Widespread platinum anomaly documented at theYounger Dryas onset in North American sedimentary sequences

ECU Author/Contributor (non-ECU co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)

Christopher R.,West,Allen,LeCompte,Malcolm A.,Brooks,Mark J.,D Moore (Creator)

Institution

East Carolina University (ECU )

Web Site: http://www.ecu.edu/lib/

Abstract: Previously, a large platinum (Pt) anomaly was reported in the Greenland ice sheet at the Younger Dryasboundary (YDB) (12,800 Cal B.P.). In order to evaluate its geographic extent, fire-assay and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (FA and ICP-MS) elemental analyses were performed on 11widely separated archaeological bulk sedimentary sequences. We document discovery of a distinct Pt anomaly spread widely across North America and dating to the Younger Dryas (YD) onset. The apparent synchroneity of this widespread YDB Pt anomaly is consistent with Greenland Ice Sheet Project 2 (GISP2) data that indicated atmospheric input of platinum-rich dust. We expect the Pt anomaly to serve as a widely-distributed time marker horizon (datum) for identification and correlation of the onset of the YD climatic episode at 12,800 Cal B.P. This Pt datum will facilitate the dating and correlating of archaeological, paleontological, and paleoenvironmental data between sequences, especially those with limited age control.

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Language: English

Date: 2017

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