Organic-petrographical analysis on Cenozoic sediments from the Lomonosov Ridge (Arctic Ocean) for paleoenvironmental reconstruction

• Applicant: Dr. Bettina Boucsein
• Subject Area: Palaeontology
• Term: from 2005 to 2010
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 14372062

The project aims at the quantification and identification of the particular organic matter and its variation through Cenozoic times in sediments from IODP hole 302 from the Lomonosov Ridge, Central Arctic Ocean. Organic-petrographical analyses (maceral analysis, vitrinite reflectance) will be used for the reconstruction of the paleoenvironmental and paleoclimatic conditions, which controls the depositional setting of the organic matter. The planned studies on late Cretaceous/Cenozoic sediments for the first time will allow the organic-carbon-flux estimation in the Central Arctic Ocean during its evolution from a warm (ice-free) to a cold (ice-covered) Arctic Ocean. Furthermore, the attainment of a model explaining the formation of organic-rich sediments (late Cretaceous/ Paleogene) will be also a focus.

• DFG Programme: Infrastructure Priority Programmes
• Subproject of: SPP 527: Bereich Infrastruktur - "International Ocean Discovery Program" (IODP)