Geochemical indicators in lake sediment of upland erosion caused by Indian and European farming, Awenda Provincial Park, Ontario

Abstract

Neutron-activation analysis, loss on ignition (LOI), and X-ray diffraction of eight cores collected in Second and Gignac lakes are correlated with historic and palynologic records to identify elements linked to erosion from deforestation and farming.Forest disturbance and farming are identified in cores of organic detritus sediment (gyttja) by decreased LO1 and increased Na, Mg, Ba, Al, Ti, and Dy. LO1 is not suitable for identifying forest disturbances in carbonate sediments. From neutronactivation analysis of carbonate mud only Na, Al, and Dy indicate erosion.Elements linked to the quantity of organic matter in sediments include U, V, and C1, whereas Mn and I in surface sediments presumably correspond with variations in the oxidation potential and plant productivity, respectively.Sedimentation patterns relate to basin morphology. In Gignac Lake the basin is steep sided and relatively deep. Clastic detritus entering the lake is canied over the shallow, nearshore carbonate bank into deeper water. In Second Lake the basin is shallow and gently sloping. Minerals eroded from onshore are more equally distributed in this basin. In Second Lake the most rapid sedimentation is nearshore where submerged aquatic macrophytes produce and trap carbonate mud. In Gignac Lake the top of the shallow carbonate bank has few aquatic macrophytes; lime mud formed on the bank is washed into deep water offshore, where it dissolves.Les ksultats de l'analyse par activation neutronique, de la perte au feu (PAF) et de la diffraction des rayons-X de huit carottes prklevtes dans les lacs Second et Gignac sont mis en corklation avec les registres historiques et palynologiques dans le but d'identifier les ClCments impliquCs dans 1'Crosion provoqute par la dCforestation et la mise en culture. La dCforestation et la pratique de l'agriculture se traduisent dans les carottes de stdiments de dktritus organique (gyttja) par une diminution de la PAF et une augmentation du Na, Mg, Ba, Al, Ti et Dy. La PAF de sCdiments calcaires ne permet pas de dCpister les abattements forestiers. Dans l'analyse par activation neutronique de boues calcaires, seuls le Na, A1 et Dy peuvent indiquer un CvCnement d'trosion.Les tltments lits i la quantitk de matibre organique dans les saiments incluent U, V et C1, tandis que Mn et I des sediments de surface correspondent possiblement aux variations du potentiel d'oxydation et i la productivitC des plantes, respectivement.Les motifs de la sedimentation sont en relation avec la morphologie du bassin. Le bassin du lac Gignac est profond et prksente des c8tCs abrupts. Le dCtritus clastique entrait dans les lac est transport6 par-dessus le banc calcaire de faible profondeur p k s de la rive dans une zone d'eau plus profonde. Dans le lac Second le bassin est peu profond et les parois ont une faible pente. Les minkraux libtks par l'trosion des terrains en bordure du lac sont distribuCs de manibre plus homogbne dans ce bassin. Dans le lac Second le taux de saimentation est plus ClevC p k s de la rive du lac oh des macrophytes aquat...

Characterizing the Recent Sediments from Pigeon Lake, Alberta as Related to Anthropogenic and Natural Fluxes

“…The correlation coefficients for these elements were significantly improved, showing average values of 0.97 and 0.96 for core A and core B, respectively, after normalizing (Tables 5 and 6). Burden et al (1986) also stated that plagioclase, amphibole, and illite in lake sediments contain trace to major quantities of the so-called lithophile elements (REEs [rare earth elements], Th, Sc, Al, Fe, Zn, K, Ti, and Rb). These elements are known to be the important constituents of clays and silt in lake sediments (Volkova, 1998).…”

“…Common minerals in lake sediments contain trace to major quantities of lithophile elements, which help quantify the erosion rate and the input of detrital minerals to the lake (Engstrom and Wright, 1984;Burden et al, 1986;Volkova, 1998). Therefore, changes in the influx of clastic detritus whether by natural or artificial factors can be readily detected by concentration of these elements.…”

Paleoclimatic changes during the Late Pleistocene - Holocene in Laguna Babícora, near the Chihuahuan Desert, México

“…Reduction of organic matter in this unit might occur, because the authigenic carbonates reduced the percentage of organic matter in the sediments (Hayes et al 1958). The increase in Ca concentrations can be related to an increment of clastics from the catchment (Burden et al 1986); lastly, the thin ostracoda-rich layer suggests an alkalienriched water, similar to categories 2 and 3 established by Forester (1986). Consequently, the origin of unit III can be interpreted as lacustrine with fluvial influence.…”

Multi-Element Analysis of Soils and Sediments from Scottish Historical Sites. The Potential of Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry for Rapid Site Investigation

“…Conway, 1983;Ottaway & Mathews, 1988;Bintliff et al, 1990), whilst numerous investigators have correlated down-core changes in elements such as Z, Ca, P, Mg, Pb and Zn with recent and historical changes in land-use activity (e.g. Sasseville & Norton, 1975;Pennington & Lishman, 1984;Burden, Norris & McAndrews, 1986;Gaillard et al, 1991;Pyatt et al, 1995;Gilbertson, Kent & Grattan, 1996). However, to date, other elements such as the REEs, Cu, Rb, Cs, V, U, Ga and Th appear to have been little considered in an archaeological context when soil/sediment chemistry has been investigated.…”

“…Lutz, 1951;Cook & Heizer, 1965;Konrad, Bonnichsen & Clay, 1983;Woods, 1983;Ottaway & Mathews, 1988), whilst the geochemistry of basin peats and lake sediments may also provide useful information on the settlement histories of drainage catchment areas (e.g. Rippey, Murphy & Kyle, 1982;Burden, Norris & McAndrews, 1986;Pyatt et al, 1995).…”