Quartz grains reveal sedimentary palaeoenvironment and past storm events: A case study from eastern Baltic

Abstract

Sediment record collected from the coastal lake serves as a powerful tool for reconstructing changes in palaeoenvironment and understanding the potential signals of past storminess. In this study, we use several proxies from sediment of the Holocene Thermal Maximum at coastal Lake Lilaste, Latvia. We focus on surface texture of quartz grains from the mineral inorganic fraction as indicators of depositional environments. We then use this as a proxy for potential storm transport and combine with information on granulometry, diatom stratigraphy and chronology to answer the question whether flux of quartz grains in the lake originated from the sea or from the land. Analyses in a binocular and scanning electron microscope reveal that most of the investigated quartz grains originate from dwelling in the seawater and wave action in the nearshore zone. Grains representing very energetic subaqueous environment similar to storm events are also present. Terrestrial record is of minor significance and visible through occurrence of aeolian quartz grains.

Detrital zircon U–Pb geochronology and geochemistry of the Riachuelos and Palma Sola beach sediments, Veracruz State, Gulf of Mexico: a new insight on palaeoenvironment

“…The collision fractures, V-shaped percussion cracks, meandering ridges, arc and linear steps indicate highenergy grain to grain impact and mechanical grinding by littoral transport, as well as high-energy subaqueous deposition such as in river and coastal environments (Finzel 2017;Hossain et al 2020). However, the mechanical features on the grain surface may likely be associated with the hydrodynamic conditions during littoral transport and wave action in the nearshore zone (Kalińška-Nartiša et al 2018). The abraded grains with bulbous edges identified in a few zircons show the evidence of high-energy collision through saltation in an aeolian environment (Mahaney 2002;Chmielowska and Woronko 2019).…”

“…The degree of grain roundness and microtextures on quartz grain surfaces are considered as powerful tools to infer sediment provenance and have been applied in various studies to reconstruct palaeoenvironments (Margolis and Krinsley 1974;Mahaney 2002;Madhavaraju et al 2009;Mahaney et al 2012;Vos et al 2014;Kalińška-Nartiša et al 2018;Chmielowska and Woronko 2019). However, microtextures, especially on zircon grains, are not studied sufficiently, possibly because of the difficulties in separating zircon grains from rocks and sediments.…”

Ģeogrāfija, ģeoloģija, vides zinātne : Latvijas Universitātes 76. zinātniskā konference : referātu tēzes

“…Among of them is an increased wind strength, understood as a past storm, which record may have been obtained from, for example, deposition of coastal dunes and beach-ridge systems (Clemmensen et al 2015), aeolian flux of minerogenic material onto peat bogs (Orme et al 2015) and coastal lakes (Kalińska-Nartiša et al 2017), or over-washed deposits in coastal lagoons (Sabatier et al 2012). In this study, we focus on this latter, and investigate the Ģipka outcrop, currently located next to the Gulf of Riga, and formerly representing the coastal zone of Ģipka lagoon, where a ritual-like complex belonging to the local Culture of Pit Ceramics is known (Loze 2005).…”

Multi-Tool (LA-ICPMS, EMPA and XRD) Investigation on Heavy Minerals from Selected Holocene Peat-Bog Deposits from the Upper Vistula River Valley, Poland

“…When peat-bogs are frequently flooded, allochthonous sandy material may be delivered into the bog system. Another common process that can supply detritus is aeolian activity [1].…”