The primary Mg/Ca ratio of foraminiferal shells is a potentially valuable paleoproxy for sea surface
temperature (SST) reconstructions. However, the reliable extraction of this ratio from sedimentary calcite
assumes that we can overcome artifacts related to foraminiferal ecology and partial dissolution, as well as
contamination by secondary calcite and clay....
Mg/Ca ratios in planktonic foraminifera reflect calcification temperatures and are thus useful for sea
surface temperature (SST) reconstructions. Despite the obvious utility of this paleoceanographic tracer,
problems of dissolution, gametogenic calcification, and contaminant phases have thus far limited
confidence in Mg/Ca-based reconstructions. Here we show strong evidence of Mg heterogeneity...