Fractionation of Carbonate Carbon (Ccarb) Accumulation between Continents and Oceans in the Late Mesozoic–Cenozoic

Abstract

The C_carb masses per time unit was determined for separate oceanic basins and for the entire World Ocean using lithological–facies mapping of the Neo– and Eopleistocene age sections of the Pleistocene pelagic zones in the World Ocean. These parameters are compared with those of continents, continental shelves and slopes, and oceans, which were recalculated using data by Ronov (1993) for the Upper Jurassic–Pliocene. At the Mesozoic–Cenozoic boundary, carbonate accumulation was shifted from continents to oceans. The accumulation of carbonate sediments on continents is determined by areas of epicontinental seas. Significant role in the history of oceanic carbonate sedimentation is played by the nutrient fluxes from continents into the World Ocean. Subduction and evolution of the carbonate compensation depth (CCD) play significant role in calculating the quantitative parameters of carbonate accumulation in ocean.