Methodology:

A 2 m-long sediment core was recovered with a UWITEC KOL 'Kolbenlot' percussion piston corer to a total sediment depth of 3.74 m (LC7) in Blaso (LC7: 79.589 degrees N, 22.494 degrees E, 87m).

Prior to analysis sediment samples were treated with 20 percent hydrogen peroxide to digest the organic material. Once the organic material has been digested the sample was centrifuged and then 20 ml distilled water plus 2 ml sodium hexametaphosphate was added to defloculate the sample. High-resolution elemental abundances were measured on the split core using a GEOTEK X-ray Fluorescence (MSCL-XRF) at 1 mm resolution. We use elemental ratios Ti/Ca as a proxy for terrigenous flux, while Mn/Fe and Br concentrations provides semi-quantitative information about lake oxygenation (Naeher et al., 2013) and marine organic carbon content (Ziegler et al., 2008) respectively. Ti contents in marine sediments is directly linked to terrigenous (siliciclastic) sediment supply delivered by fluvial and/or aeolian transport processes (Arz et al., 1999; Nace et al., 2014), while Ca concentrations reflect changes in the production of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) by marine plankton (Bahr et al., 2005). High Ti/Ca ratios are indicative of an increased terrigenous flux. The behaviour of Fe and Mn is strongly dependent on processes of oxidation and reduction. Reducing conditions are the result of O2 consumption during organic matter (OM) remineralisation, which releases Fe and Mn. Because Fe oxidises faster than Mn, high Mn accumulation and thus high(low) Mn/Fe ratios reflect oxic (anoxic) conditions. Bromine (Br) is used as a proxy for marine organic carbon, since bromine is found at higher concentrations in marine, compared to terrestrial, organic matter (Ziegler et al., 2008; Seki et al., 2019).

Data collection:

UWITEC KOL 'Kolbenlot' percussion piston corer

GEOTEK X-ray Fluorescence (MSCL-XRF)