HR: 1340h
AN: GP53B-1221 [Abstracts]
TI: Magnetomineralogical Characterization of Heinrich Events Preserved on Turbiditic Sediments
From the Galicia Bank (NW Iberian Margin)
AU: * Coimbra, R
EM: rcoimbra@uvigo.es
AF: Dept. Marine Geosciences and L. M., University of Vigo. Lagoas-Marcosende., Vigo, 36310,
Spain
AU: * Coimbra, R
EM: rcoimbra@uvigo.es
AF: Dept. Stratigraphy and Paleontology., University of Granada. Avda. Fuentenueva., Granada,
18071, Spain
AU: Rey, D
EM: danirey@uvigo.es
AF: Dept. Marine Geosciences and L. M., University of Vigo. Lagoas-Marcosende., Vigo, 36310,
Spain
AU: Mohamed, K
EM: kmohamed@uvigo.es
AF: Dept. Marine Geosciences and L. M., University of Vigo. Lagoas-Marcosende., Vigo, 36310,
Spain
AU: Vilas, F
EM: fvilas@uvigo.es
AF: Dept. Marine Geosciences and L. M., University of Vigo. Lagoas-Marcosende., Vigo, 36310,
Spain
AU: Frederichs, T
EM: frederichs@uni-bremen.de
AF: Dept. Marine Geophysics, University of Bremen. Klagenfurter Strasse., Bremen, 28334,
Germany
AB:
Abyssal marine environments combine the ideal conditions for recording the climatic instability occurred during
the last glacial period. However, on a more dynamic zone, such as the Galicia Bank slope, the turbiditic activity
may compromise the fidelity of a given record. In this context, we will show how very detailed magnetic
measurements make possible the detection and characterization of distinct climatic events in these
environments, such as the Heinrich events H1 to H3 described in this paper.
The study area is located on the south-western flank of the Galicia Bank, at depths ranging from 3363 to 4171
meters. It is influenced by the Lower North Atlantic Deep Water (LNADW) and Antarctica Bottom Water (AABW)
deep currents that flow northwards as a result of thermohaline equilibrium. Three gravity cores of around 3 m
long and representative of the main sedimentary environments in the area (fault scarp; turbidite lobe and
interlobe depression) were selected for detail magnetic analysis.
Measurements at room (magnetic susceptibility, ARM, hysteresis) and low temperature (susceptibility and SIRM)
revealed the occurrence of magnetic-enriched laminae within the magnitude range documented for Heinrich
events recorded in sediment of the abyssal plain bordering the Iberian continental margin. The formation of loops
in the ARM-100 vs. susceptibility plots highlighted the typical increase in magnetic grain size that characterizes
Heinrich sediments at latitudes inside the Rudimann Belt. Recognition of IRD layers in very detrital-diluted
horizons was possible after the evaluation of magnetic domain state. Low temperature measurements were also
useful to clarify on the mineralogy and grain size of this ice rafted particles, which proved to be stoichiometric
magnetite. This was supported by the occurrence of a clear Verwey transition at 120K. The significant loss of total
remanence after a complete SIRM-300K cycle in these horizons indicated the presence of larger grain sizes,
when compared to other samples studied along the cores.
DE: 1512 Environmental magnetism
DE: 1519 Magnetic mineralogy and petrology
DE: 1540 Rock and mineral magnetism
SC: Geomagnetism and Paleomagnetism [GP]
MN: 2007 Fall Meeting