MACUMA - Poseidon 346

The MACUMA research cruise dealt with the mixed carbonate-siliciclastics sedimentary system on the shelf and shelf slope off Mauretania (Banc d’Arguin and west of Nouakchott). With a latitudinal extention from 17° to 21° N, the study area is positioned in the tropical belt. It however is under the influence of the southward directed Canary Current and an upwelling front. The sedimentary sytem therefore lacks typical tropical elements such as zooxanthellate corals or calcareous green algae. The carbonate sediments that form in the northern part of Banc d’Arguin therefore are an example of atypical tropical carbonates. At the shelf slope, largely unknown deep-water coral reefs represent another peculiarity of the sedimentary system. In addition, the mixed carbonate-siliciclastic system of the middle and southern Banc d’Arguin compose a unique climate archive of the Quaternary.

Scientists aboard the ship:
- Markus Eisele
- André Freiwald
- Karl Gürs
- Till Hanebuth
- Katrin Heindel
- Oliver Lackmann
- Max Lars
- Nadine Peichert
- Jonas v Reumont
- Hildegard Westphal (Chief Scientist)

Scientists involved in the project:
- Matthias Lopez-Correa
- Julien Michel
- Andres Rüggeberg

Cruise report:
Westphal, H. and cruise participants (2007) Report and preliminary results of Poseidon cruise 346, MACUMA. Las Palmas (Spain) – Las Palmas (Spain), 28.12.2006-15.1.2007. Berichte, Fachbereich Geowissenschaften, Universität Bremen, No. 260, 49 p