Geochemistry of Persististrombus latus Gmelin from the Pleistocene Iberian Mediterranean realm

Abstract

In this paper the organic and inorganic geochemistry of fossil and extant Persististrombus latus are compared, together with other strombid species (Lentigo lentiginosus, Lobatus gigas, Strombus alatus, Lobatus raninus, Laevistrombus canarium and Tricornis latissimus). Using a large sample of well-preserved fossil P. latus shells from the Mediterranean realm, we examined the warming period of sea water in the Middle Pleistocene. A mineralogical study of the shells demonstrates the continuous presence of calcite and a complex organic matter distribution, which was well preserved in many cases, thereby making the U/Th dating of strombid shells unreliable. U /Th analysis of coral samples and amino acid racemization dating of pelecypod shells confirmed that P. latus entered the Mediterranean realm in MIS 7 and 5. The oscillations of the 0 values reflect annual growth periods and provide a mixing of the first signal record (primary growth) and successive overgrowths. • Amino acid racemization, Mediterranean Sea, Persististrombus latus, shell mineralogy, U/Th, O.