Regional deep-sea dynamic processes recorded by late Cenozoic sediments of the southeastern Indian Ocean

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Abstract
SE Indian Ocean sedimentary cores from the mid-ocean ridge are mostly late Quaternary in age. Flanking this zone in deep basins are areas where bottom currents eroded or inhibited deposition of sediments ranging in age from Quaternary to Pliocene, and occasionally middle Tertiary. This regional deep-basin erosion extends northward to the Wharton Basin where sediments as old as Late Cretaceous are exposed. Much of the shallower Kerguelen Plateau underwent erosion by bottom currents. The erosional disconformities in the deep basins were created by increase in velocities of Antarctic Bottom Water during the last 2.5 million yr [m.y.]. Extensive areas of Mn nodules developed in conjunction with this bottom-current activity. Long-term major erosion by the Circumpolar Current across the Kerguelen Plateau is indicated. High-velocity Antarctic Bottom Water flows through the S Indian Basin, and into the S Australian Basin, and then flows into the Wharton Basin. Major Cenozoic to Late Cretaceous hiatuses in the Wharton Basin suggest that northward-flowing bottom water through this conduit was a very long term feature. The radiolarians Triceraspyris sp., Lychnocanium grande, Desmospyris spongiosa, Eucyrtidium calvertense, Clathrocyclas bicornis and Saturnalis planetes and the foraminferans Globorotalia puncticulata, G. inflata and G. crassaformis are mentioned.
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