X-ray fluorescence data (calcium and iron), bulk organic δ¹³C, and dinoflagellate cysts of ODP Hole 189-1172D, supplement to: Röhl, Ursula; Brinkhuis, Henk; Sluijs, Appy; Fuller, Michael D (2004): On the search for the Paleocene/Eocene boundary in the Southern Ocean: exploring ODP Leg 189 Holes 1171D and 1172D, Tasman Sea. In: Exon, NF; Malone, M and Kennett, JP (eds.), The Cenozoic Southern Ocean: Tectonics, Sedimentation, and Climate Change Between Australia and Antarctica. American Geophysical Union (AGU), Geophysical Monograph Series, 151, 113-125

• Main Authors: Röhl, Ursula, Brinkhuis, Henk, Sluijs, Appy, Fuller, Michael D
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: PANGAEA - Data Publisher for Earth & Environmental Science 2004
• Subjects: Ocean Drilling Program ODP; Southern Ocean; Fuller; Malone; Kennett; Antarc*; Antarctica
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.1594/pangaea.816495; https://doi.pangaea.de/10.1594/PANGAEA.816495

The 'Paleocene/Eocene Thermal Maximum' or PETM (~55 Ma) was associated with dramatic warming of the oceans and atmosphere, pronounced changes in ocean circulation and chemistry, and upheaval of the global carbon cycle. Many relatively complete PETM sequences have by now been reported from around the world, but most are from ancient low- to midlatitude sites. ODP Leg 189 in the Tasman Sea recovered sediments from this critical phase in Earth history at Sites 1171 and 1172, potentially representing the southernmost PETM successions ever encountered (at ~70° to 65° S paleolatitude). Downhole and core logging data, in combination with dinoflagellate cyst biostratigraphy, magneto-stratigraphy, and stable isotope geochemistry indicate that the sequences at both sites were deposited in a high accumulation-rate, organic rich, marginal marine setting. Furthermore, Site 1172 indeed contains a fairly complete P-E transition, whereas at Site 1171, only the lowermost Eocene is recovered. However, at Site 1172, the typical PETM-indicative acme of the dinocyst Apectodinium was not recorded. We conclude that unfortunately, the critical latest Paleocene and PETM intervals are missing at Site 1172. We relate the missing section to a sea level driven hiatus and/or condensed section and recovery problems. Nevertheless, our integrated records provide a first-ever portrait of the trend toward, and aftermath of, the PETM in a marginal marine, southern high-latitude setting.