Petrography of bottom rock material

Abstract

The Quaternary sediments of the Barents Sea contain a large amount of coarse clastic bottom rock material (BRM), with varying degrees of grain roundedness. Its study is important in determining the type and composition of the earth's crust, with paleogeographic constructions and revealing data on the dynamics of the ice cover. Studies of the Barents Sea BRM began in the 20s of the last century. During this period, were formed basically two hypotheses about the relationship between the distribution of BRM with elements of the sea topography and bedrock exposure. One of them considers BRM a marker suitable for identifying petrographic provinces at the bottom of the Barents Sea [Klenova, 1960]. In this chapter, on the basis of new up-to-date data obtained in 67 and 68 cruises of the RV Akademik Mstislav Keldysh in 2016–2017, the grain size, petrochemical and mineral compositions of BRM are estimated, their distribution patterns are given, transportation methods are analyzed and its feasibility is evaluated use in geological mapping. 4,193 samples were processed in Quaternary sediments, among which 86 reference types were identified. It was shown that the diversity of the composition of the Barents Sea BRM depends on glacial and ice-ice spacing. Therefore, the use of BRM for geological mapping of the bottom of the Barents Sea is unsuitable. The petrographic composition of the BRM in different regions of the Barents Sea is subject to significant fluctuations, but in general it is complementary to the set of rocks in the areas of demolition of adjacent land and depends on the extent of exaration and the removal of exaration material by the glacier to sedimentation areas.