Benthic and planktic carbon and oxygen isotopes, planktic trace elements, XRF-derived elemental ratios from Site NGHP-01-01A

This study presents geochemical data from Site NGHP-01-01A in the eastern Arabian Sea from the Oligocene to Early Miocene (~32–20 Ma) to reconstruct the oceanographic evolution of this region through this interval. Analyses consist of planktic and benthic foraminiferal oxygen and carbon isotopes, and planktic foraminiferal trace elements (Mg/Ca and Mn/Ca), as well as seawater d18O (d18Osw) and Mg/Ca-derived temperatures.

Along with XRF-derived elemental analysis, these reveal the Oligocene–Miocene transition (~23.7–22.7 Ma) to be a key initiation/intensification of the proto-SAM system, with the development of an intense oxygen minimum zone and monsoonal atmospheric circulation.