Miocene climate change recorded in the chemical and isotopic (Pb, Nd, Hf) signature of Southern Ocean sediments.

• Published in: Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems
• Main Authors: Vlastélic, Ivan, Carpentier, M., Lewin, Eric
• Other Authors: Laboratoire de Géodynamique des Chaines Alpines (LGCA), Observatoire des Sciences de l'Univers de Grenoble (OSUG), Université Joseph Fourier - Grenoble 1 (UJF)-Institut polytechnique de Grenoble - Grenoble Institute of Technology (Grenoble INP )-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Institut national de recherche en sciences et technologies pour l'environnement et l'agriculture (IRSTEA)-Université Savoie Mont Blanc (USMB Université de Savoie Université de Chambéry )-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université Joseph Fourier - Grenoble 1 (UJF)-Institut polytechnique de Grenoble - Grenoble Institute of Technology (Grenoble INP )-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Institut national de recherche en sciences et technologies pour l'environnement et l'agriculture (IRSTEA)-Université Savoie Mont Blanc (USMB Université de Savoie Université de Chambéry )-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: HAL CCSD 2005
• Subjects: Antarctic; climate change; Miocene; sediments; radiogenic isotopes; [SDU.STU.GC]Sciences of the Universe [physics]/Earth Sciences/Geochemistry; Antarc*; Ice Sheet; North Atlantic Deep Water; North Atlantic; Southern Ocean
• Online Access: https://hal.science/hal-00101857; https://hal.science/hal-00101857/document; https://hal.science/hal-00101857/file/2004GC000819.pdf; https://doi.org/10.1029/2004GC000819

International audience The Middle Miocene transition from carbonate to biosilica sedimentation at DSDP site 266 (Australian-Antarctic basin) reflects a global transition toward a colder climate. The 143Nd/144Nd, 176Hf/177Hf, and Al/Ti of bulk sediments display systematic, coupled variations through time, which have been attributed to a change of the detrital source. This change could correspond to a reduction of input from the Antarctic continent, an increase of input from the Kerguelen volcanic province, or both. Mixing models based on Nd isotopes and Al/Ti suggest a 30–40% reduction of Antarctic input and an equivalent increase of Kerguelen input during the Miocene. Reduction of Antarctic input may result from the formation of a stable East Antarctic ice sheet. Consistently, Pb isotopes and trace element systematics suggest a change of weathering style during the Miocene, with an increase in physical weathering, or a reduction of chemical weathering, after 15 Ma. Increase of Kerguelen input may reflect the initiation, or enhancement, of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC), thus raising the possibility of a simultaneous onset of North Atlantic Deep Water production and the ACC during the Middle Miocene. In addition, large geochemical oscillations occurred during the Pliocene, possibly reflecting fluctuation in strength of the ACC or, alternatively, periods of instability of the Antarctic ice sheet.