Comparison between modern polar and temperate skeletal carbonate mineralogy and oxygen and carbon isotopes, Antarctic and Tasmanian shelves

Abstract

Modern bryozoan skeletal mineralogy varies with seawater temperature: polar Antarctic bryozoans are mainly low-Mg calcite, whereas temperate Tasmanian bryozoans are predominantly high-Mg calcite with variable amounts of aragonite. Bivalve molluscs from both polar and temperate regions are mainly aragonite with variable amounts of low-Mg calcite. The 0180 and o13C isotope fields of polar skeletons are clearly separated from the temperate fields, due to differences in seawater temperatures, levels of 013C in seawater and the circulation of seawater masses. 0180 values of bryozoa, benthic foraminifera and bivalve molluscs give near-equilibrium seawater temperatures. Small differences in 0180 and o13C values between skeletons are due to their variable growth rates. Meltwater effects are small (7%) in the polar Antarctic Sea and high (<25%) in the shallow Arctic Sea because ice sheets do not melt in the Antarctic region, whereas significant melting of ice sheets occurs in summer in the Arctic regions. Skeletal carbonate mineralogy and 0180 and o13C variations can be used in the recognition of ancient, non-tropical carbonate skeletons and carbonate rocks.