In this study we revisited the Cretaceous of the Eratosthenes Seamount (ESM) from IODP LEG 160 Hole 967E, updating the chronology, depositional environment, and paleobathymetry of the ESM. Our goal was also to address the spatio-temporal distribution of organic matter and, by comparison with the eastern margins of the Levant Basin, discuss basin-wide controls on its deposition and preservation.

The investigated core has a relatively continuous Cretaceous succession from the Aptian to the Danian. By identifying the Pα Zone we conclude that the base of the Paleocene is included in the 967E section. A total of 17 ages were identified, with low sedimentation rates of 0.04–

2.37 cm/kyr. Petrographic analysis revealed pronounced differences, from micritic pellets, benthic foraminifera, algae, and mollusks in the bottom part of the core, to deep water facies in the uppermost Cretaceous. Paleobathymetry ranged between 0.5 and 5 m in the Aptian to 300–600 m in the Maastrichtian.

Both high productivity and OMZ conditions prevailed during the Cenomanian–Turonian, as well as elsewhere in the eastern Mediterranean. While the low core recovery might affect reliable interpretation, we present two alternative explanations for the high vs. low organic content of the Campanian–Maastrichtian in the eastern Levant Basin vs. the ESM: (1) Location relative to upwelling cells; (2) Relative bathymetry, with the ESM representing a paleohigh for much of the Cretaceous, similar to the organic-poor anticline deposits in the eastern Levant, where the massive intervals of organic-rich carbonates accumulated only in the synclines of the Syrian Arc deformational belt.

在这项研究中，我们从 IODP LEG 160 孔 967E 重新审视了白垩纪的埃拉托色尼海山 (ESM)，更新了 ESM 的年代学、沉积环境和古水深测量。我们的目标也是解决有机质的时空分布问题，并通过与黎凡特盆地东部边缘的比较，讨论盆地范围内对其沉积和保存的控制。

所研究的岩心具有从阿普特阶到大尼阶相对连续的白垩纪演替。通过确定 Pα 带，我们得出结论，古新世的底部包含在 967E 剖面中。共鉴定出 17 个年龄，沉降率低至 0.04–

2.37 厘米/千里。岩石学分析揭示了显着的差异，从核心底部的泥晶颗粒、底栖有孔虫、藻类和软体动物到白垩纪最上部的深水相。Aptian 的古水深测量范围在 0.5 到 5 m 到 Maastrichtian 的 300-600 m 之间。

在 Cenomanian-Turonian 以及东地中海其他地方，高生产力和 OMZ 条件都盛行。虽然岩心采收率低可能会影响可靠的解释，但我们针对东部黎凡特盆地坎帕尼亚-马斯特里赫特与 ESM 的高有机质含量与低有机质含量提出了两种替代解释：（1）相对于上升流单元的位置；(2) 相对水深，ESM 代表白垩纪大部分地区的古隆起，类似于东部黎凡特的贫有机质背斜沉积物，其中大量富有机质碳酸盐层段仅在叙利亚弧形变向斜堆积腰带。