Abstract The sediments of the equatorial Atlantic Ocean contain different foraminiferal zones. Three zones have been recognized—an upper zone containing warm-water foraminifera, a middle zone containing cool-water types, and a lower zone containing warm-water types. These three zones are interpreted as representing, respectively, from the top downward, sediments deposited since the end of the last ice age, during the last ice age, and during the last interglacial stage. On the assumption that the length of time since the last ice age was 20,000 years, the average rates of deposition for blue mud, Globigerina ooze, and red clay in the equatorial Atlantic Ocean are, respectively, 1.78, 1.2, and less than 0.86 centimeters per 1,000 years. The comparable rate for Globigerina ooze for the Indian Ocean is 0.59 centimeter per 1,000 years, and for diatom ooze, 0.54 centimeter. The rates for the equatorial Atlantic Ocean during the last glacial stage for blue mud and Globigerina ooze are 3.3 and 2.1 centimeters per 1,000 years, respectively.