6 ka anoxic condition in the Sibuyan Sea Basin, Philippines - possible link with an explosive eruption event?

Marine tephra layers in Philippine inland seas were studied to evaluate the history of explosive volcanism in the region and their impact on the marine environment. Two discrete andesitic (SiO*blc*2*elc* = 55-63 wt%) tephra layers were found at depths 446.5-448.4 cm and 454.9-455.8 cm in the gravity core MD 3057 recovered during the Marion Dufresne Marco Polo 2 cruise in 2006. The 7m-long core was retrieved from the northern portion of the Sibuyan Sea Basin at 1660 m below sea level. A C-14 age of 6 ka was obtained for the lower tephra using benthic foraminifera collected immediately below the tephra layer. The tephra layers have similar major element compositions and follow the same fractionation trend on the basis of glass geochemistry. Compositions are distinct from the nearby active andesitic volcanoes, Taal and Mayon. Microprobe imaging showed the occurrence of authigenic pyrite within the lower andesitic tephra layer. Pyrite occurs as euhedral crystals or granular masses (framboids), which are isolated particles or foraminiferal infillings. Framboidal pyrite is associated with anoxic environments where anaerobic bacteria reduces SO*blc*4*elc* dissolved in sea water, initiating the formation of H*blc*2*elc*S. H2S reacts with iron in sediments to form pyrite. Anoxic conditions occur in ocean basins with restricted water exchange due to a physical barrier (sill), density stratification or where input of organic material is high. Alternatively, anoxic conditions may have been caused by the death of benthic organisms due to tephra deposition by depriving the organisms of their food supply. The effect of this apparent anoxic event on benthic foraminifera will be analyzed in detail. It is postulated that these anoxic conditions may cause a decline in the benthic foraminifera occurrence. The extent and duration of anoxic condition of the northern part of the Sibuyan Sea Basin 6 ka needs to be clarified because present-day water condition in the basin is normal. If this condition were transient, it can be inferred that such occurrence may have been related to explosive volcanism ~6 ka.