[M-IS08] Paleoclimatology and paleoceanography

[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.