This table contains atmospheric CO2-estimates based on stomata retrieved in the Messel fossil pit and published by Grein (2010) and Grein et al. (2011). The data is based on leaves retrieved from the Messel fossil pit (earliest Middle Eocene; 47.66 to 47.22 Ma). The leaves were microscopically analysed for their stomata density and which was then converted into atmospheric CO2 content (cf. Grein 2010, Grein et al., 2011 for details about the algorithm). The plant fossils were listed with their original outcrop depth which was marked down relative to marker beds. We projected the outcrop depth (m) onto the FB2001 drill core depth using the marker beds as reference horizons. The age (Ma) as well as mean, maximum and minimum of the CO2 estimates are reported as well as the respective plant species.
To investigate variability and drivers of extreme precipitation events under high greenhouse gas concentrations prevalent during the Eocene we computed recurrence times of Fe/Ti peaks in the XRF scanning record of FB2001, reflecting siderite layers that are interpreted to reflect strong precipitation events. Fe/Ti-peaks were detected based on a peak-detection algorithm, followed by counting over a sliding window. Recurrence times were calculated based on the number of Fe/Ti peaks per 5 ka window. Upper and lower boundaries of recurrence times are calculated based on bootstrapping. The record covers the period 47.66 to 47.22 Ma
This table contains Mean Annual Temperatures (MAT) reconstructed using branched GDGTs obtained on core FB2001 from Messel (earliest Middle Eocene; 47.66 to 47.22 Ma), relative to the core depth and age. The error given reflects the calibration error. Samples from the depth interval 17.38 to 30.88 m were analyzed in Frankfurt by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry (HPLC-APCI-MS) on a Shimadzu UFLC device coupled to an AB Sciex 3200QTrap. Samples from the interval between 35.94 to 70.94 m core analyzed at RWTH Aachen University, Aachen (Germany), using an Agilent 1260 Infinity II HPLC coupled to an Agilent LC/MSD XT mass spectrometer.
The data contains Fe/Ti and K/Ti ratios obtained via XRF core scanning of drill core FB2001 from the Messel fossil pit (earliest Middle Eocene; 47.66 to 47.22 Ma) versus core depth and age. Scanning was performed at the Institute of Institute of Earth Sciences, Heidelberg University (Germany), with an Avvatech (Gen. IV) X-Ray Fluorescence Scanner. The purpose of this analysis was to objectively detect and quantify the occurrence of siderite layers in the Messel oil shale. These siderite layers are interpreted to represent extreme precipitation events.
In selected intervals, we measured titanium and iron contents in parallel to rock magnetic parameters (Fig. 9). Titanium content is a good reflection of detrital input since minerals containing titanium are not very sensitive to dissolution. Iron, however, is rather mobile and involved in the redox history of highly porous sediments: the spike of iron observed on top of the sedimentary column (Fig. 9A) marks the redox front. We observed a strong similarity between the titanium and HIRM curves: the detrital input decreases from the late glacial to the Holocene. In ancient sediments, HIRM and titanium display similar variations with high values in glacials and low values in interglacials (Fig. 9B).