Isotopic and Elemental Content of Deep-Sea Sediments from the Black Sea. Preliminary Results

The unraveling of the geological processes, which are recorded in the chemical and isotopic fingerprinting of the deep-sea sediments, demands the introduction of a sensitive parameter over time. The aim of this study is to analyze the deep-sea sediments from the Black Sea, using the stable isotopic and elemental content. For this purpose, 41 sediment samples were taken from five cores, having lengths between 2.66 and 4.24 m using a gravitational core. Additional nine samples were taken from three cores using a multicore equipment. All samples were collected during a two weeks marine expedition, in the beginning of September 2018, in the western part of the Black Sea. The isotopic values (delta C-13; delta O-18) and elemental concentrations (macro-, micro-elements, and heavy metals) were determined in the sediments samples, along with delta O-18 and delta H-2 in extracted water from sediments. Preliminary results obtained from sediments show that delta C-13 values of the bulk organic component range between -27.9 parts per thousand and -22.3 parts per thousand with a mean value of -25.3 parts per thousand, while for inorganic component, the delta C-13 and delta O-18 values range between -4.3 parts per thousand and 1.5 parts per thousand for delta C-13, and from -10.6 parts per thousand to -0.07 parts per thousand for delta O-18, respectively, with a mean of -0.32 for delta C-13 and -5.74 parts per thousand for delta O-18, versus Vienna Pee Dee Belemnite (VPDB) international standard. In the extracted water, the delta O-18 variation range was between -3.5 and 1.6 parts per thousand, with a mean of -1.7 parts per thousand, while the delta H-2 values range between -32.4 parts per thousand and -16.5 parts per thousand with a mean of -23.1 parts per thousand. The results of this research will be the basis of the new paleoclimatic reconstruction using stable isotopes in the deep-sea sediments from the Black Sea.

Automated summary

This study analyzed deep-sea sediments from the Black Sea, determining isotopic values and elemental concentrations in the samples. Results showed different ranges for organic and inorganic components, as well as variation in isotopic values in extracted water. These preliminary findings will contribute to a new paleoclimatic reconstruction using stable isotopes in the deep-sea sediments from the Black Sea.