The long-term impact of magnesium in seawater on foraminiferal mineralogy: Mechanism and consequences
- van Dijk, I.
- de Nooijer, L.J.
- Hart, M.B.
- Reichart, G.-J.
DOIAbstract
Foraminifera are unicellular protists, primarily known for their calcium carbonate shells thatprovide an extensive fossil record. This record, ranging from Cambrian to present shows both major shiftsand gradual changes in the relative occurrence of taxa producing different polymorphs of carbonate. Herewe present evidence for coupling between shifts in calcite- versus aragonite-producing species and periodswith, respectively, low and high seawater Mg/Ca throughout the Phanerozoic. During periods when seawaterMg/Ca is <2 mol/mol, low-Mg calcite-producing species dominate the foraminiferal community. Vice versa,high-Mg calcite- and aragonite-producing species are more abundant during periods with relatively highseawater Mg/Ca. This alteration ...
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