Marine Sediments
The History of the Ocean
Topics
• Types of Marine Sediment
• Abyssal Clays
• Biogenous Oozes
• Global Distribution of Marine
Sediments
Topics
• Types of Marine Sediment
• Abyssal Clays
• Biogenous Oozes
• Global Distribution of Marine
Sediments
Biogenous Oozes
The hard parts of dead marine organisms
Definition
Biogenous ooze - sediment composed of the hard part of
microscopic marine organisms
Sediment must be at least 30 wt% biogenous material
Biogenous Ooze
Types of Biogenous Oozes
Two types of biogenous ooze:
1. Siliceous ooze - SiO2
2. Calcareous ooze - CaCO3
Types of Siliceous Oozes
Three types of siliceous ooze:
1. Diatom ooze
2. Radiolarian ooze
3. Dinoflagellate ooze
Types of Siliceous Oozes
How does each organism obtain energy?
1. Diatom - autotroph
2. Radiolarian - heterotroph
3. Dinoflagellate - autotroph/heterotoph
Types of Calcareous Oozes
Two types of calcareous ooze:
1. Coccolithophorid ooze
2. Foraminifera ooze
Types of Calcareous Oozes
How does each organism obtain energy?
1. Coccolithophorid - autotroph
2. Foraminifera - heterotroph
Coccolithophore
Biogenous Ooze
White Cliffs of Dover
Characteristics
Size
Source
Composition
Deposition rate
Characteristics
Size - Primarily fine-grained
Source - Primarily biogenous
Composition - Siliceous and calcareous
Deposition rate - Relatively low deposition rate
Next
Global Distribution of
Marine Sediment