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CORRELATION BETWEEN PHOSPHATE CONTENT AND THE FORAMINIFERAL PLANKTON/BENTHOS RATIO IN CHALKS (LATE CRETACEOUS, NORTHERN ISRAEL): PALEOENVIRONMENTAL SIGNIFICANCE?
Author(s) -
FLEXER A.,
STARINSKY A.
Publication year - 1970
Publication title -
sedimentology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.494
H-Index - 108
eISSN - 1365-3091
pISSN - 0037-0746
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-3091.1970.tb00194.x
Subject(s) - cretaceous , geology , terrigenous sediment , benthos , plankton , phosphate , upwelling , carbonate , deposition (geology) , phosphorite , paleontology , oceanography , geochemistry , sedimentary rock , sediment , benthic zone , chemistry , organic chemistry
SUMMARY Two environments of phosphate deposition within carbonate rocks are distinguished on the basis of the relationship between phosphate content and the foraminiferal plankton/benthos (P/B) ratio in Senonian‐Maastrichtian chalks of Galilee, Northern Israel: ( 1 ) A normal marine environment of phosphate deposition during Santonian time. This environment is characterized by a low, normal P 2 O 5 content and a positive correlation between P/B ratio and P 2 O 5 . Since it is assumed that the P/B ratio increases with the depth of the sea, it is suggested that the phosphate content in carbonate rocks can be employed as a bathymetric indicator. ( 2 ) An “abnormal” high phosphate deposition environment, found mainly in Upper Campanian sediments and related genetically to the economic phosphorite deposits in the Negev (Central Israel). The negative correlation of P/B ratio to P 2 O 5 is caused by a shallowing of the sea and a continuous increase in P 2 O 5 , (e.g., by upwelling currents or a terrigenous supply) throughout the Upper Campanian.