Abstract
Quaternary sediments of the lake Holzmaar comprise a well laminated, undisturbed sequence of diatomaceous gyttja, silt, clay laminites and tuff layers. The annually deposited gyttja has been dated by varve chronology yielding a continuous high-resolution time sequence for the Holocene and early Pleistocene. These organic-rich sediments provide an unique paleolimnological record on climatic changes, forest fires, volcanic eruptions, and anthropogenic influences on the sediment composition. Volcanic activity produced thin tephra layers (Laacher See Tephra 11,200±120 radiocarbon yrs BP; Ulmener Maar Tephra 9435±70 radiocarbon yrs BP) in the sedimentary column which possess elevated Ba, Sr, Zr, Y and Nb (±Rb, Ga) values, and heavy metal contents broadly similar to the enclosing gyttja sediments. In contrast, anthropogenic additions of heavy metals occurred in the upper most varvites deposited since the end of the 18th century. These high metal values are interpreted as disturbances of the natural heavy metal cycles due to fossil fuel combustion and processing of geological ores in the industrial and metropolitan areas of central Europe and associated regional anthropogenic metal pollution of the atmosphere.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Boogard, P. and Schminke, H.-U., 1985. Laacher See Tephra: A widespread isochronous late Quaternary tephra layer in central and northern Europe. Geol. Soc. Amer. Bull., 96: 1554–1571.
Büchel, G. and Lorenz, V., 1982. Zum Alter des Maarvulkanismus der Westeifel. N. Jb. Geol Paläont. Abh., 163: 1–22.
Disnar, J.R. and Sureau, J.F., 1989. Organic matter in ore genesis: progress and perspectives. Org. Geochem., 16: 577–599.
Förstner, U. and Müller, G., 1974. Schwermetallanreicherungen in datierten Sedimentkernen aus dem Bodensee und aus dem Tegernsee. Tschermaks Min. Petr. Mitt., 21: 145–163.
Förstner, U., 1986. Metal speciation in solid wastes—factors affecting mobility. In: Speciation of Metals in Water, Sediment and Soil Systems, L. Landner (Ed.), Lecture Notes in Earth Sciences, 11, Springer Verlag, Berlin, pp. 13–41.
MARC (Monitoring and Assessment Research Centre), 1985. Historical Monitoring. Technical Report No. 31, University of London, London, 313pp.
Matschullat, J., Heinrichs, H., Schneider, J. and Sturm, M., 1987. Schwermetallgehalte in Seesedimenten des Westharzes (BRD). Chem. Erde, 47: 181–194.
Mertes, H. and Scminke, H.-U., 1985. Mafic potassic lavas of the Quaternary West Eifel volcanic field. I. Major and trace elements. Contrib. Mineral. Petrol., 89: 330–345.
Müller, G., Grimmer, G. and Böhnke, H., 1977. Sedimentary record of heavy metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in Lake Constance. Naturwissenschaften, 64: 427–431.
Negendank, J.F.W., 1989. Pleistozäne und holozäne Maarsedimente der Eifel. Z. dt. geol. Ges., 140: 13–24.
Negendank, J.F.W., Brauer, A. and Zolitschka, B., 1990. Die Eifelmaare als erdgeschichtliche Fallen und Quellen zur Rekonstruktion des Paläoenvironments. Mainzer geowiss. Mitt., 19: 235–262.
Oldfield, F., Appleby, P.G. and Petit, D., 1980. A re-evaluation of lead-210 chronology and the history of total lead influx in a small south Belgian pond. Ambio, 9: 97–99.
Papp, C.S.E., Filipek, L.H. and Smith, K.S., 1991. Selectivity and effectiveness of extractants used to release metals associated with organic matter. Applied Geochem., 6: 349–353.
Parnell, J., 1988. Metal enrichments in solid bitumens: a review. Mineral. Deposita, 23: 191–199.
Salomons, W. and De Groot, A.J., 1978. Pollution history of trace metals in sediments, as affected by the Rhine River. In: Environmental biogeochemistry and Geomicrobiology, Vol. 1. The Aquatic Environment, W.E. Krumbein (Ed.), Ann Arbor Sci. Inc., Michigan, 149–162.
Salomons, W. and Mook, W.G., 1980. Biogeochemical processes affecting metal concentrations in lake sediments (Ijsselmeer, The Netherlands). Sci. Total Environ., 16: 217–229.
Saxby, J.D., 1967. Metal-organic chemistry of the geochemical cycle. Rev. Pure Appl. Chem., 19: 131–150.
Vernet, J.P. and Favargar, P.-Y., 1982. Climatic and anthropogenic effects on the sedimentation and geochemistry of Lakes Bourget, Annecy and Léman. Hydrobiologia, 92: 643–650.
Wörner, G. and Schminke, H.-U., 1984. Mineralogical and chemical zonation of the Laacher See Tephra sequence (East Eifel, W. Germany). J. Petrol., 25: 805–835.
Zolitschka, B., 1989. Jahreszeitlich geschichtete Seesedimente aus dem Holzmaar und dem Meerfelder Maar. Z. dt. geol. Ges., 140: 25–33.
Zolitschka, B., 1991. Absolute dating of late Quaternary lacustrine sediments by high resolution varve chronology. Hydrobiol., 214: 59–61.
Zolitschka, B., Brauer, A., Haverkamp, B., Heinz, T., Negendank, J.F.W. and Poth, D., 1991. Sedimentologischer Nachweis und Datierung einer frühholozänen Maareruption (Ulmener Maar?) in der Vulkaneifel. In: Symposium on paleolimnology of maar lakes, B. Zolitschka & J.F.W. Negendank, eds., Bitburg, May 1991, abstracts, p. 63.
Zolitschka, B., 1992. Human history recorded in the annually laminated sediments of lake Holzmaar, Eifel Mountains, Germany. Geol. Surv. Finnland, Spec. Paper 14: 17–24.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1993 Springer-Verlag
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Lottermoser, B.G., Oberhänsli, R., Zolitschka, B., Negendank, J.F.W., Schütz, U., Boenecke, J. (1993). Environmental geology and geochemistry of lake sediments (Holzmaar, Eifwl, Germany). In: Negendank, J.F.W., Zolitschka, B. (eds) Paleolimnology of European Maar Lakes. Lecture Notes in Earth Sciences, vol 49. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/BFb0117603
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BFb0117603
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
Print ISBN: 978-3-540-56570-3
Online ISBN: 978-3-540-47591-0
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive