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Background: In this research we formulate answers to three important questions related to Givetian carbonate records and their use for reconstructing million-year-scale past palaeoenvironmental changes. First, we provide detailed illustrations of the fascinating diversity that shaped a significant shallow reefal platform during early to late Givetian time in the Rhenohercynian Ocean; secondly we improve the sedimentological model of the extensive Givetian carbonate platform in the Dinant Basin; and thirdly we evaluate the application of magnetic susceptibility as a tool for long-term trend correlations and palaeoenvironmental reconstructions. Methodology/Principal findings: These goals are reached by making a sedimentological, geophysical and geochemical study of the La Thure section. Through the early-late Givetian interval we discerned 18 microfacies ranging from a homoclinal ramp to a discontinuously rimmed shelf and then a drowning shelf. The comparison of these sedimentological results with those published for the south of the Dinant Syncline allowed us to provide an up to date model of the vertical and lateral environmental development of one of the largest Givetian carbonate platforms in Europe. This comparison also increased the knowledge on the distribution of facies belts in the Dinant Basin and allowed us to highlight the Taghanic Event. Palaeoredox proxies reveal a substantial change in the oxygenation level, from oxygen-depleted to more oxic conditions, between middle and late Givetian time. We demonstrated the relationship between variation in magnetic susceptibility values and proxies for siliciclastic input (such as Si, Al). Significance: The La Thure section is considered a key section for the understanding of Givetian paleoenvironmental changes within the internal shelf settings bordering Laurussia's southeastern margin.

Site U1460 ended at 1945 h on 15 August. A total of 133 cores were recovered with the HLAPC system; of the 606.7 m cored, 592.2 m was recovered (recovery = 97%). Hole U1460A After arriving at Hole U1460A (27°22.4948′S, 112°55.4296′E), preparations for coring commenced. As a result of previous difficulty establishing the mudline core at Site U1459 (broken core barrel), the seafloor was tagged with the bit to determine its precise location and whether it was as hard as the previous site. A nonmagnetic HLAPC core barrel was dressed with a core liner, picked up, and run into the hole. Hole U1460A was started at 0115 h on 13 August. Based on the recovery of the mudline core, the seafloor depth was calculated to be 214.5 mbsl. Coring continued with the HLAPC system through Core 356-U1460A-64F to 298.2 m DSF. After the mudline core, each core was advanced 4.7 m despite partial strokes on Cores 2F, 9F, and 64F. Hole U1460A was cored to a final depth of 300.1 m DSF (Core 65F). During coring, a routine slip, cut, and retermination of the coring line was performed. At the conclusion of coring, the drill string was pulled back to 231.6 m DSF and the top drive was set back. The drill string was pulled back to just above the seafloor, clearing the seafloor at 0605 h on 14 August and ending Hole U1460A. Of 300.1 m cored, 291.39 m of material was recovered (recovery = 97.1%). The total time spent on Hole U1460A was 33.25 h. Hole U1460B After offsetting the vessel 20 m north of Hole U1460A, preparations were made to begin Hole U1460B (27°22.4867′S, 112°55.4265′E). A nonmagnetic HLAPC core barrel was dressed with a core liner, picked up, and run into the hole. Hole U1460B was started at 1920 h on 14 August. Based on the recovery of the mudline core, the seafloor depth was calculated to be 214.4 mbsl. Coring continued with the HLAPC system through Core 356-U1460B-68F to 306.6 m DSF. After the mudline core, each core was advanced by recovery in an attempt to cover any gaps from Hole U1460A. Of the 306.6 m cored, 800.81 m was recovered (recovery = 98%). Also in this hole, in situ temperature measurements were made with the APCT-3 before recovering Cores 12F, 20F, 28F, 33F, and 36F. During coring, a routine slip, cut, and retermination of the coring line was performed. At the conclusion of coring, the drill string was pulled back to 260.7 m DSF and the top drive was set back. The drill string was pulled from the hole and the advanced piston corer/extended core barrel bit cleared the rig floor at 1940 h. The thrusters and hydrophones were pulled and secured, and at 1945 h on 15 August, Site U1460 concluded. The total time spent on Hole U1460B was 37.75 h.

Background and objectives 1 Operations 9 Lithostratigraphy 22 Biostratigraphy and micropaleontology 33 Geochemistry 36 Paleomagnetism 40 Physical properties 46 Downhole measurements 50 Stratigraphic correlation 64 References

Reconstructing monsoon variability during past Greenhouse periods is critical for understanding its future response(s) to global warming. The East Asian Summer Monsoon (EASM) is a critical component of the Asian monsoonal system and brings abundant moisture from the Pacific Ocean and the South China Sea to East Asia (J.