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

SYLVIA M. PEGLAR, SHERILYN C. FRITZ, TUOMO ALAPIETI, MATTI SAARNISTO, H. JOHN B. BIRKS

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

39 Scopus citations

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.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)13-28
Number of pages16
JournalBoreas
Volume13
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 1984
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
  • Archaeology
  • Geology

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