• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.217-226
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• 2001

Stable isotope, paleoceanographic and sedimentological analyses were carried out along the core Ml5612 from the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Distinct negative ${\delta}^{18}O anomalies punctuate the planktonic isotope records and correlate with the Heinrich-IRD cvents. The IRD layer in the corc contains varying amounts of quartz, K-feldspar, plagioclase, calcite, dolomite and mica, in which detrital carbonate contributes between I and 13% (except H3 and H6). Anomalies are strongest in the N. pachydenna (sin.) isotope record. Systematic changes in the ${\delta}^{18}O offset of G. hul/aides and G. inJlata signify variations in mid-latitude thermocline structure. In conjunction with negative benthic ${\delta}^{13}C anomalies, the data document a stronger contribution of a ${\delta}^{13}C depleted, nutrient-rich water mass during the IRD events. The ${\delta}^{13}C amplitude of > 1 $\textperthousand$ between 25 and 57 ka indicates changes between northern source (NADW) and southern source (AABW) water masses at this site. The IRD layers in the core Ml56l2 are correlative with those from the core S075-26KL and DSDP 609. The IRD layers from the Portuguese margin arc coeval with HI, H2 and H4 of the open North Atlantic. This similarity (and/or synchronicity in both regions may have been resulted from common changes in a North Atlantic thermohaline switch.