Distribution, abundance, and preservation of nannofossils in eocene to recent antarctic sediments

Abstract

During operations of the Deep Sea Drilling Vessel Glomar Challenger in the South-east Indian Ocean and Ross Sea (Leg 28, 1972–73) the deepest sedimentary layers of the Antarctic region were sampled for the first time. At four of the drilling sites oceanic calcareous sediments were recovered. The distribution, abundance, and preservation of the nannofossil assemblages in these calcareous sediments are described and illustrated. Preservation of nannofossils within the assemblages differs with the age of the sediment and for different species within particular assemblages. The factors previously described as causing similar dissolution effects in nannofossil assemblages are discussed and from this some paleo-oceanographic interpretations are derived for the Antarctic samples. One new nannofossil species, Dictyococcites perplexa, is describe. © 1975 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.