Comparative Analysis of Pleistocene Sediments of Pelagic Area and Submarine Continental Margins of the Pacific Ocean.

Abstract—Lithological-facies mapping of Pleistocene sediments of pelagic zone and ten key areas of the Pacific submarine margins allowed us to compile the review maps of the Neo- and Eopleistocene sediments for almost 90% of ocean basin area. The comparative analysis of quantitative sedimentation parameters for the Pleistocene sediments of the pelagic and continental margins revealed an increase of absolute mass of lithogenic matter on continental margins by more than eight times, while СаСО3 and biogenic opal, by less than five times. The increasing trend of lithogenic and СаСО3 fluxes in both megafacies zones was proved. Pelagic zone demonstrates an increase of biogenic opal accumulation in the Neopleistocene compared to the Eopleistocene, while fluxes of biogenic opal on the seafloor of continental margins were higher in the Eopleistocene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]