Platinum and microspherule peaks as chronostratigraphic markers for onset of the Younger Dryas at Wakulla Springs, Florida.

ABSTRACT: Anomalous peak abundances of platinum and Fe-rich microspherules with high-temperature minerals have previously been demonstrated to be a chronostratigraphic marker for the lower Younger Dryas Boundary (YDB) dating to 12.8 ka. This study used Bayesian analyses to test this hypothesis in multiple sequences (units) of sandy, weakly stratified sediments at Wakulla Springs, Florida. Our investigations included platinum geochemistry, granulometry, optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating, and culturally dated lithics. In addition, sediments were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy to investigate dendritic, iron-rich microspherules previously identified elsewhere in peak abundances at the onset of the Younger Dryas (YD) cool climatic episode

SUBMITTER: Moore CR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10733423 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature