A high-resolution tephrostratigraphy from Quoyloo Meadow, Orkney, Scotland: Implications for the tephrostratigraphy of NW Europe during the Last Glacial-Interglacial Transition

Here we present the results of a detailed cryptotephra investigation through the Lateglacial to early Holocene transition, from a new sediment core record obtained from Lake Hämelsee, Germany. Two tephra horizons, the Laacher See Tephra (Eifel Volcanic Field) and the Saksunarvatn Ash (Iceland), have been previously described in this partially varved sediment record, indicating the potential of the location as an important Lateglacial tephrochronological site in northwest Europe. We have identified three further tephra horizons, which we correlate to: the c. 12.1 ka BP Vedde Ash (Iceland), the c. 11 ka BP Ulmener Maar tephra (Eifel Volcanic Field) and the c. 10.8 ka BP Askja‐S tephra (Iceland). Three additional cryptotephra deposits have been found (locally named HÄM_T1616, HÄM_T1470 and HÄM_T1456‐1455), which cannot be correlated to any known eruption at present. Geochemical analysis of the deposits suggests that these cryptotephras most likely have an Icelandic origin. Our discoveries provide age constraints for the new sediment records from Lake Hämelsee and enable direct stratigraphical correlations to be made with other tephra‐bearing sites across Europe. The new tephrostratigraphical record, within a partially varved Lateglacial sediment record, highlights the importance of Lake Hämelsee as a key site within the European tephra lattice.

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“…; Timms et al . ). C. The correlation of the phonolitic shards of HÄM _T1558 to the Laacher See Tephra (data from Riede et al .…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…; Timms et al . ). F. The correlation of the basaltic shards of HÄM _T1401.5 to the Saksunarvatn Ash (data from Lind & Wastegård ; Davies et al .…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 97%

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The Lateglacial to early Holocene tephrochronological record from Lake Hämelsee, Germany: a key site within the European tephra framework

Jones

Lane

Brauer

et al. 2017

Boreas

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“…These developments have led to a significant increase in routine cryptotephra studies across northern Europe in recent years (e.g. Wulf et al ., ; Timms et al ., ; van der Bilt et al ., ; Watson et al ., ). However, cryptotephra layers have not yet been identified in Finland, despite its favourable location in relation to transport pathways of Icelandic tephra, proven by the classic study of Salmi () that identified visible fall‐out of tephra from the Hekla 1947 eruption on the snowpack surface in southern Finland.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Rhyolitic and dacitic component of the Askja 1875 tephra in southern and central Finland: first step towards a Finnish tephrochronology

Kalliokoski

Wastegård

Saarinen

2018

J Quaternary Science

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Tephra from Icelandic volcanic eruptions is frequently dispersed to northern Europe, but so far tephra has not been detected in Finnish sedimentary records. We report the first finding of a cryptotephra layer in southern and central Finland. Sediment samples from five lakes and 10 peatlands, most of them located in the tephra fallout zone of the Hekla 1947 eruption, were investigated for the presence of cryptotephra to assess the potential for tephrochronology in Finland. Tephra shards were extracted from their host matrix and electron probe microanalysis was conducted on single shards for geochemical characterization. Our results confirm the presence of Askja 1875 tephra in Finland, thus extending the known dispersal area of the Askja 1875 tephra eastwards. Most of the shards are rhyolitic, but a minor concentration of tephra with dacitic composition forms a narrow dispersal zone extending from Sweden to southern Finland. This zone possibly represents the main dispersal axis of the tephra in the distal area. Our results suggest that Finnish environmental research could benefit greatly from adding tephrochronology to the array of dating methods commonly used. Additionally, the absence of Hekla 1947 tephra in the previously inferred fall‐out zone is an important result indicating the complexity of tephra deposition and preservation.

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“…Despite the speed and efficiency of this method, lower concentration ultra‐distal layers, such as Glacier Peak, would be difficult to resolve. Timms et al () have highlighted how contiguous examination at higher stratigraphic resolution results in the detection of additional tephrostratigraphic detail. Therefore, a more thorough examination of the original cores used in Pyne‐O'Donnell () was undertaken in this study at contiguous higher resolution, along with off‐peak glass shard chemical analysis in order to visually or chemically detect the locations of any additional low‐concentration cryptotephra layers such as Glacier Peak.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Glacier Peak and mid‐Lateglacial Katla cryptotephras in Scotland: potential new intercontinental and marine‐terrestrial correlations

Pyne-O’Donnell

Jensen

2019

J Quaternary Science

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Using contiguous high resolution sampling methods, we report the detection of a Glacier Peak volcanic ash from North America in Lateglacial Interstadial lake sediments in western Scotland. It occurs in close proximity to the Icelandic Borrobol and Penifiler tephras, but is distinguishable by its rhyolitic major‐element composition that is consistent with the earliest set G layer, one of a number of mid‐Interstadial Glacier Peak eruptions dated between 13.71 and 13.41 cal ka bp. Another cryptotephra layer present in these same Interstadial sediments has a rhyolitic composition consistent with the Icelandic Katla source. However, it is in a stratigraphic position below the widespread mid‐Lateglacial Stadial Vedde Ash from Katla, which is also present in these cores. The Katla layer is stratigraphically well defined, suggesting primary airfall, and is compositionally similar to a mid‐Interstadial rhyolitic tephra reported from a North Atlantic marine sequence south of Iceland dated to ~13.6 ka. The detection of Glacier Peak G in the European tephrostratigraphy will permit direct high‐precision correlation of mid‐Interstadial palaeoenvironments between North American and European terrestrial sequences. Any correlation between the new Katla layer and similar marine layers remains provisional, though if verified would permit similar correlation between North Atlantic marine and European terrestrial records.

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A high-resolution tephrostratigraphy from Quoyloo Meadow, Orkney, Scotland: Implications for the tephrostratigraphy of NW Europe during the Last Glacial-Interglacial Transition

Cited by 37 publications

References 75 publications

The Lateglacial to early Holocene tephrochronological record from Lake Hämelsee, Germany: a key site within the European tephra framework

The Lateglacial to early Holocene tephrochronological record from Lake Hämelsee, Germany: a key site within the European tephra framework

Rhyolitic and dacitic component of the Askja 1875 tephra in southern and central Finland: first step towards a Finnish tephrochronology

Glacier Peak and mid‐Lateglacial Katla cryptotephras in Scotland: potential new intercontinental and marine‐terrestrial correlations

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