Late quaternary geology of rodos deep-sea basin (eastern mediterranean sea)
The studied sections of Late Quaternary sediments were composed of the upper layers, up to 45 cm thick, of predominantly brown color, and of the underlying gray and dark-gray layers containing scattered hydrotroilite or crystalline laminas of iron sulfide. In clayey silt, there is an abundance of sand, silt, rock fragments, and shells of fossils. The particles of carbonate sediment provide for high (37-43%) calcareousness. Oxides of Mg, Si, and, especially, Mn in low concentrations are essential components of sedimentary formations. The majority of samples have low Corg (0,5%); however, in the sapropel silts, its share ranges from 1 to 3,8%. The organic matter (OM) was analyzed for organic carbon (Corg), total N (Ntot), bitumens, and the insoluble fraction. This OM is very poorly geochemically transformed. Irregular textures dominate in the sediments, but, there are invervals with visible bedding, alternation of laminas, turbidite and contourite textures. The sections of even closely located geochemical stations do not correlate.