Abstract
Tropical carbonate systems are valuable archives of paleoenvironments, as the carbonate growth is intimately affected by water depth and climatic conditions. Geochemical data from the Burdigalian interval in IODP Site U1468 in the Maldives, northern Indian Ocean, were integrated with sedimentological and paleontological data for a more detailed reconstruction of depositional history. Generally, the Sr/Ca values of slope sediments record highstand progradation in both sequence unit and whole Burdigalian interval, while the absence of higher Sr/Ca ratio close to the sequence boundary during the early Burdigalian could be related to the erosion of deeper-water sediments due to the activity of bottom current. From 20.5 to 19.1 Ma and from 17.9 to 17.2 Ma, nutrient level and productivity were moderately elevated due to the terrigenous input by the intensified South Asian Proto-Monsoon, which also helped cause more reducing conditions in the distal slope. Moreover, increased nutrient level facilitated the growths of calcareous algae and sponges, while it was not favorable for coral development. The elevated nutrient level, higher sea level, and monsoon-induced current contributed to the backstepping of the outer margin during the late Burdigalian. Our study shows an example on how a tropical carbonate platform evolved in response to the interplay of sea-level and paleoclimatic conditions. Findings are expected to be applicable to other tropical carbonate platforms.
1 Introduction
During the Neogene, temperature gradually rose during the Burdigalian, and culminated during the Miocene Climate Optimum (MCO), which was related to an increase in atmosphere CO2 (Westerhold et al., 2020). In conjunction with the warming, sea level experienced a secular rise from -68 to 60 m due to the shrinking of Antarctic ice sheets (). This occurred coevally to a gradual intensification of both the East Asia Summer Monsoon (EASM) and the South Asian Summer Monsoon (SASM) during this stage (; ). Combined, these shifts likely influenced the development of tropical carbonate platforms across the Indo-Pacific (; ; Wu et al., 2019a).
Carbonate production is closely related to sea level, tectonics, and environmental factors, including temperature, nutrient level, and oxygen level (; ; Schlager, 2003; ; ; ; ; Wu et al., 2021, 2023). Shallower, warmer, more oligotrophic and oxygenic conditions are generally more favorable for the phototrophic organisms (; ; ; ; Wu et al., 2019b). Platform progradation or backstepping can also occur in response to the combined effect of sea level, tectonics, and environments (; ; ; ; ).
The Maldives platform, located in the central equatorial Indian Ocean, is a tropical carbonate platform isolated from the continents, where nearly a 3 km thick Cenozoic carbonate sequence has accumulated (Figure 1). Seismic investigation of the platforms was interpreted to inform on the long-term Miocene carbonate-platform growth in the Maldives (; ). This platform was tectonically stable during the early Miocene, making it suitable to analyze the influence of sea level and environmental factors on carbonate production (; ). Sedimentological, paleontological and geochemical analysis of the cores, drilled by expedition 359 of the International Ocean Discovery project (IODP), has helped to improve the understanding of the factors controlling platform evolution (e.g., long-term platform-architecture change, platform drowning, drift distribution), reconstruct the monsoon intensity, and reinterpret the record of carbon isotope in carbonate sediments (; ; ; ; Swart et al., 2019; ; ; ; ; ).
Figure 1
In the Maldives, the Burdigalian is a stage prior to the shallow-water platform drowning (). Platform progradation towards the Inner Sea was most distinctive during the early Burdigalian (). Meanwhile, there was an initiation of backstepping in the outer platform margin during the late Burdigalian, which evolved gradually into subsequent stages (; ). In this study, we conduct geochemical research [major and trace elements, total organic carbon (TOC), nitrogen isotope of organic matters (δ15NOM)] on the Burdigalian interval of IODP Site U1468 to decode depositional records and reconstruct paleoclimatic conditions. By integrating the geochemical data with sedimentological and paleontological data, we analyze the Burdigalian platform evolution in detail and uncover the impact of sea level and paleoclimate on the platform evolution during this stage.
2 Geological setting
The isolated Maldives archipelago in the equatorial Indian Ocean is a carbonate platform initiating on the Early Paleogene Chagos-Laccadives volcanic ridge (; ). A double row of atolls arranged in N-S direction encloses the Inner Sea, which has a water depth ranging from 300 to 550 m (). The oceanward slopes are generally steep until the water depth of 2000 m (). During the Early Eocene, carbonate production occurred on the topographic highs in the Maldives area (). Neritic carbonate bank sediments accumulated on the shoulders of the graben structure from Eocene to Oligocene under conditions of relative sea level rise (; ). During the Oligocene, the platform developed elevated marginal rims and a depressed inner lagoon (; ). Above the Oligocene-Miocene boundary, a total of 11 sequence boundaries (i.e., PS1-PS11) help identify 11 platform sequences (i.e., ps1-ps11) before 12.9 Ma (). Sequence ps1 and ps3 are mainly characterized by aggradation, while ps2 and ps4 are mainly characterized by distinct eastward progradation to the Inner Sea. Aggradation was present again in ps5, ps6, and ps7, and the eastward progradation was relatively most important in ps6 among these three sequences. Moreover, a backstepping started to occur in ps6 in the outer margin close to the open Indian Ocean. Pronounced progradation developed in ps8-ps11 (, ). Sediments progradation and aggradation during the Early Miocene gradually modified a gentle ramp into a steep-flanked platform (; ). Around 12.9 Ma, there was a partial drowning event in the platform, which was accompanied by thick drift deposits in the Inner Sea (; ; ). The sequence boundary around 12.9 Ma separates the underlying carbonate bank from the overlying drift deposits. There are 10 drift sequences in total. Drift deposits were funneled through passages between the remaining banks, and drift deposition center varied gradually eastward. Monsoon-induced current was the most important factor controlling the platform evolution after 12.9 Ma (; ). Skeletal analysis indicated that planktonic and benthic foraminifera are the most important components in the carbonate banks and drifts (, ).
3 Materials and methods
The samples from IODP site U1468 (4° 55.98’N, 73° 4.28’E) were collected and tested to obtain elemental concentration, organic matter abundance, and nitrogen isotopes. Major and minor elements were analyzed using an inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometer (ICP-AES) and an inductively coupled plasma emission mass spectrometer (ICP-MS), respectively, at the State Key Laboratory of Marine Geology in Tongji University. Testing precision based on duplicates was better than 2% for all the samples. The total organic carbon (TOC) and nitrogen isotope testing were conducted at the State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology (BGEG), China University of Geosciences. HCL (50%) was utilized to decarbonate sample powders. Deionized water was used to rinse the insoluble residues until neutral, and the residues were dried at 50°C overnight and powered again. TOC was measured by a 902T C-S analyzer at the BGEG. Analytical precision was better than 0.1% for all samples. The dry powders were weighted into tin capsules for nitrogen isotope testing and combusted at 960°C. The evolved N2 was analyzed using a continuous-flow Delta V Advantage IRMS. Nitrogen isotope results are reported using standard δ notation as deviations from the δ15N composition of atmospheric N2 (0‰). Analytical precision was better than 0.3‰. The abundance of productivity and nutrient elements (i.e., Cd, Ni, Ba) is normalized to both Ti and Al, in order to better show the changes in productivity and nutrient level during the Burdigalian. Al normalization was not conducted on the samples with Al/Ti ratio values higher than 21, as Al-excess is possibly recorded in these samples and Al normalization is not suitable for these samples (). Moreover, the curve of oxygen isotopic record from IODP Site U1468 is similar to the global trends, which indicates limited diagenetic influence (). This denotes that the elements can be used to trace chemical changes in seawater.
Seismic data across the Maldives platform are obtained after in order to show the characteristics of Burdigalian sequences (Figure 2). As the sequence boundary PS3 is amalgamated with PS2 around Site U1468 at seismic scale (), we combine the platform sequence ps2, ps3, and ps4 at Site U1468 to obtain a better correlation between core and seismic profile data. The age model of Site U1468 follows Spezzaferri et al. (2022), which provided an improved version with detailed identification of planktonic foraminifera, calcareous nannofossils, and benthic foraminifera. Moreover, the identified benthic foraminifera data are also utilized in this study to better reflect the response of carbonate-platform evolution to sea level and paleoclimate.
Figure 2
4 Results
The Sr/Ca ratio varies between 0.0018 and 0.0032 (ppm/ppm, this is the same for following elemental ratios). It increases upwards in ps5, ps6, and the lower part of ps2-ps4, while there is not obvious change in the long-term Sr/Ca values in the whole Burdigalian interval (Figure 3). For U/Ti, V/Ti, Mo/Ti, Cd/Ti, Cd/Al, Ni/Ti, Ni/Al, Ba/Ti, Ba/Al, Fe/Al ratios, their values are generally higher in ps2-ps4 (with averages of 0.306, 0.428, 0.049, 0.010, 0.0006, 1.729, 0.075, 0.137, 0.006, 0.607, respectively), and in the lower part of ps6 (with averages of 0.261, 0.456, 0.117, 0.011, 0.0007, 1.542, 0.110, 0.146, 0.008, 1.019, respectively), while they are generally lower in ps5 (with averages of 0.151, 0.236, 0.050, 0.006, 0.0003, 1.240, 0.062, 0.101, 0.005, 0.148, respectively) and in the upper part of ps6 (with averages of 0.093, 0.204, 0.020, 0.005, 0.0003, 0.776, 0.048, 0.082, 0.005, 0.556, respectively) (Figure 3).
Figure 3

Integrated data of Burdigalian interval in Site U1468. (1) Depth (m); (2) Stage; (3) Age (Ma); (4) Platform sequence (
The TOC values are highest in ps2-ps4 with an average of 0.29, followed by those in ps6 with an average of 0.15, and subsequently by those in ps5 with an average of 0.14 (Figure 3). The δ15NOM values are highest in ps5 with an average of 1.23‰, followed by those in ps6 with an average of 1.05‰, and subsequently by those in ps2-ps4 with an average of 0.91‰ (Figure 3).
5 Discussion
5.1 Records of sea level and current during the Burdigalian
Previous studies on carbonate platforms have shown that carbon isotope (δ13C) and Sr/Ca are possibly useful indexes, as platform-top sediments dominantly consist of aragonite characterized by higher δ13C and Sr/Ca values while pelagic sediments dominantly consist of low-Mg calcite characterized by lower δ13C and Sr/Ca values (Swart and Eberli, 2005; Swart, 2008;
Figure 4

(A) Integrated data of Burdigalian interval in Site U1468: (1) Depth (m); (2) Stage; (3) Age (Ma); (4) Platform sequence (
There is no increase in Sr/Ca ratio in the upper part of ps2-ps4 (Figure 4A). This could result from heavy erosion of the upper ps4. Different to the continuous stacking in the platform top from ps2-ps4 to ps6, the thickness of ps2-ps4 in the slope environment was heavily reduced. The seismic profile shows that there are truncations on the upper ps4 (Figure 2B), which indicates the occurrence of erosion. Erosion of platform sediments in the shallower waters occurred when part of the platform top was likely exposed during low sea-level conditions (Figure 4B). Skeletal assemblage analysis from Site U1468 indicates that ps2-ps4 is characterized by planktonic foraminifera, benthic foraminifera, echinoids, and mollusks (
In such a deep-water setting, bottom current was a possible factor inducing the erosion, which was widely reported in other carbonate platforms (
5.2 Records of paleoclimate during the Burdigalian
Among the platform sequences, ps2-ps4 is generally characterized by higher values of U/Ti, V/Ti, Mo/Ti, and (U+V+Mo)/Ti ratios (Figures 3, 4A). The U/Ti, V/Ti, Mo/Ti, and also (U+V+Mo)/Ti ratios are redox-related, and their higher values can indicate a more reducing environment (Tribovillard et al., 2006). Therefore, the consistently higher values of these ratios indicate that the distal slope from 20.5 to 19.1 Ma was relatively more reducing during the Burdigalian. Research on the underlying sapropel intervals in the Maldives suggested that anoxic conditions caused by highly restricted circulation protected the organic matter from oxidation and decay when the global sea level was generally low (Swart et al., 2019). As the intervals of ps2-ps4 were accumulated in the relatively lower sea-level settings (Figure 4B), it is possible that some restriction could have contributed to the formation of reducing conditions. Despite this, according to the discussion in the previous section, there was a stronger circulation in the slope environment. It is deduced that the reducing conditions from 20.5 to 19.1 Ma was also related to another factor. In company with higher values of U/Ti, V/Ti, Mo/Ti, and (U+V+Mo)/Ti ratios, higher values of Cd/Ti, Ni/Ti, Ba/Ti, and (Cd+Ni+Ba)/Ti ratios also occur in the ps2-ps4 interval (Figures 3, 4A), indicating that the productivity and nutrient level from 20.5 to 19.1 Ma was also elevated (Tribovillard et al., 2006). Moreover, TOC is higher, which is in line with the Cd/Ti, Ni/Ti, Ba/Ti, and (Cd+Ni+Ba)/Ti values (Figures 3, 4A). In many environments elsewhere, higher nutrient availability produces plentiful organic matters and the decay of organic matters consumes oxygen in the seawater, which helps preserve the remains of organic matters (Tribovillard et al., 2006;
For the organic matters in the Burdigalian interval, nitrogen isotope analysis yielded δ15NOM values between 0.36 and 1.89‰ (Figure 4A). Previous study in the younger interval of the Maldives has indicated that the upwelled nitrate is characterized by a strong denitrification with nitrogen isotopic values of the upwelling-related organic matters higher than 4‰ (
The elevated nutrient level could also have some effect on the platform growth. The occurrence of calcareous algae is mainly restricted to ps2-ps4 and the lower part of ps6 in Site U1466 (
6 Conclusions
Based on the geochemical, sedimentological, and paleontological data from IODP Site U1468, we analyze the Burdigalian evolution of the Maldives platform. “Highstand shedding” in the sequence unit was recorded in the Sr/Ca values in the distal slope. Erosion occurred especially in the lower sea-level settings during the early Burdigalian, which was possibly caused by meteoric influence in the shallower waters and bottom currents in the deeper waters. In addition to the restriction effect, higher nutrient level and productivity have also contributed to the occurrence of more reducing conditions and more organic matters from 20.5 to 19.1 Ma and from 17.9 to 17.2 Ma. The higher nutrient availability and productivity were linked to the terrigenous dust and weathering inputs due to the intensification of South Asian Proto-Monsoon. Moreover, the elevated nutrient level had some positive effect on the growth of calcareous algae and sponges, while it was possibly not favorable for coral development at the platform margin. Coupled with raised sea level and monsoon-induced current, the moderately elevated nutrient level caused the backstepping of the outer margin during the late Burdigalian. These results show how the regional and global factors modified the growth of a carbonate platform in the tropical area.
Statements
Data availability statement
The original contributions presented in the study are included in the article/Supplementary Material, further inquiries can be directed to the corresponding author.
Author contributions
FW: Conceptualization, Data curation, Formal analysis, Funding acquisition, Investigation, Methodology, Resources, Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing. ZJ: Methodology, Conceptualization, Formal analysis, Investigation, Supervision, Writing – review & editing. XX: Conceptualization, Formal analysis, Funding acquisition, Investigation, Methodology, Project administration, Resources, Supervision, Validation, Writing – review & editing. OB: Methodology, Conceptualization, Investigation, Writing – review & editing. JR: Conceptualization, Formal analysis, Funding acquisition, Investigation, Methodology, Project administration, Resources, Validation, Writing – review & editing.
Funding
The author(s) declare that financial support was received for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article. This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (42130408; 42106058). JR thanks the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (MCIN) for funding through the Ramón y Cajal Project RYC2021-034362-I (MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and Next Generation EU/PRTR).
Acknowledgments
The authors would like to thank the IODP for providing samples of Site U1468 from the Maldives.
Conflict of interest
The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.
Publisher’s note
All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article, or claim that may be made by its manufacturer, is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.
Supplementary material
The Supplementary Material for this article can be found online at: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2024.1466216/full#supplementary-material
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Summary
Keywords
carbonate system, tropical area, sea level, paleoclimate, Maldives, Burdigalian
Citation
Wu F, Jian Z, Xie X, Bialik OM and Reolid J (2024) Records of Burdigalian sea level and paleoclimate in the Maldives carbonate system. Front. Mar. Sci. 11:1466216. doi: 10.3389/fmars.2024.1466216
Received
17 July 2024
Accepted
02 September 2024
Published
25 September 2024
Volume
11 - 2024
Edited by
Chaojin Lu, University of Miami, United States
Reviewed by
Chao Liu, Henan Polytechnic University, China
Ziye Lu, Southwest Petroleum University, China
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Copyright
© 2024 Wu, Jian, Xie, Bialik and Reolid.
This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
*Correspondence: Feng Wu, finncug@hotmail.com
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