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Separation of sedimentary micron-sized particles for palaeoceanography and calcareous nannoplankton biogeochemistry

Nature Protocols volume 4, pages 14–24 (2009)Cite this article

Abstract

A protocol is described for separating sub-20μm-sized particles contained in sedimentary rocks into size fractions. Geochemical data from manually isolated foraminifera are commonly used in the interpretation of marine palaeoenvironments; problems associated with the isolation of calcareous nannofossils hampers their geochemical exploitation. However, geochemistry performed on calcareous nannofossil monotaxic assemblages should provide more meaningful data sets than those generated from the highly heterogeneous bulk carbonate. This protocol is based on cascade filtering steps, using polycarbonate membranes with well-calibrated pores. Strong ultrasonic treatment can further be applied to selectively reduce the size of particles for greater enrichment. Obtained residues frequently comprise near-monotaxic nannofossil assemblages. The application of this technique, which can be achieved within less than 2 days, has provided distinct fractions of coccoliths, calcareous dinoflagellate shells and also diagenetic monocrystals. This protocol is designed for application in reconstructing the history of water-column physicochemistry and diagenesis. It also has the potential to provide insights into the biogeochemistry of calcareous nannoplankton, including vital effects.

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Figure 1: The microfiltering apparatus; schematic diagram of the filtration column.
Figure 2: The ultrasonic disintegrator composed by the digital controller, the disruptor and the sonicator horn.
Figure 3: Cross-polarized microphotographs of site 758A (Miocene, Indian Ocean) bulk sample and separated fractions (scale bar, 20 μm).
Figure 4: Cross-polarized microphotographs of Early Toarcian black shale, Bascharage section, Luxembourg (scale bar, 10 μm).
Figure 5: Evolution of star-shaped discoasterids breakage induced by strong ultrasonic treatment (scale bar, 2 μm).
Figure 6: Monogenetic assemblages obtained after strong ultrasonic treatment and recovered by a microfiltering step (scale bar, 20 μm).
Figure 7: Scatter diagrams (C and O isotope ratios) of bulk carbonate (crosses), separated fractions (triangles for granulometric fractions and filled circle for ultrasoniced residues) and manually picked foraminifera (squares) with depth stratification given by previous works34.

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful to Maurice Renard (UPMC, Paris) for opening us the door of calcareous nannofossil separation in the JE 2477 'Biominéralisations et Paléoenvironnements' Research Group in Paris, and also to Nathalie Labourdette for her technical assistance in stable isotope analyses and Grégoire Egoroff (undergraduate research assistant) for monocrystal isolation. We warmly thank Ros Rickaby and Owen Green (Oxford University) for valuable improvements of an early version of this manuscript. This protocol also benefited from the helpful contributions of Jackie Lees, Jeremy Young, and an anonymous referee. F.M. was partly supported by UPMC action 'BQR2006' and M.H. by FNR/07/MA6/21.

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Author notes

  1. Fabrice Minoletti and Michaël Hermoso: These authors contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. UPMC Univ Paris 06, JE 2477 Biominéralisations et Paléoenvironnements, Case postale 116, 4 place Jussieu, Paris, F-75005, France

    Fabrice Minoletti, Michaël Hermoso & Vincent Gressier

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  1. Fabrice Minoletti
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Correspondence to Fabrice Minoletti.

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Minoletti, F., Hermoso, M. & Gressier, V. Separation of sedimentary micron-sized particles for palaeoceanography and calcareous nannoplankton biogeochemistry. Nat Protoc 4, 14–24 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1038/nprot.2008.200

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