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X-ray imagery and physical core logging as a proxy of the content of sediment cores in cold-water coral mound provinces: a case study from Porcupine Seabight, SW of Ireland

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Abstract

Three provinces, characterized by the presence of carbonate mounds interpreted as cold-water coral banks have been reported in Porcupine Seabight, SW of Ireland and were recently subjected to many detailed studies. This contribution discusses the use of X-ray imagery and physical properties in deciphering palaeoceanographic, sedimentological and biological processes. Physical property core logging and X-ray imagery are used to identify and describe sedimentation regimes and so their respective palaeoceanographic and palaeoclimatological settings in two mound provinces, respectively the Belgica mound province and the Magellan mound province. Both provinces show at present time clear differences in the hydrodynamic environment. This study confirms that also during the past the oceanographic and sedimentological environment of both provinces differ clearly. Impacts of glacial–interglacial variations and locally derived ice rafting events (IRE), comparable with the North Atlantic Heinrich events (HE) have been recognized in both provinces. Moreover, the combination of X-ray imagery, magnetic susceptibility, gamma density and P-wave velocity makes it possible to estimate the coral content and coral distribution in unopened cores localized on top of carbonate mounds. A comparison between on-mound and off-mound cores in both provinces allowed revealing some mechanisms of mound evolution and coral growth versus time.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the captain, crew and shipboard parties of R/V Marion Dufresne (2001), R/V Belgica (1997–2001), R/V Pelagia (2002) and R/V Polarstern (2000). The IPEV and Yvon Balut are also thanked for the core acquisition and for logistic support. O. Weber, M. Cremer and J. Saint-Paul (DGO, Universite Bordeaux I) are acknowledged for their support with the SCOPIX analyses. The authors would also like to thank Dr. V. Huvenne and Dr. B. De Mol for their overall support during this research. This publication used TOBI side-scan sonar data and survey results acquired during a project undertaken with support of the European Union (EASSS III programme, ‘Improving Human Potential’, contract HPRI-CT-1999-00047) and on behalf of the Porcupine Studies Group (PSG) of the Irish Petroleum Infrastructure Programme Group 3. All the data have been acquired within the framework of the EC FP5 programs GEOMOUND and ECOMOUND. AF is a PhD student funded through a FWO Fellowship. DVR is a post-doctoral fellow funded by the FWO-Flanders.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Renard Centre of Marine Geology, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281 S8, 9000, Gent, Belgium

    A. Foubert, D. Van Rooij & J.-P. Henriet

  2. Laboratoire des Sciences du Climat et de l’Environnement/IPSL, Laboratoire mixte CNRS/CEA/UVSQ, Bâtiment 12, 4 avenue de la Terrasse, 91198, Gif-sur-Yvette, France

    D. Van Rooij & D. Blamart

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  1. A. Foubert
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Correspondence to A. Foubert.

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Foubert, A., Van Rooij, D., Blamart, D. et al. X-ray imagery and physical core logging as a proxy of the content of sediment cores in cold-water coral mound provinces: a case study from Porcupine Seabight, SW of Ireland. Int J Earth Sci (Geol Rundsch) 96, 141–158 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00531-006-0087-5

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