Publication Date:
2024-03-01
Description:
X-ray fluorescence (XRF) scanning of discrete samples provides a time- and cost-efficient alternative to conventional geochemical analyses of discretely sampled paleoenvironmental archives. Loess-paleosol sequences (LPS) as complex terrestrial archives are thus predestinated for benchmarking this new application of the well-established XRF scanning technology. Stratigraphically incomplete outcrops, like those on the Island of Susak (Croatia), are unique paleoenvironmental archives at least for the penultimate and last interglacial/glacial cycles and provide ideal test sites. Available proxy data from previous investigations on Susak ensure validation of conclusions drawn from XRF scanning-derived data.
Three representative profiles were studied to examine the potential of XRF scanning-derived element ratios as proxy for environmental processes: (1) Ca/Sr for the strength of ubiquitously present secondary calcification; (2) Rb/K for the intensity of weathering; (3) Ti/Al and Ti/Zr for changes in wind speed with Zr being additionally indicative for sediment recycling; (4) Si/Al for changes in grain-size; and (5) Br and Cl as proxies for sea spray. Furthermore, we established a multivariate statistics-based chemostratigraphy to facilitate profile correlation and to improve lithostratigraphic characterization. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that XRF scanning of discrete samples from LPS is a valuable tool for paleoenvironmental reconstruction.
Keywords:
Aluminium; Barium; Bok_N; Bok_O; Bok_P; Bromine; Calcium; Calcium carbonate; Carbon, inorganic, total; Carbon, organic, total; Carbon, total; Chlorine; Chlorine/Bromine ratio; Coherence; Confidence interval; Event label; Incoherence; Iron; Latitude of event; Lithology/composition/facies; log-Barium/Strontium ratio; log-Calcium/Strontium ratio; log-Iron/Manganese ratio; log-Rubidium/Potassium ratio; log-Rubidium/Strontium ratio; log-Silicon/Aluminium ratio; log-Titanium/Aluminium ratio; log-Titanium/Zirconium ratio; log-Zirconium/Rubidium ratio; Longitude of event; Manganese; Mean squared error; Potassium; Rubidium; SECTION, height; Silicon; Strontium; Titanium; X-ray fluorescence ITRAX core scanner, Cr-tube 30kV 40mA 100s, Bremen; X-ray fluorescence ITRAX core scanner, Mo-tube 30kV 30mA 100s, Bremen; Zirconium
Type:
Dataset
Format:
text/tab-separated-values, 18799 data points
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