Description: We present trace element compositions, rare earth elements (REEs) and radiogenic Nd–Sr isotope analyses of Cretaceous to recent sediments of the Tarfaya basin, SW Morocco, in order to identify tectonic setting, source rocks composition and sediments provenance. The results suggest that the sediments originate from heterogeneous source areas of the Reguibat Shield and the Mauritanides (West African Craton), as well as the western Anti-Atlas, which probably form the basement in this area. For interpreting the analyzed trace element results, we assume that elemental ratios such as La/Sc, Th/Sc, Cr/Th, Th/Co, La/Co and Eu/Eu∗ in the detrital silicate fraction of the sedimentary rocks behaved as a closed system during transport and cementation, which is justified by the consistency of all obtained results. The La/Y-Sc/Cr binary and La–Th–Sc ternary relationships suggest that the Tarfaya basin sediments were deposited in a passive margin setting. The trace element ratios of La/Sc, Th/Sc, Cr/Th and Th/Co indicate a felsic source. Moreover, chondrite-normalized REE patterns with light rare earth elements (LREE) enrichment, a flat heavy rare earth elements (HREE) and negative Eu anomalies can also be attributed to a felsic source for the Tarfaya basin sediments. The Nd isotope model ages (TDM = 2.0–2.2 Ga) of the Early Cretaceous sediments suggest that sediments were derived from the Eburnean terrain (Reguibat Shield). On the other hand, Late Cretaceous to Miocene–-Pliocene sediments show younger model ages (TDM = 1.8 Ga, on average) indicating an origin from both the Reguibat Shield and the western Anti-Atlas. In contrast, the southernmost studied Sebkha Aridal section (Oligocene to Miocene–Pliocene) yields older provenance ages (TDM = 2.5–2.6 Ga) indicating that these sediments were dominantly derived from the Archean terrain of the Reguibat Shield.

Description: The Late Quaternary variability of the South Asian (or Indian) monsoon has been linked with glacial-interglacial and millennial scale climatic changes but past rainfall intensity in the river catchments draining into the Andaman Sea remains poorly constrained. Here we use radiogenic Sr, Nd, and Pb isotope compositions of the detrital clay-size fraction and clay mineral assemblages obtained from sediment core NGHP Site 17 in the Andaman Sea to reconstruct the variability of the South Asian monsoon during the past 60 kyr. Over this time interval eNd values changed little, generally oscillating between 27.3 and 25.3 and the Pb isotope signatures are essentially invariable, which is in contrast to a record located further northeast in the Andaman Sea. This indicates that the source of the detrital clays did not change significantly during the last glacial and deglaciation suggesting the monsoon was spatially stable. The most likely source region is the Irrawaddy river catchment including the Indo-Burman Ranges with a possible minor contribution from the Andaman Islands. High smectite/(illite1chlorite) ratios (up to 14), as well as low 87Sr/86Sr ratios (0.711) for the Holocene period indicate enhanced chemical weathering and a stronger South Asian monsoon compared to marine oxygen isotope stages 2 and 3. Short, smectite-poor intervals exhibit markedly radiogenic Sr isotope compositions and document weakening of the South Asian monsoon, which may have been linked to short-term northern Atlantic climate variability on millennial time scales.

Description: The Foundation Seamounts form a 1400 km-long chain on the Pacific plate from 32 °S, 127 °W to the Pacific-Antarctic spreading axis at 38 °S, 111 °W. Previously only known from sparse single-beam echosoundings and satellite altimetry, we present here the first multibeam bathymetric survey and geological sampling results. We confirm that the submarine topography correlates with the altimetry, and that the chain is volcanic rather than tectonic or microcontinental in origin. The chain can be divided up morphologically and geochemically into three section: (1) west of 125 °W large flat-topped volcanoes composed of incompatible-element depleted lavas ( ≈ 1) of a near-ridge origin with little or no plume influence, (2) between 125 and 115 °W true intraplate volcanoes with incompatible element enrichment ( 〉 1.9) generated over the Foundation plume, (3) east of 115 °W E-W-trending volcanic ridges with compositions ( 2.0-0.3) suggestive of interaction between the plume and the Pacific-Antarctic spreading axis. On the spreading axis moderate incompatible element enrichments ( ≈0.8, cf. ≈ 0.3 outside the Foundation area) also suggest plume influence. It appears that the activity of the Foundation plume in the last few million years has (1) significantly waned and (2) become wholly channeled towards the spreading axis. The Foundation plume may be in the process of “dying”.

Description: Highlights: • A first standardized and publicly available Holocene relative sea-level database for the Baltic Sea is presented. • The database holds 1099 revised data points with an estimation of vertical and chronological uncertainties. • Negative RSL tendencies prevail over the positive and complex tendencies in the Baltic Sea Basin. • Mid-Holocene RSL highstand occurred around 7.5–6.5 ka BP being consistent with the end of the final melting of the LIS. • The contribution of ice loading in the eastern Baltic Sea Basin is likely overestimated in the ICE-5G and ICE-6G_C models. Abstract: We present a compilation and analysis of 1099 Holocene relative shore-level (RSL) indicators located around the Baltic Sea including 867 relative sea-level data points and 232 data points from the Ancylus Lake and the following transitional phase. The spatial distribution covers the Baltic Sea and near-coastal areas fairly well, but some gaps remain mainly in Sweden. RSL data follow the standardized HOLSEA format and, thus, are ready for spatially comprehensive applications in, e.g., glacial isostatic adjustment (GIA) modelling. We apply a SQL database system to store the nationally provided data sets in their individual form and to map the different input into the HOLSEA format as the information content of the individual data sets from the Baltic Sea area differs. About 80% of the RSL data is related to the last marine stage in Baltic Sea history after 8.5 ka BP (thousand years before present). These samples are grouped according to their dominant RSL tendencies into three clusters: regions with negative, positive and complex (transitional) RSL tendencies. Overall, regions with isostatic uplift driven negative tendencies dominate and show regression in the Baltic Sea basin during the last marine stage. Shifts from positive to negative tendencies in RSL data from transitional regions show a mid-Holocene highstand around 7.5–6.5 ka BP which is consistent with the end of the final melting of the Laurentide Ice Sheet. Comparisons of RSL data with GIA predictions including global ICE-5G and ICE-6G_C ice histories show good fit with RSL data from the regions with negative tendencies, whereas in the transitional areas in the eastern Baltic, predictions for the mid-Holocene clearly overestimate the RSL and fail to recover the mid-Holocene RSL highstand derived from the proxy reconstructions. These results motivate improvements of ice-sheet and Earth-structure models and show the potential and benefits of the new compilation for future studies.