Sediment transport to the Laptev Sea (Siberian Arctic) during the Holocene - evidence from the heavy mineral composition of fluvial and marine sediments

• Published in: Boreas
• Main Authors: Peregovich, Bernhard, Hoops, Erich, Rachold, Volker
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Wiley 1999
• Subjects: Arctic; Laptev Sea; khatanga; laptev; lena river
• Online Access: https://oceanrep.geomar.de/id/eprint/31692/; https://oceanrep.geomar.de/id/eprint/31692/1/Peregovich.pdf; https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1502-3885.1999.tb00215.x

Heavy mineral studies of East Siberian river sediments, Laptev Sea surface sediments, and a sediment core of the western Laptev Sea were carried out in order to reconstruct the pathways of modern and ancient sediment transport from the Siberian hinterland to the Laptev Sea. The modern heavy mineral distribution of Laptev Sea surface sediments reflects mainly the riverine input. While the eastern and central part of the Laptev Sea is dominated by amphibole, which is supplied by the Lena River, the western part is dominated by pyroxene imported from the Siberian Trap basalts by the Khatanga River. The distribution of garnet and opaque minerals is additionally influenced by hydrodynamic processes. As a consequence of their high density, these minerals are predominantly deposited close to the river mouths. Heavy mineral and sedimentological studies of a sediment core of the western Laptev Sea were applied to reconstruct the postglacial history of the shelf area during the last 11 ka. In the lowermost interval of the core (>c. 10 ka), high accumulation rates and a heavy mineral composition similar to that of the modern Khatanga river indicate fluvial conditions. Additionally, the high mica content in this interval may indicate meltwater inflow from the Byrranga mountains. Strong variations in accumulation rates, grain-size distribution, and heavy mineral composition are observed in the time interval between c. 10 and 6 ka, which represents the main transgression of the Laptev Sea shelf. During the uppermost interval (<6 ka), rather stable conditions similar to the modem situation prevailed.