Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Letter
  • Published:

Oxygen isotope calibration of the onset of ice-rafting and history of glaciation in the North Atlantic region

Nature volume 307, pages 620–623 (1984)Cite this article

Abstract

We report here that DSDP Site 552A, cored with the hydraulic piston corer on the west flank of Rockall Bank, recovered an undisturbed sequence of alternating white deep-sea carbonate oozes and dark-coloured layers that are rich in glacial debris. Oxygen isotope analysis of the sequence together with detailed nannofossil and palaeomagnetic stratigraphy shows that the first major horizon of ice-rafting occurred at about 2.4 Myr, and was preceded by a minor pulse of ice-rafting at about 2.5 Myr. The carbon isotope record shows that the site has been bathed by a water mass of similar characteristics to present-day North Atlantic deep water at least since 3.5 Myr.

Access through your institution
Buy or subscribe

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Access through your institution

Buy this article

  • Purchase on SpringerLink
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Berggren, A. A. Init. Rep. DSDP 12, 953–963 (1972).

    Google Scholar 

  2. Backman, J. Stockh. Contr. Geol 32, 113–137 (1979).

    Google Scholar 

  3. Prell, W. L. et al. Init. Rep. DSDP 68, 5–6 (1982).

    Google Scholar 

  4. Shackleton, N. J. & Opdyke, N. D. Quat. Res. 3, 39–55 (1973).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Shackleton, N. J. Coll. int. Cent. natn. Rech. Scient. 219, 203–210 (1974).

    Google Scholar 

  6. Graham, D. W., Corliss, B. H., Bender, M. L. & Keigwin, L. D. Jr Mar. Micropalaeont. 6, 483–497 (1981).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  7. Duplessy, J.-C. et al. Quat. Res. (in the press).

  8. Goree, W. S. & Fuller, M. Rev. Geophys. Space Phys. 14, 591–608 (1976).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  9. Ruddiman, W. F. & McIntyre, A. Mem. Geol. Soc. Am. 145, 111–146 (1976).

    Google Scholar 

  10. Imbrie, J. et al. in Milankovich and Climate (eds Berger, A. L. et al.) (Reidel, Dordrecht, in the press).

  11. Shackleton, N. J. & Opdyke, N. D. Nature 270, 216–219 (1977).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Berggren, W. A., Kent, D. V. & van Couvering, J. Geol. Soc. Lond. Spec. Publ. (ed. Snelling, N. L.) (in the press).

  13. Backman, J. A. & Shackleton, N. J. Mar. Micropalaeont. 8, 141–170 (1983).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  14. Zagwijn, W. Boreas 3, 75–97 (1974).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Stipp, J. J., Chappell, J. H. A. & McDougall, I. Am. J. Sci. 265, 462–474 (1967).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Selli, R. et al. Giorn. Geol. 42, 181–204 (1977).

    Google Scholar 

  17. Backman, J., Shackleton, N. J. & Tauxe, L. Nature 304, 156–158 (1983).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  18. McDougall, I. & Wensink, H. Earth planet. Sci. Lett. 1, 232–236 (1966).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  19. Albertsson, K. J. Náttúrufraedingurinn 48, 1–8 (1978).

    Google Scholar 

  20. Curry, R. R. Science 154, 1121–1142 (1966).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Duplessy, J.-C. thesis, Univ. Paris VI (1972).

  22. Kroopnick, P., Deuser, W. G. & Craig, H. J. geophys. Res. 75, 7668–7671 (1970).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  23. Blanc, P. L., Rabussier, D., Vergnaud-Grazzini, C. & Duplessy, J.-C. Nature 283, 553–555 (1980).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  24. Keigwin, L. D. Science 217, 350–353 (1982).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Blanc, P. L., Fontugne, M. R. & Duplessy, J.-C. Palaeogeogr. Palaeoclimatol. Palaeoecol 42, 211–224 (1983).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Godwin Laboratory for Quaternary Research, Free School Lane, Cambridge, CB2 3RS

    N. J. Shackleton

  2. Department of Geology, University of Stockholm, Stockholm, S-10690, Sweden

    J. Backman

  3. Department of Civil Engineering, Union College, Schenectady, New York, 12308, USA

    H. Zimmerman

  4. Lamond Doherty Geological Observatory of Columbia University, Palisades, New York, 10964, USA

    N. J. Shackleton, D. V. Kent & M. A. Hall

  5. British Petroleum (Overseas) Development Ltd, Britannic House, Moorgate, London, EC1, UK

    D. G. Roberts

  6. Department of Oceanography, University of Maine, Walpole, Maine, 04573, USA

    D. Schnitker

  7. United States Geological Survey, 345 Middlefield Road, Menlo Park, California, 94025, USA

    J. G. Baldauf

  8. Laboratoire de Géochimie des Roches Sédimentaires, University of Paris XI, Orsay, 91405, France

    A. Desprairies

  9. Laboratorium für Erdölgewinnung, Deutsche Texaco AG, 3101, Wietze, FRG

    R. Homrighausen

  10. Georgia Geological Survey, 19 Martin Luther King Jr Drive, Atlanta, Georgia, 30334, USA

    P. Huddlestun

  11. Department of Geology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3052, Australia

    J. Backman & J. B. Keene

  12. Denver Research Center, Marathon Oil Co., 7400 South Broadway, Littleton, Colorado, 80160, USA

    A. J. Kaltenback

  13. Geologisches Institut, Nussallee 8, D-53, Bonn, l, FRG

    K. A. O. Krumsiek

  14. Institute of Geological Sciences, Ring Road, Halton, Leeds, LS15 8TQ, UK

    A. C. Morton

  15. Department of Geology, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK

    J. W. Murray

  16. Scripps Institution of Oceanography, La Jolla, California, 92092, USA

    J. Westberg-Smith

Authors
  1. N. J. Shackleton
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar

  2. J. Backman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar

  3. H. Zimmerman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar

  4. D. V. Kent
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar

  5. M. A. Hall
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar

  6. D. G. Roberts
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar

  7. D. Schnitker
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar

  8. J. G. Baldauf
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar

  9. A. Desprairies
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar

  10. R. Homrighausen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar

  11. P. Huddlestun
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar

  12. J. B. Keene
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar

  13. A. J. Kaltenback
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar

  14. K. A. O. Krumsiek
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar

  15. A. C. Morton
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar

  16. J. W. Murray
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar

  17. J. Westberg-Smith
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Shackleton, N., Backman, J., Zimmerman, H. et al. Oxygen isotope calibration of the onset of ice-rafting and history of glaciation in the North Atlantic region. Nature 307, 620–623 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1038/307620a0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/307620a0

This article is cited by

Search

Advanced search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing