Paleotemperature, geochemical and grain size data in Quaternary sediments from the Gloria Drift (Northwest Atlantic)

Data file presents information on the variation in sea surface temperatures (SST), as well as geochemical (e.g. stable isotope, calcium carbonate), micropaleontological and grain size data from the Gloria Drift (Northwest Atlantic). The data are obtained from the three marine sediment gravity core sections (AMK-4493, AI-3646 and AI-3415) which were formed during Quaternary period. Dataset contains SST values (winter and summer: 0–50 water layer) and ice-rafted debris (IRD) counts, each in 308 samples; stable isotope data (δ18O and δ13C) from 235 samples; calcium carbonate content from 351 samples; relative abundance of polar species of planktonic foraminifera Neogloboquadrina pachyderma (sinistral) (Ehrenberg) in 51 samples, data of grain size analysis in bulk sediments (123 samples) and carbonate-free sediments (664). These data provide information about conditions of sedimentation at the Gloria Drift area.


a b s t r a c t
Data file presents information on the variation in sea surface temperatures (SST), as well as geochemical (e.g. stable isotope, calcium carbonate), micropaleontological and grain size data from the Gloria Drift (Northwest Atlantic). The data are obtained from the three marine sediment gravity core sections (AMK-4493, AI-3646 and AI-3415) which were formed during Quaternary period. Dataset contains SST values (winter and summer: 0-50 water layer) and ice-rafted debris (IRD) counts, each in 308 samples;

Subject area
Marine Geology More specific subject area

Sedimentation in the deep ocean basins
Type of data 1 Table  How  Grain size data allow to reconstruct conditions of sedimentation, as well as near-bottom currents intensity in the past.
Main research output from use our dataset is reconstruction of sedimentation processes at the Gloria Drift area during Quaternary period.

Data
Data file contains quantitative information from the three sediment cores recovered from the Gloria Drift: SST, IRD, stable isotope data (δ 18 O and δ 13 C), calcium carbonate content, relative abundance of polar species of planktonic foraminifera N. pachyderma (s) in AI-3646 core, grain size data of bulk and carbonate-free sediments. Data provide information on the changes in conditions of sedimentation at the Gloria Drift area during the Quaternary period.
For micropaleontological analysis and IRD counts sediments were washed with distilled water and sieved to receive fraction 4150 μm. IRD data and planktonic foraminiferal shells were counted under an MBS-10 microscope. At least 300 lithic grains (IRD) or foraminiferal shells were counted per one sample. IRD index is expressed as a number of lithic grains per gram of dry sediment. Relative abundance of planktonic foraminifera in AI-3646 core sediments is presented. SSTs were reconstructed using a Modern Analog Technique (MAT; water layer 0-50 m) [1]. Modern faunal [2] and hydrological [3] databases were applied.
The δ 18 О and δ 13 С fluctuations in the planktonic foraminiferal shells (N. pachyderma (s), Z30 specimens, average size 150 μm) were analyzed at the Leibniz Laboratory (Kiel University) using a Finnigan MAT 253 mass spectrometer connected to a Kiel IV carbonate preparation device. The analytical precision for analyzing stable carbon and oxygen isotopes is o 0.05‰ and o0.08‰, respectively. The CaCO 3 content was determined using a coulometric method with an AN-7529 M express analyzer.
Grain size analysis was carried out on the SALD-2300 Laser Diffraction Particle Size Analyzer (Shimadzu, Japan). Organic matter and carbonates were removed by treatment with excess H 2 O 2 and HCl, respectively. At some horizons, grain size analysis was carried out without chemical pretreatment (bulk sediments). To disaggregate component grains, sodium tripolyphosphate was added and then each sample was sonicated with an ultrasonic bath immediately before analysis.  To determine the boundaries between marine isotope stages we used stable isotope, micropaleontological, carbonate content, and IRD data.