Re-evaluation and extension of the Marine Isotope Stage 5 tephrostratigraphy of the Faroe Islands region: The cryptotephra record

Type Article
Date 2014-09-01
Language English
Author(s) Abbott P. M.1, Austin W. E. N.2, Davies S. M.1, Pearce N. J. G.3, Rasmussen T. L.4, Wastegard S.5, Brendryen J.6, 7
Affiliation(s) 1 : Univ Coll Swansea, Coll Sci, Dept Geog, Swansea SA2 8PP, W Glam, Wales.
2 : Univ St Andrews, Sch Geog & Geosci, St Andrews KY16 9AL, Fife, Scotland.
3 : Aberystwyth Univ, Inst Geog & Earth Sci, Aberystwyth SY23 3DB, Dyfed, Wales.
4 : Univ Tromso, Dept Geol, N-9037 Tromso, Norway.
5 : Stockholm Univ, Dept Phys Geog & Quaternary Geol, SE-10691 Stockholm, Sweden.
6 : Univ Bergen, Dept Earth Sci, N-5007 Bergen, Norway.
7 : Bjerknes Ctr Climate Res, Bergen, Norway.
Source Palaeogeography Palaeoclimatology Palaeoecology (0031-0182) (Elsevier Science Bv), 2014-09-01 , Vol. 409 , P. 153-168
DOI 10.1016/j.palaeo.2014.05.004
WOS© Times Cited 17
Keyword(s) Volcanic ash, Iceland, Marine sequences, Isochrons, Palaeoclimatic synchronisation
Abstract Previous studies of marine sequences from the Faroe Islands region have identified a series of coarse-grained tephra horizons deposited during Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 5. Here we reassess the MIS 5 tephrostratigraphy of the Faroe Islands region and focus on the cryptotephra deposits preserved within the fine-grained fraction of marine core LINK 16. We also extend the record to encompass the late MIS 6 and early MIS 4 periods. A density separation technique, commonly used for tephra investigations in lacustrine settings but rarely applied to marine sediments, is utilised to explore the fine-grained material and EPMA and LA-ICP-MS are employed to determine the major and trace element composition of individual tephra shards. In total, 3 basaltic and 3 rhyolitic Icelandic cryptotephra deposits with homogeneous geochemical compositions are identified - all of which have the potential to act as isochronous tie-lines. Geochemical results highlight that the Grimsvotn volcanic system of Iceland is the predominant source of the basaltic horizons and the Oraefajokull or Torfajokull systems are the likely sources of the rhyolitic deposits. Three of the horizons have been previously recognised in Faroe Islands region marine sequences, with two of these deposits traceable into a Norwegian Sea sequence. An early MIS 4 rhyolitic horizon is the most widespread deposit as it can be traced into the Norwegian Sea and to the south into a record from the Rockall Trough. Basaltic and rhyolitic horizons deposited during late MIS 6 have not been recognised in other sequences and represent new additions to the regional tephrostratigraphy.
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Abbott P. M., Austin W. E. N., Davies S. M., Pearce N. J. G., Rasmussen T. L., Wastegard S., Brendryen J. (2014). Re-evaluation and extension of the Marine Isotope Stage 5 tephrostratigraphy of the Faroe Islands region: The cryptotephra record. Palaeogeography Palaeoclimatology Palaeoecology, 409, 153-168. Publisher's official version : https://doi.org/10.1016/j.palaeo.2014.05.004 , Open Access version : https://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00290/40096/