JpGU-AGU Joint Meeting 2020

Presentation information

[E] Oral

M (Multidisciplinary and Interdisciplinary) » M-IS Intersection

[M-IS08] Paleoclimatology and paleoceanography

convener:Yusuke Okazaki(Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Graduate School of Science, Kyushu University), Benoit Thibodeau(University of Hong Kong), Akitomo Yamamoto(Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and TechnologyAtmosphere and Ocean Research Institute), Hitoshi Hasegawa(Faculty of Science and Technology, Kochi University)

[MIS08-13] Carbon and hydrogen isotopes of C40 alkenones and C41 n-alkane from OAE2 interval of IODP Site U1516 in southern high latitude

*Takashi Hasegawa1, Akiko S. Goto1 (1.Faculty of Geoscience and Civil Engineering, Institute of Science and Engineering, Kanazawa University)

Keywords:OAE, Cretaceous, IODP, carbon isotope, hydrogen isotope, alkenone

Coisiderable concentrations of C40 alkenones (tetracontadienones) and C41 normal alkane (n-alkane) were observed in black shale sediments from Oceanic Anoxic Event 2 interval of IODP Site U1516 in Southern high latitude. About five permil difference of carbon isotope values of the molecules indicates that they have separate origins. The carbon isotope stratigraphy of the C40 alkenones shows ~2.5-3 permil increase in the expected interval of well known carbon isotope excursion for OAE2, filling gap of a carbonate-free interval. Although its origin is not identified yet, C41 n-alkane marks the highest concentration among detected n-alkanes in some samples and has characteristic carbon and hydrogen isotope values. The carbon isotope value ranging between -34 and -36 permil is not comparable to that of higher plant-derived C29 n-alkane (between -26 and -30 permil) or algal C18-C20 n-alkanes (between -29 and -32 permil). Although its long and straight-chained structure comparable with C40 alkenones and their co-occurrences, C41 n-alkane cannot be a derivative of the alkenones. Carbon isotope values of the alkenones are largely different from that of C41 n-alkane and rather close to that of terrestrial or algal n-alkanes. On the other hand, hydrogen isotope values of C40 n-alkane are close to that of algal n-alkanes suggesting similar hydrological setting of their syntheses. Both C40 alkenones and C41n-alkane show high concentration only in the black layers in the OAE2 interval. As source rock analysis by the on-board scientists showed high hydrogen index (HI) for the black mudstone layers from OAE2 interval, both C41 n-alkane and C40 alkenones are interpreted to be algal in origin. It is concordant with the expected origin of long chain alkenones (haprophytes). It should also be noted that the concentration of n-alkanes derived from higher plants (C27, C29 and C31 n-alkanes) are also high in the black layers implying productivity not only of sea surface but also of land area both increased.