We present high-resolution data on the carbonate and terrigenous matter contents from the upper 8.30 m of marine sediment core KL42 from the southern Red Sea. The core was recovered at 15°54.9' N and 41°34.7' E from a water depth of 958 m during RV Sonne cruise SO121 in 1997. Carbonate and terrigenous matter, respectively, have been calculated as weight difference after dissolving carbonate from the bulk sediment with acetic acid.