Silicate weathering and carbon cycle controls on the Oligocene-Miocene transition glaciation

Changes in both silicate weathering rates and organic carbon burial have been proposed as drivers of the transient “Mi-1” glaciation event at the Oligocene-Miocene transition (OMT; ~23 Ma). However detailed geochemical proxy data are required to test these hypotheses. Here we present records of Li/Ca, Mg/Ca, Cd/Ca, U/Ca, δ18O, δ13C, and shell weight in planktonic foraminifera from marine sediments spanning the OMT in the equatorial Atlantic Ocean. Li/Ca values increase by 1 μmol/mol across this interval. We interpret this to indicate a ~20% increase in silicate weathering rates, which would have lowered atmospheric CO2, potentially forcing the Antarctic glaciation circa 23 Ma. δ13C of thermocline dwelling planktonic foraminifera track the global increase in seawater δ13C across the OMT and during the Mi-1 event, hence supporting a hypothesized global increase in organic carbon burial rates. High δ13C previously measured in epipelagic planktonic foraminifera and high Cd/Ca ratios during Mi-1 are interpreted to represent locally enhanced primary productivity, stimulated by increased nutrients supply to surface waters. The fingerprint of high export production and associated organic carbon burial at this site is found in reduced bottom water oxygenation (inferred from high foraminiferal U/Ca), and enhanced respiratory dissolution of carbonates, characterised by reduced foraminiferal shell weight. Replication of our results elsewhere would strengthen the case that weathering-induced CO2 sequestration preconditioned climate for Antarctic ice sheet growth across the OMT and increased burial of organic carbon acted as a feedback that intensified cooling at this time

Effect of the fluorescent indicator calcein on Mg and Sr incorporation into foraminiferal calcite

AbstractThe development of particular analytical methods like Laser Ablation Inductively Coupled Mass Spectrometry (LA-ICPMS) renders it possible to determine the composition of a single chamber of foraminifers tests. This is crucial in the investigation of benthic foraminifers since the growth of new chambers under laboratory conditions do not face the difficulties associated with experiments involving reproduction. The addition of chambers can be recognized by the incorporation of the fluorescent dye calcein. When added to the culture medium, previously formed chambers are not affected and calcein is only incorporated in calcite that is formed in its presence. However, it has never been verified whether calcein affects the element incorporation into foraminiferal calcite. In order to investigate and quantify possible effects, specimens of the benthic foraminifer Ammonia tepida were cultured in the presence and absence of calcein (15°C, salinity 33), and Mg and Sr in newly formed chambers were analysed with LA-ICP-MS. Magnesium concentrations of cross-sections and longitudinal-section of foraminifera from the same experiment were also analysed by Electron Microprobe measurements. Additionally, the impact of calcein on Mg and Sr incorporation in inorganically precipitated calcium carbonate crystals was quantified. Results show that presence of calcein does not impact the incorporation of Mg and Sr into biologically and inorganically precipitated calcium carbonate

The watchdog barks at snooping: army political spying from 1967 to 1970 and the media that opposed it

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