Composition and formation of laminated sediments in Diss Mere, Norfolk, England

Abstract

The chemical and biological composition of laminated lake‐sediments deposited between about 2,500 and 5,500 years B.P. in Diss Mere, Norfolk, England is described. The distribution of Ca, Fe, S, and Si in pale and dark laminae is established by energy‐dispersive X‐ray microanalysis. The pale laminae consist primarily of calcium carbonate and the dark layers contain mainly Fe, S, Si, and dark organic material. The diatom composition of 16 individual light and dark laminae shows no consistent differences between light and dark layers. There are, however, higher frequencies of chrysophycean cysts in seven of the eight dark layers, suggesting these layers were deposited in late summer or fall. Pollen analyses of the pale and dark layers show that pollen percentages of early‐flowering trees and shrubs are highest in the dark laminae and that pollen values of late‐flowering plants are highest in the pale layers. The biological data indicate that the pale layers were formed in the late spring and early summer, whereas the dark laminae were deposited in late summer, fall, winter, and the early spring. Seasonal supply of CaCO3 was the major variable responsible for couplet formation.

Seasonal sedimentation in the Pliocene Villarroya Lake (N Spain) inferred from pollen analysis

“…This strong contrast between the pollen concentrations of the light and dark laminae indicates winter/spring deposition for the dark laminae and late summer/autumn sedimentation for the light ones. Our results point to seasonal layering clearly in agreement with Remy (1958) and with similar pollen analyses in annually laminated sediments (Tippett, 1964;Peglar et al, 1984;Lotter, 1989;St. Jacques et al, 2008).…”

“…The assumption that the pollen grains associated with a particular layer represent the plants flowering at the time the layer was deposited is based on two factors (Tippett, 1964;Peglar et al, 1984). First, pollen has to be rapidly deposited on the lake surface, and second, pollen has to reach the sediment surface soon after its deposition on the lake surface so that there is little or no pollen remaining in the water column after the flowering period.…”

“…Although detailed studies of vegetational history are numerous, only some palynological investigations focused on lamination patterns and demonstrated seasonal pollen deposition in a few dark and light laminae (Remy, 1958;Tippett, 1964;Peglar et al, 1984;Lotter, 1989;Godsey et al, 1998;St. Jacques et al, 2008).…”

Pollen analysis of core DS7-1SC (Dead Sea) showing intertwined effects of climatic change and human activities in the Late Holocene

“…There are however a few exceptions, all showing nice alternation of pollen spectra in the dark and light layers or even when finer subsampling was possible successive blooms of plants through the year (Mü ller, 1974;Peglar et al, 1984;Lotter, 1989;Card, 1997;St. Jacques et al, 2008).…”

Laminated lake sediments in northeast Poland: distribution, preconditions for formation and potential for paleoenvironmental investigation

“…Despite numerous studies of lake sediment cores from other Polish lakes, only short laminated sections were occasionally found and are related to early stages of lake development (Więckowski 1978). Recently, an intermittently laminated core was reported from Lake Miłkowskie in the Land of Great Masurian Lakes (Wacnik 2009), and (Petterson 1996, Zillén et al 2003; 2 Finish lakes (Ojala et al 2000); 3 Tougjärv (Veski et al 2004); 4 Loch Ness (Cooper and O'Sullivan 1998); 5 Loe Pool (Simola et al 1981); 6 Lake Diss Mere (Peglar et al 1984); 7 Belauer See (Dörfler et al 2012); 8 Hämelsee (Merkt and Müller 1999); 9 Woseriner See (Dreibrodt et al 2002); 10 Sacrower See (Lüder et al 2006); 11 Lake Goscią _ z (Ralska-Jasiewiczowa et al 1998); 12 Meerfelder Maar (Brauer et al 1999); 13 Holzmaar (Zolitschka et al 2000); 14 Frickenhauser See (Enters et al 2006); 15 Steisslinger See (Eusterhues et al 2002); 16 Ammersee (Czymzik et al 2010); 17 Baldeggersee (Lotter et al 1997); 18 Soppensee (Lotter 1989); 19 Lac Pavin (Stebich et al 2005); 20 Lac Bramant (Guyard et al 2007); 21 Lac D'Annecy (Brauer and Casanova 2001); 22 Seebergsee (Hausmann et al 2002); 23 Silvaplana See (Leemann and Niessen 1994); 24 Mondsee (Wolff et al 2006); 25 Längsee (Schmidt et al 2002); 26 Lake Butrint (Ariztegui et al 2010); 27 Lake Montcortés (Corella et al 2011); 28 Lake La Cruz (Romero-Viana et al 2008); 29 Lake Zoñar (Martín-Puertas et al 2009) conditions for deposition of laminated sediments in meromictic Lake Suminko in the Kashubian Lakeland were investigated by Tylmann et al (2012).…”