochum, K. P.; 1 Max Planck Institute for Chemistry Mainz Germany
Galer, S.; 1 Max Planck Institute for Chemistry Mainz Germany
Leitner, J.; 1 Max Planck Institute for Chemistry Mainz Germany
Khanolkar, S.; 1 Max Planck Institute for Chemistry Mainz Germany
Yücel, M.; 4 Institute of Marine Sciences Middle East Technical University Mersin Turkey
Stoll, B.; 1 Max Planck Institute for Chemistry Mainz Germany
Weis, U.; 1 Max Planck Institute for Chemistry Mainz Germany
Haug, G. H.; 1 Max Planck Institute for Chemistry Mainz Germany
Abstract
Closure of the Central American Seaway (CAS) and hydrology of the Caribbean Sea triggered Northern Hemisphere Glaciation and played an important role in the Pliocene to modern‐day climate re‐establishing the deep and surface ocean currents. New data on Mn/Ca obtained with femtosecond laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry on well‐preserved tests of the epibenthic foraminifer Cibicidoides wuellerstorfi and infaunal C. mundulus contribute to the interpretation of paleoenvironmental conditions of the Caribbean Sea between 5.2 and 2.2 Ma (million years) across the closure of the CAS. Hydrothermal activity at the Lesser Antilles may be a primary source of Mn in the well‐oxygenated Plio‐Pleistocene Caribbean Sea. Incorporation of Mn in the benthic foraminifer shell carbonate is assumed to be affected by surface ocean nutrient cycling, and may hence be an indicator of paleoproductivity.
Plain Language Summary: The closure of the Panama Isthmus caused the expansion of ice sheets in the Northern Hemisphere and changed the water current dynamics and climate in the Caribbean Sea since the Pliocene (∼5.3 million years ago). New Mn/Ca data measured using femtosecond laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry on the deep‐sea benthic foraminifer species Cibicidoides wuellerstorfi and Cibicidoides mundulus help us understand past environmental conditions of the Caribbean Sea prevailed between 5.2 and 2.2 million years ago. While manganese might be sourced from the surrounding hydrothermal vents, its incorporation in the foraminifer shell carbonate might be related to nutrient cycling and may indicate past biological productivity in the ocean.
Key Points:
Femtosecond‐laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry provides a new approach on distinguishing Mn of the ontogenetic shell calcite from Mn of the authigenic coatings.
Ontogenetic Mn within the foraminifer shell calcite may result from the regional nutrient cycle.
Mn in the deep eastern Caribbean Sea may mainly derive from hydrothermal sources along the Antilles Island Arc.
Subjects
manganeseCibicidoides wuellerstorfi
Cibicidoides mundulus
Central American Seaway
trace elements
hydrothermal
paleoproductivity