Clues to the geochemical evolution of the sedimentary environment as revealed by factor analysis of sediments in area CC of the East Pacific oceanic basin

Abstract: A systematic geochemical and multivariant statistical analysis of Late Cenozoic sediments (including 61 samples of surface sediments and 16 piston cores of sedimentary columns) from the East Pacific oceanic basin during the cruises DY851 and DY853 sponsored by the China Oceanic Mineral Resources Association has revealed some characteristics of geochemical evolution of the sedimentary environment in area CC of the East Pacific oceanic basin during the Late Cenozoic. It is considered that the ocean-floor spreading, distance from the East Pacific ridge, submarine geothermal flow and frequency of geothermal activity might affect the depth of the carbonate compensation depth (CCD) and the frequency and amplitude of CCD fluctuation, and therefore constrained the sedimentary environment of the study area to some extent.