Reconstruction of the formation history of the Darwin Mounds, N Rockall Trough: How the dynamics of a sandy contourite affected cold-water coral growth

Cold-water coral mounds, formed through a feed-back process of cold-water coral growth and sediment baffling, have been studied all along the NE Atlantic continental margin. However, major questions remain concerning their formation history, especially their initiation and early development in relation to the surrounding sediment dynamics. For the first time, two small mounds located in a sandy contourite have been cored from the top to mound base: here, the formation history of the Darwin Mounds, located in the Northern Rockall Trough was investigated and reconstructed from two piston cores using a multidisciplinary approach. This consisted of CT-scanning for quantifying coral density changes with depth, grain-size analysis to obtain the hydrodynamic trends and radiocarbon and U-series dating to place the results into a wider paleoceanographic context. The results show that the Darwin Mounds formed during the early Holocene (~ 10 ka BP) through sediment baffling, mainly by Lophelia pertusa. The initiation of both mounds shows a similar pattern of increased current velocities resulting in coarser sediment deposition and a relatively high coral density with a peak of 23 vol%. The mound growth was rapid between ~ 10–9.7 ka BP (up to 277 cm ka− 1 in one of the mounds), with further vibrant growth periods around ~ 8.8 ka BP, 6.5 ka BP and 3.4 ka BP. The demise of the mounds ca. ~ 3 ka BP was likely caused by an intensification in bottom current velocities causing a hostile environment for coral growth in the contourite setting. In a wider context, the development of the Darwin Mounds appears to have responded to the relative strength and position of the Subpolar Gyre, which affected food supply to the corals, sedimentation rates, current speeds and other water mass properties in the area

Bathymetry and uplift rate of the Gulf of Aqaba, Dead Sea Fault.

peer reviewedInitially described in the late 50"s, the Dead Sea Fault system connects at its southern end to the Red Sea extensive system, through a succession of left-stepping faults. In this region, the left-lateral differential displacement of the Arabian plate with respect to the Sinai micro-plate along the Dead Sea fault results in the formation of a depression corresponding to the Gulf Aqaba. We acquired new bathymetric data in the areas of the Gulf of Aqaba and Strait of Tiran during two marine campaigns (June 2018, September 2019) in order to investigate the location of the active faults, which structure and control the morphology of the area. The high-resolution datasets (10-m posting) allow us to present a new fault map of the gulf and to discuss the seismic potential of the main active faults.We also investigated the eastern margin of the Gulf of Aqaba and Tiran island to assess the vertical uplift rate. To do so, we computed high-resolution topographic data and we processed new series of U-Th analyses on corals from the uplifted marine terraces.Combining our results with previous studies, we determined the local and the regional uplift in the area of the Gulf of Aqaba and Strait of Tiran.Eventually, we discussed the tectonic evolution of the gulf since the last major change of the tectonic regime and we propose a revised tectonic evolution model of the area

De vuelta al punto de partida: Nuevas dataciones del arte de la Cueva de la Peña de Candamo (Asturias)

La Peña de Candamo was discovered by the scientific community in 1914, being one of the first known caves in the Cantabrian region, and declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2008. The only monographic study of its parietal art was led and published by E. Hernández Pacheco in 1919, showing exceptional complexity and graphic density. In 2007, a new research project was launched to update all the information related to the cave's parietal art from a multidisciplinary perspective. Within this context, and starting from the radiocarbon tests made by J. Fortea in the late 20th century, tests have been conducted at the Gif-sur-Yvette to date a series of black dots located on the "Engraving's Wall". The fact that the results are di - fferent to those published to date leads to the discussion as to which to accept based on the followed metho - dologies and protocols. Likewise, the implications of these results in the decorating of the cave and their place within the artistic production of the region during the Upper Palaeolithic period are also analyse

Apport des datations U/Th de spéléothèmes à la connaissance de l’incision du réseau hydrographique de l’Est du Bassin parisien

Dans l’Est du Bassin parisien, la karstification s’exprime selon deux modes essentiels, soit au contact d’une couverture argilo-sableuse sur les plateaux calcaires, soit au contact d’une nappe alluviale dans les fonds de vallée. Dans tous les cas, l’évolution de ces karsts suit l’incision des vallées. On présente ici trois sites karstiques majeurs (Pierre-la-Treiche, Trampot et le Barrois), inféodés à trois grandes vallées de l’Est du Bassin parisien (la Moselle, la Meuse et la Marne) recoupant trois grandes masses carbonatées (Bajocien, Oxfordien, Tithonien). Dans ces karsts, 84 datations ont été entreprises par la méthode U/Th soit en alpha, soit en TIMS. La synthèse de ces dates confirme l’apport que constitue le karst dans les reconstitutions paléoenvironnementales en particulier dans le domaine de l’incision du réseau hydrographique, du recul des couvertures non carbonatées et des reconstitutions paléoclimatiques.In the eastern part of the Paris Basin, karstification occurs, essentially in two modes, one at the contact of a sandy-clayey cover on limestone plateaus, the other beneath alluvium in the floors of valleys. In every case, evolution of the karsts follows incision of the valleys. In this paper, three major karstic systems are presented (Pierre-la-Treiche, Trampot and the Barrois), associated with three large valleys (the Moselle, the Meuse and the Marne), cutting three large limestone masses (Bajocien, Oxfordien, Tithonien). In these karsts, 84 dates were obtained using the U/Th method (alpha, TIMS). These dates confirm the contribution of the karst to palaeoenvironmental reconstruction in the fields of river system incision, retreat of the non-carbonate cover and palaeoclimatic reconstruction.Im Osten des Pariser Beckens  erscheint die Verkarstung in zwei wesentlichen Formen – in Kontakt mit einer lehmig-sandigen Decke auf den Kalkplateaus oder in Kontakt mit einer alluvialen Schicht in den Talgründen. In allen Fällen folgt die Entwicklung dieser Karste dem Einschneiden der Täler. Hier werden drei größere Karstbereiche vorgestellt (Pierre-la-Treiche, Trampot und das Barrois), die drei grossen Tälern (Mosel, Maas und Marne) zugehören und drei grosse Kalkmassive (Bajocien, Oxfordien, Tithonien) anschneiden. In diesen Karstgebieten wurden 84 Datierungen nach der Methode U/Th in alpha oder in TIMS vorgenommen. Die Synthese dieser Daten bestätigt den Beitrag, den der Karst für die paläogeographische Rekonstruierung liefert, insbesondere im Bereich des Einschneidens des hydrographischen Netzes, des Rückweichens der nichtkalkigen Deckschichten und paläoklimatischer Rekonstruktionen

Apport des datations U/Th de spéléothèmes à la connaissance de l’incision du réseau hydrographique de l’Est du Bassin parisien

Dans l’Est du Bassin parisien, la karstification s’exprime selon deux modes essentiels, soit au contact d’une couverture argilo-sableuse sur les plateaux calcaires, soit au contact d’une nappe alluviale dans les fonds de vallée. Dans tous les cas, l’évolution de ces karsts suit l’incision des vallées. On présente ici trois sites karstiques majeurs (Pierre-la-Treiche, Trampot et le Barrois), inféodés à trois grandes vallées de l’Est du Bassin parisien (la Moselle, la Meuse et la Marne) recoupant trois grandes masses carbonatées (Bajocien, Oxfordien, Tithonien). Dans ces karsts, 84 datations ont été entreprises par la méthode U/Th soit en alpha, soit en TIMS. La synthèse de ces dates confirme l’apport que constitue le karst dans les reconstitutions paléoenvironnementales en particulier dans le domaine de l’incision du réseau hydrographique, du recul des couvertures non carbonatées et des reconstitutions paléoclimatiques.In the eastern part of the Paris Basin, karstification occurs, essentially in two modes, one at the contact of a sandy-clayey cover on limestone plateaus, the other beneath alluvium in the floors of valleys. In every case, evolution of the karsts follows incision of the valleys. In this paper, three major karstic systems are presented (Pierre-la-Treiche, Trampot and the Barrois), associated with three large valleys (the Moselle, the Meuse and the Marne), cutting three large limestone masses (Bajocien, Oxfordien, Tithonien). In these karsts, 84 dates were obtained using the U/Th method (alpha, TIMS). These dates confirm the contribution of the karst to palaeoenvironmental reconstruction in the fields of river system incision, retreat of the non-carbonate cover and palaeoclimatic reconstruction.Im Osten des Pariser Beckens  erscheint die Verkarstung in zwei wesentlichen Formen – in Kontakt mit einer lehmig-sandigen Decke auf den Kalkplateaus oder in Kontakt mit einer alluvialen Schicht in den Talgründen. In allen Fällen folgt die Entwicklung dieser Karste dem Einschneiden der Täler. Hier werden drei größere Karstbereiche vorgestellt (Pierre-la-Treiche, Trampot und das Barrois), die drei grossen Tälern (Mosel, Maas und Marne) zugehören und drei grosse Kalkmassive (Bajocien, Oxfordien, Tithonien) anschneiden. In diesen Karstgebieten wurden 84 Datierungen nach der Methode U/Th in alpha oder in TIMS vorgenommen. Die Synthese dieser Daten bestätigt den Beitrag, den der Karst für die paläogeographische Rekonstruierung liefert, insbesondere im Bereich des Einschneidens des hydrographischen Netzes, des Rückweichens der nichtkalkigen Deckschichten und paläoklimatischer Rekonstruktionen

Review submerged speleothems and sea level reconstructions: A global overview and new results from the mediterranean sea

This study presents a global overview of the submerged speleothems used to reconstruct paleo sea levels and reports new results from two stalactites collected in the Mediterranean Sea. Coastal cave deposits significantly contributed to the understanding of global and regional sea-level variations during the Middle and Late Quaternary. The studied speleothems cover the last 1.4 Myr and focused mainly on Marine Isotope Stages (MIS) 1, 2, 3, 5.1, 5.3, 5.5, 7.1, 7.2, 7.3 and 7.5. The results indicate that submerged speleothems represent extraordinary archives that can provide detailed information on former sea-level changes. The two stalactites collected in the central Mediterranean Sea, at Favignana and Ustica islands (Sicily, Italy), are both characterized by continental, phreatic or marine layers. The U-Th and14C ages of the new speleothems provide results of great interest for relative sea-level changes over the last 1000 years

U-series and radiocarbon cross dating of speleothems from Nerja Cave (Spain): Evidence of open system behavior. Implication for the Spanish rock art chronology

Two stalagmites from Nerja cave (Andalusia, Spain) were studied. The cave is well known because of its long human occupation from the Upper Palaeolithic to the Chalcolithic and its abundant parietal prehistoric Art. The aims of this study were twofold: i) to compare uranium/thorium (Th/U) and Carbon-14 (C) ages obtained all along the growth axis of the stalagmites in order to understand the consequences of diagenetic processes on the validity of radiometric ages; ii) as one of the stalagmites contains black layers, attributed to combustion soot, to establish when these intense hearths were used and by which culture. Th/U and C ages were coupled with mineralogical studies using FTIR (Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy) and thin section observations. The first stalagmite (GN16-9b) displays Th/U ages in stratigraphic order, and compatible with C ages corrected for a few percent of dead carbon. Homogeneous composition of aragonitic crystals characterized by their needle-like texture is observed throughout this speleothem. For the second stalagmite (GN16-7), in contrast, Th/U ages display large significant inversions and discordant results on the upper part and at the base of the stalagmite, suggesting a possible open system behavior for this chronometer. Interestingly, C ages are in stratigraphic order all along the stalagmite and are compatible with Th/U ages only in its central part. Mineralogical studies display evidence of aragonite to calcite transformation at the top and a complex mineralogical assemblage with interlayered silicates (possibly clays) and calcitic mineralogy for the base of GN16-7. In these parts, discordant Th/U ages were measured. In the middle part of the stalagmite, however, where the fibrous aragonite is well preserved, the C and Th/U ages agree. Our data suggest that in the case of aragonite to calcite transformation as shown here, Th/U ages are biased, but C ages seem to remain accurate, as already observed in aragonitic marine bio minerals. C ages obtained are used for the chronology of the soot layer, determined here between 7900 and 5500 years Cal BP, coherent with previous analysis of charcoals in the same sector of the cave. This study highlights the importance of working with at least two chronometers when stratigraphic age verification is not possible, as is the case of some parietal CaCO thin layers used for rock art dating. Recent Th/U ages published for carbonate deposits on Spanish parietal Art are discussed in light of this demonstration.This research was funded by ANR (grant number ANR-18-CE27- 0004, ApART project) and supported by the Paris Ile-de-France Region – DIM “matérieux Anciens et Patrimoniaux” for FTIR analysis. The authors thank LMC14 staff (Laboratoire de Mesure du Carbone-14), ARTEMIS national facility, for the results obtained with the Accelerator Mass Spectroscopy method, and the PANOPLY analytical platform. This research is part of the “Proyecto General de Investigación aplicada a la conservación de Cueva de Nerja” authorised by the Junta de Andalucía and financed by the Fundación de Servicios Cueva de Nerja. The authors also wish to thank the “Instituto de Investigación Cueva de Nerja” for supporting this research. M.A.Medina-Alcaide has a Postdoctoral Fyssen Grant; the results presented in this paper are included in the PID2019-107262GB-I00 and PDC2021-121501-I00 grants funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033

A new multimethod approach for dating cave calcite: application to the cave of Trou du Renard (Soyons, France)

A multimethod approach aimed at characterizing carbonate parietal deposits and at proposing a chronology for these carbonate crusts is described. Dating was performed by radiometric methods (C-14 for recent samples and U series) on samples that had been characterized beforehand using optical and cathodoluminescence microscopy and Fourier transform infrared microspectroscopy. For the U series, high precision on U–Th ages was achieved using liquid phase multicollector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) applied to large samples, while laser ablation single collector inductively coupled plasma sector field mass spectrometry (ICP-SFMS) provided information on the reliability of the sampling with a high spatial resolution. This methodology, based on the combination of these two techniques reinforced by the information obtained by the calcite characterization methods, was applied to carbonate deposits from the cave of Trou du Renard (Soyons, France). The ages obtained with the two U–Th dating techniques are comparable and illustrate that different laminae were deposited at different rates in the samples. In the future, this procedure, based on the mineralogical and geochemical characterization of the samples and their dating by radiometric methods, will be applied to the layers of parietal carbonates deposited on Palaeolithic decorated walls. When the crystallization is slow, the U/Th dating method by imaging technique is of interest, as well as that by multicollector ICP-MS in liquid phase. The development of robust dating methods on very small quantities of material will make it possible to define the chronological framework of cave rock art.</p

South Atlantic intermediate water advances into the North-east Atlantic with reduced Atlantic meridional overturning circulation during the last glacial period

The Nd isotopic composition (epsilon Nd) of seawater and cold-water coral (CWC) samples from the Gulf of Cadiz and the Alboran Sea, at a depth of 280-827 m were investigated in order to constrain middepth water mass dynamics within the Gulf of Cadiz over the past 40 ka. epsilon Nd of glacial and Holocene CWC from the Alboran Sea and the northern Gulf of Cadiz reveals relatively constant values (-8.6 to -9.0 and -9.5 to -10.4, respectively). Such values are similar to those of the surrounding present-day middepth waters from the Mediterranean Outflow Water (MOW; epsilon Nd approximate to -9.4) and Mediterranean Sea Water (MSW; epsilon Nd approximate to -9.9). In contrast, glacial epsilon Nd values for CWC collected at thermocline depth (550-827 m) in the southern Gulf of Cadiz display a higher average value (-8.90.4) compared to the present-day value (-11.70.3). This implies a higher relative contribution of water masses of Mediterranean (MSW) or South Atlantic origin (East Antarctic Intermediate Water, EAAIW). Our study has produced the first evidence of significant radiogenic epsilon Nd values (approximate to -8) at 19, 23-24, and 27 ka, which are coeval with increasing iceberg discharges and a weakening of Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC). Since MOW epsilon Nd values remained stable during the last glacial period, it is suggested that these radiogenic epsilon Nd values most likely reflect an enhanced northward propagation of glacial EAAIW into the eastern Atlantic Basin

Global Boundary Stratotype Section and Point (GSSP) for the Anthropocene Series: Where and how to look for potential candidates

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