Clay mineral signature of the NW Atlantic Boundary Undercurrent

[en] Surface sediments were sampled along 2 transects, across the Iceland and Irminger basins and in the Labrador Sea. Clay mineral assemblages (deduced from X-ray analyses of the carbonate-free <2 mu m fraction) are largely dominated by smectites (about 60%) in the Iceland and Irminger basins. In the Labrador Sea, smectites are present along the Greenland Slope, but absent or rare in sediments from the Labrador Slope. They may, however, represent up to 50% of the clay fraction at depths between 2800 and 3400 m along both margins of the Labrador Sea, i.e., along the axis of the Western Boundary Undercurrent (WBUC). A detrital supply from the adjacent continents is unlikely. The WBUC is thought to be responsible for erosion and transport of fine particles from the smectite-rich Irminger and Iceland Basins, then for their redeposition in the Labrador Sea. These results suggest that clay minerals can be used as paleocurrent indicators in the Northwest Atlantic.

Research Center/Unit :

GEOTOP

Disciplines :

Earth sciences & physical geography
Physical, chemical, mathematical & earth Sciences: Multidisciplinary, general & others

Author, co-author :

Fagel, Nathalie ; UQAM > Geotop

Robert, Christian

Hillaire Marcel

Language :

English

Title :

Clay mineral signature of the NW Atlantic Boundary Undercurrent

Publication date :

1996

Journal title :

Marine Geology

ISSN :

0025-3227

eISSN :

1872-6151

Publisher :

Elsevier Science, Amsterdam, Netherlands

Volume :

130

Issue :

1-2

Pages :

19-28

Peer reviewed :

Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi

Funders :

CRSNG - Conseil de Recherches en Sciences naturelles et en Génie

Available on ORBi :

since 19 May 2010

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