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Paleocene to lower Eocene clay sedimentation in the Bay of Biscay

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Abstract

A study of the mineralogy of red clay sequences overlying basalt in the Bay of Biscay revealed two successive units: unit one (lower unit) indicates that clay minerals are the result of subaerial weathering of acid or basic continental rocks, occurring in the Galice province (northwest Spain); and unit two (upper unit) consists of fine-grained particles which suggest distinct volcanic activity. Clay materials from the first unit (Paleocene) are deposited in shallow environments, whereas the second unit materials (lower Eocene) Occur in deeper environments followed by neoformation of clay Minerals and concentration of chemical elements (cobalt, nickel, lead, zinc, and barium).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre de Recherches sur l'Environnement Sédimentaire et Structural des Domaines Marins, Université de Bordeaux I, 351 Cours de la Libération, 33405, Talence, France

    M. Parra, C. Puechmaille & A. Ferragne

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  1. M. Parra
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  2. C. Puechmaille
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  3. A. Ferragne
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Parra, M., Puechmaille, C. & Ferragne, A. Paleocene to lower Eocene clay sedimentation in the Bay of Biscay. Geo-Marine Letters 5, 135–139 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02233939

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02233939

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