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UNCLASSI FIED 1/31/74<br />

SECURITY CLASSIFICATION OF THIS PAGE (When Dele IInlered)<br />

20. CL ay-mineral analyses indi cate that the chl ori te-enri ched sediment is<br />

derived from the northeastern continental margin of North America.<br />

Abyssal contour-foll owi ng currentswhi ch flow around the Greater Anti 11 es<br />

Outer Ri dge are interpreted as an extension of the Western Boundary<br />

Undercurrent (WBUC) found along the continental rise of eastern North<br />

America. This current system is proposed to be the agent which has<br />

transported sediment southward for more than 2500 km and deposited it on<br />

the Greater Antilles Outer Ridge. Sediment is presently carried in concentrati<br />

ons up to 65 ug/l iter in the currents fl owi ng around the outer<br />

ri dge, and mi nera 1 analyses show that the suspended sediment has a<br />

northern provenance; it is similar in composition to the bottom sediment<br />

and is interpreted as the source of sedi ment depos i ted on the Greater<br />

Antilles Outer Ridge. The Puerto Rico Trench began to form in middle<br />

Eocene time, and it cut off direct downslope sedimentation to the Greater<br />

Antilles Outer Ridge. At the same time, the newly formed WBUC interacted<br />

with existing sea-floor topography and the Antarctic Bottom Water (AABW)<br />

flowing in from the South Atlantic, and it began to deposit acoustically<br />

transparent sediment on the eastern outer ridge. This depositional<br />

pattern pers i s ted unti 1 the mi ddl e or 1 ate Mi ocené, when increased AABW<br />

flow diverted the WBUC to the northwest and initiated deposition of the<br />

western sector of the Greater Antilles Outer Ridge. Shortly thereafter,<br />

decreased AABW flow and lower current speeds allowed rapi d depos i ti on of<br />

sediment on the Greater Anti 11 es Outer Ri dge and on the Cai cos Outer<br />

Ridge to the west. The bottom topography has controlled the abyssal<br />

current pattern, and current-controlled deposition has continued to construct<br />

the Greater Antilles Outer Ridge since early Pliocene time.<br />

UNCLASSIFIED 1/31/74<br />

SECURITY CLASSIFICATION OF THIS PAGE(""en Dele Entered)<br />

)<br />

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