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Detailed knowledge of the periglacial flora is essential to assess the vegetation dynamics in deglaciated regions of northern and north eastern Europe, previously covered by the ice sheet of the Late Weichselian Glaciation. Therefore, the territory of Belarus, which stretches in the periglacial zone of the Last Glaciation and the most part of which was free of ice during the Last Glacial maximum, is off particular importance in analysing the postglacial floral establishment and the subsequent vegetation dynamics in this part of the continent. In this study, results of palaeobotanical (pollen and plant macrofossil), lithological (measurements of magnetic susceptibility, MS) and isotopic (14C) investigations were obtained to fill the existing gap in reconstructing the peculiarities of the terrestrial and aquatic vegetation dynamics throughout the Lateglacial - Early Holocene period in the central Belarus. The investigated sediment profile, comprising organically enriched gyttja at 13,400–13,100 cal yr BP, carbon enriched and sandy gyttja at 13,100–9700 cal yr BP and unconsolidated mud after 9500 cal yr BP, provides clear evidence proving the flourishing of a pine-birch predominated forest with occasional spruce stands during the Allerod in area. Three occasions of change in the vegetation structure were noted within the Younger Dryas, i.e. 12,900–12,700 cal yr BP, 12,200–12,000 cal yr BP and 11,900–11,700 cal yr BP, suggesting negative climatic excursion taken place in area and facilitating flourishing of a Picea-predominating forest that culminated at about 12,300 and 12,000 cal yr BP. Pollen record suggests the Early Holocene vegetation shifts occurring at about 11,300–11,200 cal yr BP, 10,800–10,600 cal yr BP and 10,300–10,100 cal yr BP evidence the general response to the global-scale climatic events i.e. Preborael Oscillation or “10,2 ka” while fluctuations triggered by local or regional-scale climatic events have been identified as well. About 10,800–10,700 cal yr BP, formation of the forest with an increasing representation of thermophilous taxa (Ulmus, Tilia, Quercus) started in area.

Asidik topraklarda tarımsal üretimin sürdürülebilirliği için pH’nın iyileştirilmesi gerekmektedir. Asit karakterli toprakların pH, kireç, alınabilir Ca ve diğer bazı özelliklerini iyileştirmek için, toprak pH değerini artıran materyallere ihtiyaç vardır. Bu materyallerden birisi de gidyadır. Gidya; Afşin-Elbistan termik santralinde atık madde olarak açığa çıkmakta olup %30-40 kireç ve %40-50 organik madde içermektedir. Gidyanın bölgedeki rezervinin 4.8 milyar ton olduğu tahmin edilmektedir. Bu araştırmanın amacı, farklı miktarlarda uygulanan gidyanın toprağın pH, makro (Ca, Mg, K) ve mikro besin (Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu) elementleri üzerindeki etkilerini belirlemektir. Araştırma tesadüf parselleri deneme desenine kurulmuş olup saksılara %0, 1, 2, 4 dozlarında gidya uygulanarak üç tekerrürlü olarak sera koşullarında yürütülmüştür. Altı aylık inkubasyon süresi sonunda saksılardan toprak örnekleri alınarak, toprakların pH, kireç, organik madde, değişebilir Ca, Mg, K, DTPA ile ekstrakte edilebilir Fe, Cu, Zn ve Mn içerikleri analiz edilmiştir. Uygulama dozlarına bağlı olarak toprak pH'sı, kireç, organik madde ve değişebilir Ca içeriği istatistiksel olarak önemli düzeyde (p, Acidic soils need to be improved of pH in order to maintian sustainable agricultural production. In order to ameliorate the pH, lime, available Ca and some other properties of acidic soils, materials that increase the soil pH value are needed. One of these organic substances is gyttja. Gyttja contains 30-40% CaCO3 and 40-50% organic matter, which is generated as waste in the Afşin Elbistan thermal power plant and its reserve is estimated to be 4.8 billion tons. The aim of this research was to determine the effects of applying different amounts of gyttja on soil pH, macro (Ca, Mg, K) and micronutrient (Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu) elements. A pot experiment was conducted as a comletely randomized design with four different doses of the gyttja (0, 1, 2 and 4%) and three replications. After 6 months of incubation period under greenhouse conditions, soil samples were taken from the pots. The chemical properties such as pH, lime, organic matter, exchangeable Ca, Mg, K, DTPA-extractable Fe, Cu, Zn and Mn contents were analyzed. Soil pH, lime, organic matter and exchangeable Ca significantly (p

Amaç: Bu araştırmada, Cd ve gidya uygulamaları altında yetiştirilen ekmeklik ve makarnalık buğday çeşitlerinin kuru madde verimi, kadmiyum (Cd) ve mineral besin elementleri (fosfor, potasyum, kalsiyum, magnezyum, demir, bakır, çinko, mangan) alımı üzerine olan etkilerini araştırmak amaçlanmıştır.Materyal ve metot: Sera koşullarında, saksı denemesinde iki ekmeklik (Eser ve Demir) ve iki makarnalık (Altın ve Kızıltan) buğday çeşitleri tesadüf parselleri deneneme desenine göre 3 farklı Cd (0, 5 ve 10 mg Cd kg-1 toprak) ve 4 farklı gidya (%0, %2, %4 ve %8 toprak) dozları altında yürütülmüştür. Çalışma sonunda, Cd ve mineral besin elementleri (P, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Cu, Zn ve Mn) ölçülmüştür. Araştırma bulguları: Artan dozlarda gidya uygulamalarının kuru madde üretimi üzerine etkilerinde farklılar olduğu saptanmıştır. Buna göre, gidya’nın %2 uygulamasıyla en yüksek kuru madde verimi elde edilmiş olup kontrole göre %187 oranında artış sağlamıştır. Araştırmada, buğday türlerinin Cd alımlarında önemli farklılıkların olduğu belirlenmiştir. Makarnalık buğday çeşitlerine ekmeklik buğday çeşitlerinden daha fazla Cd taşındığı bulunmuştur. Artan dozlarda gidya uygulamalarının buğday türlerine Cd taşınması üzerine etkisi farklı olmuştur. Buna göre, kontrol saksılarıyla kıyaslandığında ekmeklik buğdayların Cd konsantrasyonunu gidya uygulamasına bağlı olarak arttırmasına karşın makarnalık buğdayların Cd konsantrasyonunu azaltmıştır. Gidya uygulamalarına bağlı olarak, buğday türleri arasında besin elementleri taşınımlarında farklılıkların olduğu belirlenmiştir. Ekmeklik buğday çeşitlerinin P, Cu, Zn ve Mn alımları makarnalık buğdaylara göre daha fazla olmasına karşın makarnalık buğday çeşitlerinde de K, Ca, Mg ve Fe besin elementleri ekmeklik buğday çeşitlerine kıyasla daha fazla taşındığı bulunmuştur.Sonuç: Gidya uygulamalarının Cd ile kirli alanlarda makarnalık buğdaylara Cd taşınımını azaltabileceği ve mineral besin elementlerinin taşınımını artırabileceği için kullanımı önerilebilir., Objective: In this study, bread and durum wheat grown under Cd and gyttja applications. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of cultivars on dry matter yield, cadmium (Cd) and mineral nutrients (phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron, copper, zinc, manganese) intake.Materials and methods: In the greenhouse conditions, two bread (Eser and Demir) and two durum (Altın and Kızıltan) wheat varieties were carried out under 3 different Cd (0, 5 and 10 mg Cd kg-1 soil) and 4 different gyttja (0%, 2%, 4% and 8% soil) doses according to the randomized plot design in the pot experiment. At the end of the study, Cd and mineral nutrients (P, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Cu, Zn and Mn) were measured.Results: It has been determined that there are differences in the effects of increasing doses of gyttja applications on dry matter production. Accordingly, the highest dry matter yield was obtained with 2% application of gyttja and it increased by 187% compared to the control. In the study, it was determined that there were significant differences in Cd uptake of wheat species. It was found that more Cd was transported to durum wheat varieties than bread wheat varieties. The effects of increasing doses of gyttja applications on Cd transport to wheat species were different. Accordingly, compared to the control pots, it increased the Cd concentration of bread wheats due to gyttja application, but decreased the Cd concentration of durum wheats. Depending on the gyttja applications, it was determined that there were differences in nutrient transport between wheat species. Although the uptake of P, Cu, Zn and Mn in bread wheat varieties is higher than in durum wheat, it was found that K, Ca, Mg and Fe nutrients were transported more in durum wheat varieties compared to bread wheat varieties.Conclusion: The use of gyttja applications can be recommended as it can reduce Cd transport to durum wheat in Cd polluted areas and increase the transport of mineral nutrients.

This study provides a 16.2-kyr record of mercury (Hg) deposition derived from a lacustrine sedimentary sequence in Dahu Swamp, eastern Nanling Mountains. Results indicate that changes in climatic conditions had a significant effect on Hg concentrations (Hg–C) and accumulation rates (Hg-AR). Multi-proxy records including dry density, grain size, geochemical elements, organic matter and pollen indicators were compared with Hg accumulation. The results revealed that the contributions of detrital input and atmospheric deposition were minor, and Hg accumulation in the sediments was closely related to changes in climatic conditions: relatively drier and colder climate would result in shrinkage of the lake water body thus favoring increased formation of organic-rich peat or gyttja and leading to enhanced absorption of Hg by organic matter and result in increases of Hg–C and Hg-AR in sediments, and vice versa. Our results indicate that variations of Hg accumulation in Dahu Swamp were greatly impacted by climate under the influences of solar insolation changes and shrinkage or expansion of ice sheets in high latitudes to the north. The results of this study provide an insight into the response of Hg accumulation to low latitude climate processes in the East Asian summer monsoon region.

The aim of the current experiment was to evaluate the possibility of the use of gyttja as an alternative litter material to pine wood shaving in broiler production. In the current experiment 3150 chicks were used in two experimental groups consisting of 1575 chicks with three repetitions (3x525 chicks). The experiment last for 39 days. During the experiment chicks in two experimental groups with same diets. There were no significant differences between experimental groups in terms of live weigth, feed consumption, feed conversion ratio and mortality. However, foot pad dermatitis (FPD) was found to be higher in the gyttja litter group and the difference between the groups was significant (P=0.011). In conclusion, gyttja could be used instead of pine wood shavings as litter in broiler houses without compromising the growth parameters. However, it should be known that there will be more FPD when using gyttja as litter in broiler production compared to using pine wood shavings.

With the discovery of peat and gyttja deposits containing archaeological remains, sealed below a colluvium, at Fuglsøgaard in eastern Jutland in 2002 came a rare opportunity to investigate a bog with abundant traces of peat cutting and subsequent ritual deposition dating to the Early Iron Age. Pollen analyses show that before, during and after the ritual deposition, the bog lay in an open cultural landscape surrounded by arable fields and pastures. Around180 cal B.C., extensive peat extraction commenced in the bog, targeting the well-humified wood peat that had formed during the Atlantic period and could be found in the deeper layers.In this relatively tree-less area, the primary aim of the peat cutting was presumably the acquisition of fuel. It is estimated that 250-500 m2 of peat was removed, leaving the bog with numerous small water-filled pits, i.e. peat cuts.These water-filled peat cuts had a secondary role as elements in ritual activities in which depositions were made of pottery vessels, parts of domestic animals, wooden objects, bundles of flax, quantities of white/light-coloured stones etc. More than 130 pottery vessels from period II of the Pre-Roman Iron Age (250-1 cal B.C.) have been excavated at the site. 14C dates for Linum usitatissimum (common flax) stems in two pottery vessels assign the depositions tothe period 180-1 cal B.C. All the depositions included white/light-coloured stones, and these appear to have been a general feature of many ritual depositions in wetlands at this time.As the peat cuts in the bog became overgrown, due to renewed peat accumulation, the depositions decreased and there appears to have been a clear link between the offerings and the presence of open water into which these could be lowered. During the entire period of use (i.e. peat cutting and deposition), the bog appears to have been open and without tree cover,presumably due to persistent grazing and/or haymaking. But at the turn of the millennium, the bog had lost its ritual significance and its surface became colonised by willow scrub. With the discovery of peat and gyttja deposits containing archaeological remains, sealed below colluvium, at Fuglsøgaard in eastern Jutland came a rare opportunity to investigate an Iron Age votive bog with abundant traces of peat cutting and subsequent ritual deposition. Pollen analyses show that before, during and after the votive phase, the bog lay in an open cultural landscape surrounded by arable fields and pastures. Around 180 BC, extensive peat extraction commenced in the bog, targeting the well-humified wood peat that could be found in the deeper layers. It is estimated that 250-500 m2 of peat was removed, leaving the bog with numerous small water-filled pits, i.e. peat cuts. These water-filled peat cuts then had a secondary role as elements in votive activities in which ritual depositions were made of pottery vessels, parts of domestic animals, wooden objects, bundles of flax, quantities of white/light-coloured stones etc. More than 130 pottery vessels from period II of the Pre-Roman Iron Age (250-1 BC) have been excavated at the site. All the depositions included white/light-coloured stones, and these appear to have been a general feature of many ritual depositions in votive bogs at this time.

The paper presents the results of laboratory tests of plastic limit wP and liquid limit wL of Eemian gyttja characterized by different organic matter content I om and calcium carbonate content CaCO3. Comparison of the liquid limit wL determined with the use of the Casagrande apparatus wLC and a cone penetrometer with cones having apex angles of 60° wL 60 and 30° wL 30 is shown. Based on statistical analysis of the test results, single- and two-factor empirical relationships for evaluating the plastic limit wP and liquid limit wL of Eemian gyttja depending on the organic matter content I om and/or calcium carbonate content CaCO3 are presented in this study.

Lammefjorden is a reclaimed fjord in north-west Sjælland, Denmark. Sediment cores from the area were collected to study its development after the last deglaciation, in particular the sea-level history. Late glacial and Early Holocene lake and bog deposits occur below marine deposits. Sparse late glacial fossil assemblages indicate tree-less environments with dwarf-shrub heaths. Early Holocene deposits contain remains of Betula sec. Albae sp. and Pinus sylvestris, which indicate open forests. The wetland flora comprised the calciphilous reed plant Cladium mariscus and the water plant Najas marina. Marine gyttja from basins is characterised by sparse benthic faunas, probably due to high sedimentation rates. In some areas, shell-rich deposits were found, with large shells of Ostrea edulis, indicative of high summer temperatures, high salinity and strong tidal currents. A marine shell dated to 6.7 cal. ka provides a minimum age for the marine transgression of Lammefjorden.

The studied Radymno loess section is located in the large, fore-Carpathian San River valley (Sandomierz Basin, SE Poland) and shows the sequence building the Pleistocene cover of middle terrace of the San River. Such sequence is quite rare in loess deposits because it combines different depositional environments: subaqueous – the late Eemian-Early Vistulian alluvial-swamp facies of loess with inserts of gyttja type, and subaerial – the Plenivistulian aeolian loess. The main goal of the study was to reconstruct the Late Pleistocene paleoenvironmental changes recorded in this section. For this purpose, pollen and fossil Ostracoda analyses were conducted. These data were supplemented with sedimentological and pedo-lithological analyses. Additionally, the results of earlier investigations published so far have been used: lithological and malacological analyses as well as luminescence (IRSL and TL) dating. Based on the analysis of many indicators, the paleoenvironmental changes have been correlated with those recorded in pollen diagrams obtained from other regions. This correlation indicates that in the Radymno section there is evidence of the vegetation succession typical of the Eemian Interglacial with climatic optimum and of the short-term oscillations in the Early Vistulian and then in the Lower Pleniglacial of Vistulian. The analysis of fossil Ostracoda, which were found in some parts of the profile, provided information about short-term paleohydrological changes, and especially about the functioning of surface water bodies in changing periglacial conditions of the bottom of the San River valley in MIS 5d – MIS 2. High humidity in the environment was caused mainly by floods and high groundwater level, which indirectly conditioned the formation of water bodies in the valley bottom. Correlation with palynological data indicated that these water bodies existed also under dry climate conditions. This proves that the local conditions of the studied area strongly modified the environmental changes dependent on paleoclimate.

A number of interglacial sections discovered in the eastern part of Lithuania and suggested as Snaigupėlė Interglacial were attributed to the Saalian Complex Stage of Middle Pleistocene. However, the exact stratigraphical position and correlation of these interglacial sections are still arguable. Recent investigations were performed to get a clearer insight into the stratigraphy and sedimentation palaeoenvironment of the Snaigupėlė Interglacial sediments outcropping in Buivydžiai section and included complex proxies: pollen, plant macrofossils, diatoms, loss on ignition, magnetic susceptibility and optically stimulated luminescence dating. Interglacial sediments occur at the lowermost part of the exposure and reach more than 7 m thick. Palaeobotanical investigations confirm deposition of studied sediments during the different climatic stages of the interglacial. An attempt at correlation between the Buivydžiai section vegetational changes with vegetational succession obtained from north-central Europe allowed finding out some similarities with the Schoningen/Lublinian Interglacial. The OSL dating results do not contradict such a proposition as the two sand samples lying below the interglacial gyttja show sedimentation of this layer during the 300.5 ± 20.9 ka and 317.3 ± 21.8 ka time or MIS 9. However, recently obtained data are insufficient for grounding the correlation of studied section. Certainly, additional chronostratigraphic investigations would be valuable and may contribute to the solution of the sediment age and correlation problem.

Successful peatland restoration requires a knowledge of peatland stratigraphy in order to understand the hydrological and ecological conditions under which peat formation occurred and to identify realistic objectives and measures for the specific site. So far, the ability to accurately identify peat deposits and lake sediments has been largely restricted to experts. To facilitate identification by others, we provide an identification key for common peatland deposits in Germany and introduce standardised portraits of 17 peat and six gyttja types with extensive descriptions and supporting photographs. We also provide information on the indicative value of the peatland deposits in terms of site conditions at the time of deposition.

The last British-Irish Ice Sheet (BIIS) created a landscape with many sedimentary basins that preserve archives of paleoenvironmental and paleoclimatic change during the Last Glacial-Interglacial Transition (LGIT; ~ 18-8 ka BP). The typical lithostratigraphic succession of these archives is composed of minerogenic/allogenic sediments formed during cold climatic conditions and organic-rich/authigenic sediments during warmer climates. This paper presents a multi-core lithostratigraphy compiled from the extant lake and surrounding basin at Llangorse Lake, south Wales, a basin lying within the southernmost limits of the last BIIS. This lake contains one of the longest continuous terrestrial sediment successions in the UK. Uncertainty previously existed concerning the presence and distribution of sediments at the site related to the Windermere Interstadial (~ 14.7 to ~ 12.9 ka BP) and Loch Lomond Stadial (~ 12.9 to 11.7 ka BP). A new borehole survey demonstrates that LGIT-age sediments are present at the site with nekron mud (gyttja), corresponding to the Lateglacial Interstadial, deposited in the deeper part of the lake waters and that these deposits are equivalent in age to marl deposits found at shallower depths at the margins of the basin. These deposits are associated with warmer conditions experienced during the Windermere Interstadial and Holocene, whilst minerogenic-rich sediments were deposited during the colder climatic conditions of the Dimlington Stadial and the Loch Lomond Stadial with rangefinder radiocarbon dates confirming this attribution. A model of lake level changes shows that drainage of the Dimlington Stadial glacial lake caused the largest fall, but there was also a further, smaller lake level fall at the end of the Windermere Interstadial and/or the start of the Loch Lomond Stadial, before the level rose in the early Holocene. The lithostratigraphic results presented here form the framework for further paleoenvironmental and paleoclimatic research at Llangorse Lake.

This paper presents the first result of a study of two long-term natural archives in the southwestern part of the Western Siberian Plain. Bchron age models based on 17 AMS dates allowed us to determine a chronology of changes in properties of lake and peat deposits. Significant changes in the Holocene were identified according to geochemical indices, accumulation rates, and compositions of the plant macrofossils of sediment cores in Lake Kyrtyma and Oshukovskoe peat bog. Sediments with a low content of organic matter and maximum weathering accumulated in the Late Glacial, below the border of the Holocene. The transition to the Holocene manifested as a black organic gyttja with ostracods and marked warming ∼12–11.2 ka BP. At about 11.2–10.1 ka BP it was replaced by the Preboreal oscillation. Subsequent changes in lake sedimentation were associated with general warming and an unstable hydrological regime. An increase in humidification ∼8.2 ka BP was reflected by lake level rise and contributed to swamping of the watersheds. The aridest Holocene phase at ∼7.1–5.5 ka BP was reliably recorded by geochemical data, but poorly reflected in the stratigraphy of both profiles. Subsequent cooling and the resulting decrease in evaporation began at ∼5.5–4.9 ka BP. A pronounced cardinal shift in sedimentation conditions due to a gradual increase in precipitation was recorded at ∼4.9–2.8 ka BP, though short-term fluctuations towards dryness were also marked at ∼3.5–3.3 ka BP. The most significant increase in humidification and cooling began at 2.8 ka BP. Geochemical indices in the lacustrine sediments are climate sensitive and allowing us to obtain enough reliable data associated with changes in sedimentation environments. The stratigraphy of peat reflected the nuances of climatic changes less clearly and primarily demonstrated the stages of bog self-development; however, sphagnum peat provided a better-resolution record.

Here we present results of high-resolution palaeoecological studies of the organic deposits accumulated in Lake Jaczno, located in the north-eastern Poland. Plant macrofossils and malacological analyses complimented by radiocarbon dating (AMS) were undertaken to reconstruct Early Holocene succession of the pioneer wetland plants and molluscs in the lake ecosystem. Numerous presence of charcoal pieces (>1 mm) and fungal remains (sclerotia) in the peat layer accumulated on the mineral ground document dry habitat what coincides with warm and dry climate conditions in the early Holocene recorded in this part of Europe. Change to lacustrine environment documented by accumulation of the carbonate gyttja on the highly decomposed peat layer took place ca. 10,500 cal yr BP. The current morphology of Lake Jaczno, in which several basins can be distinguished, suggests that different age of sediments accumulated at the bottom part at our sampling sites might result from different sizes of the buried dead ice blocks, and their heterochronous final melting. The first aquatic plants that appeared in Lake Jaczno were Chara sp., Ceratophyllum demersum and Nymphaea alba. The appearance of Cladium mariscus in Lake Jaczno ca. 9400 cal yr BP was synchronous with the substantial spread of this plant in this region which coincided with increased climate humidity. The first molluscan species that colonized the lake ecosystem were Gyraulus crista and Bithynia tentaculata, species living on macrophytes, and Valvata piscinalis, typical for habitats characterized by a thick layer of plant detritus.

Publisher's version (útgefin grein)., Sediment cores from Kløverbladvatna, a threshold lake in Wahlenbergfjorden, Nordaustlandet, Svalbard were used to reconstruct Holocene glacier fluctuations. Meltwater from Etonbreen spills over a threshold to the lake, only when the glacier is significantly larger than at present. Lithological logging, loss-on-ignition, ITRAX scanning and radiocarbon dating of the cores show that Kløverbladvatna became isolated from Wahlenbergfjorden c. 5.4 cal. kyr BP due to glacioisostatic rebound. During the Late Holocene, laminated clayey gyttja from lacustrine organic production and surface runoff from the catchment accumulated in the lake. The lacustrine sedimentary record suggests that meltwater only spilled over the threshold at the peak of the surge of Etonbreen in AD 1938. Hence, we suggest that this was the largest extent of Etonbreen in the (mid-late) Holocene. In Palanderbukta, a tributary fjord to Wahlenbergfjorden, raised beaches were surveyed and organic material collected to determine the age of the beaches and reconstruct postglacial relative sea level change. The age of the postglacial raised beaches ranges from 10.7 cal. kyr BP at 50 m a.s.l. to 3.13 cal. kyr BP at 2 m a.s.l. The reconstructed postglacial relative sea level curve adds valuable spatial and chronological data to the relative sea level record of Nordaustlandet., Sveinn Brynjólfsson and Sara Mollie Cohen are thanked for field assistance. Fieldwork and radiocarbon dates were funded by the Carlsberg Foundation (CF14-0756 to Schomacker) and Department of Arctic Geology, The University Centre in Svalbard (UNIS), respectively. Geospatial support was provided by the Polar Geospatial Center, and DEM(s) were created from DigitalGlobe, Inc., imagery and funded under National Science Foundation awards 1043681, 1559691, and 1542736. We thank Ole Bennike, Svend Funder, Antony Ruter, and Peter Ilsøe for macrofossil identification and lab assistance. The manuscript benefited from constructive review comments from Andy Emery. The publication charges for this article have been funded by a grant from the publication fund of UiT The Arctic University of Norway.

This study presents the first application of micromorphology and Automated Scanning Electron Microscopy (ASEM) to a submerged shell-bearing midden site in Denmark, one of the few submerged shell-matrix sites in the world to have undergone archaeological excavation. The use of micromorphology in these deposits provides a means to distinguish primary and secondary deposits and degree of preservation. The additional input of quantitative mineral analysis provides an empirical tool for correlation of minerogenic components across the site and assessing change through time. Micromorphological insights into the formation history and post-depositional modification include epizootic infestations within oyster shells at the base of the profile and needle-fibre calcite at the top - the former is indicative of accumulation of at least part of the shell midden below water, whilst the latter is indicative of exposure. Aside from the shell itself, other cultural traces include heated and worked flint fragments, burnt and unburnt hard bone fragments (including fish bone), soft (spongy) bone, charcoal (Ulmus sp., Alnus sp., Corylus sp.), and preservation of what could possibly be antler velvet. Quantitative mineral analyses provide support for the successive stabilisation of the midden site by accumulating minerogenic (silica-rich) sands over the glacial clay and detrital gyttja deposits (defined by smaller grain size, greater heavy mineral content), and subsequently between the shell matrix itself, until the erosion of these protective sediments in more recent times. Further micromorphological profiles are needed to fully assess local versus regional signatures within the site, which otherwise provides an ideal context against which to compare the effects of inundation in similar microtidal contexts.

The application of electrical resistivity tomography to peatlands supports conventional coring by providing data on the current condition of peatlands, including data on stratigraphy, peat properties and thickness of organic deposits. Data on the current condition of drained peatlands are particularly required to improve estimates of carbon storage as well as losses and emissions from agriculturally used peatlands. However, most of the studies focusing on electrical resistivity tomography surveys have been conducted on natural peatlands with higher groundwater levels. Peatlands drained for agriculture have not often been studied using geophysical techniques. Drained sites are characterized by low groundwater levels and high groundwater fluctuations during the year, which lead to varying levels of water saturation. To validate better electrical resistivity tomography surveys of drained peatlands, the aim of this laboratory study is to investigate the influence of varying water saturation levels on electrical conductivity (reciprocal of resistivity) for a variety of peat and gyttja types, as well as for different degrees of peat decomposition. Results show that different levels of water saturation strongly influence bulk electrical conductivity. Distinct differences in this relationship exist between peat and gyttja substrates and between different degrees of peat decomposition. Peat shows an exponential relationship for all degrees of decomposition, whereas gyttja, in particular organic‐rich gyttja, is characterized by a rather unimodal relationship. The slopes for the relationship between electrical conductivity and water content are steeper at high degrees of decomposition than for peat of low degrees of decomposition. These results have direct implications for field electrical resistivity tomography surveys. In drained peatlands that are strongly susceptible to drying, electrical resistivity tomography surveys have a high potential to monitor the actual field water content. In addition, at comparable water saturations, high or low degrees of decomposition can be inferred from electrical conductivity.

This study presents 1) the results of a stable isotope and subfossil Cladocera analyses of lacustrine sediments from Maliszewskie Lake (E Poland) and next 2) different reaction of the lake environments depending on the lake's localization. Maliszewskie Lake is located in North Podlasie Lowland ca. 30 km to the south of the Vistulian ice sheet limit. The approximately 4.80-m-thick sediments (Maliszewo I profile) are mainly comprised of calcareous gyttja covered by peat and organic detritus gyttja. Pollen analysis documents that the sediments accumulated from the Late Glacial (Allerod period) to recent times. Based on the results of stable isotope and subfossil Cladocera analyses of sediments, the lake environmental changes were reconstructed. A positive trend in δ18O and δ13C values documents a gradual climatic warming. The fluctuations of the oxygen isotopic values suggest the multiple oscillation of water level due to a change in the evaporation/precipitation ratio. The subfossil cladoceran fauna in the Maliszewo I profile is represented by 21 species belonging to five families. Three zones of Cladocera development were distinguished. The Cladocera species indicate the initial oligotrophic status of the lake and its subsequent increase of trophic status. Currently, Maliszewskie Lake is a very shallow, declining reservoir. The initial period of its existence probably saw its maximal depth. In presented studies we compared our results with data from three other sites documenting the reaction of the lake environment during the Late Glacial and Holocene transformation. At that time we observed different reactions to the climate amelioration. In the northern, postglacial lakes, the Holocene warming at first provoked an input cold melting water characterized by more negative oxygen isotope values and then a rise in water temperature. In the lakes further away from the glaciation border (periglacial lakes), the increase in water temperature, documented by e.g. more positive oxygen isotopic immediately occurred. The climate warming is commonly manifested by a significant increase of number of species and individuals of Cladocera.

Microbial communities throughout the 6.5 m depth profile of a boreal ombrotrophic bog were characterized using amplicon sequencing of archaeal, fungal, and bacterial marker genes. Microbial populations and their relationship to oxic and anoxic batch sorption of radionuclides (using radioactive tracers of I, Se, Cs, Ni, and Ag) and the prevailing metal concentrations in the natural bog was investigated. The majority of the detected archaea belonged to the Crenarchaeota, Halobacterota, and Thermoplasmatota, whereas the fungal communities consisted of Ascomycota, Basidiomycota, and unclassified fungi. The bacterial communities consisted mostly of Acidobacteriota, Proteobacteria, and Chloroflexi. The occurrence of several microbial genera were found to statistically significantly correlate with metal concentrations as well as with Se, Cs, I, and Ag batch sorption data. We suggest that the metal concentrations of peat, gyttja, and clay layers affect the composition of the microbial populations in these nutrient-low conditions and that particularly parts of the bacterial and archaeal communities tolerate high concentrations of potentially toxic metals and may concurrently contribute to the total retention of metals and radionuclides in this ombrotrophic environment. In addition, the varying metal concentrations together with chemical, mineralogical, and physical factors may contribute to the shape of the total archaeal and bacterial populations and most probably shifts the populations for more metal resistant genera.

While recent landscape changes can be usually easily read through accessible morphological features, relatively ancient processes can be difficult to detect as the associated morphologies and deposits are often buried below younger sediments. With the aim of understanding the evolution of the distal Venetian-Friulian Plain (NE Italy) after the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM), this work presents the analysis performed on a dataset of ca. 2300 mechanical and hand-made cores, which allowed a detailed reconstruction of the formation and evolution of an incised valley, now almost completely filled and with little to absent morphologic expression. Such valley, up to 1.2 km wide, with a depth of 20 m below the LGM alluvial plain and traced for a length of 25 km, is the result of the complex interplay between minor spring-fed rivers and the Tagliamento River. The detailed characterization of the infilling allowed to identify two main phases in the valley evolution. The first one is related to the activity of the paleo Tagliamento River and led to the deposition of a 10 m thick gravelly unit (ca. 19–9.5 ka cal BP). The second phase, which followed a disconnection of the Tagliamento, is linked to the Holocene marine transgression and led to the formation of a lagoon environment within the valley and to the deposition of a ca. 15 m thick unit of lagoon muds (ca. 8 ka cal BP - historic time). This latter unit lays on top of gyttja deposits, indicating for the first time in this area the presence of widespread lacustrine environments in the Early Holocene. This work presents an in-depth analysis on the evolution of a distal plain incised valley, from its formation to its final filling, providing at the same time the means to describe the development of the entire alluvial plain landscape, spanning from the end of the LGM to the middle Holocene. We present new data on the paleoenvironmental and morphologic evolution of the Venetian-Friulian Plain area as a consequence of the interplay between autogenic forces and sea-level rise. Our study allowed to understand the importance of both Alpine rivers and groundwater-fed streams in the formation of large incised valleys in the coastal sector of the whole Venetian-Friulian Plain. Finally, as during the transgressive phase the upstream sediment input in the valley was almost absent, this study provides insights into facies and architecture of a rare example of downstream-controlled filling of an incised valley.

Tea and hazelnut cultivated soils are mainly distributed in Black Sea region of Turkey. Low pH value is a primary problemfor those soils; therefore, farmers apply lime once every 3-4 years to raise the pH value of soil. Gyttja is highly rich in organic matter(40.59%) and lime (45.67%), and it is a low cost and considerably abundant in Afsin-Elbistan Coal Basin (estimated reserve is around4.8 billion tons). The aim of this study was to determine the phosphorus (P) sorption characteristics of gyttja, and its efficiency on Pavailability and soil's pH value. Optimum P sorption conditions (pH, temperature, particle size, amount of sorbent and shaking time)and maximum sorption capacity (b) for gyttja were determined in laboratory condition. Phosphorus was sorbed to gyttja (G(1)P(1)) basedon its b value, and the experiment was set as pot experiment according to a comletely randomized factorial experimental design withfive replications. Applications were control (G(0)P(0)), gyttja + P-0 (G(1)P(0)), sole P (G(0)P(1)), and gyttja + P (G(1)P(1)). The b value obtained fromLangmuir isotherm for gyttja was found as 1.59 mgg(-1). The highest available P was obtained at treatment of (G(1)P(1)). Also, the treatment G(1)P(1) was significantly different (p < 0.01) from the rest of the treatments. Gyttja application increased soil's pH value from 4.86 to 5.74in a 6-month time period. Therefore, gyttja can be recommended for amending soil acidity and increasing available P contents in acidsoils. Further studies should be conducted in field conditions to increase applicability of the results.

The paper presents the case study of geotechnical investigations reporting connected with expert’s opinion on undrained shear strength of organic sediments in the river valley at the north of Poland according to reinforcement methodology of c.a. 0, 7 km highway embankment. Diversification of primary results caused additional research which revealed and confirmed liquid consistency of organic soils – several meters of organic and calcareous sediments – gyttja under the thin cover of peat. The main goal of the paper is a discussion on standardization of consistency of organic soils itself and additionally to point out very rare possibility of liquid consistency, finally not pointed in International Standards ISO 14688. The application of Atterberg limits in organic sediments is moot but even organic soil with water content higher than liquid limit can’t be classified and interpreted as very soft with description as soil which exudes between the fingers when squeezed in the hand. Such identification is practically impossible when it’s hard to squeeze because of gravitationally leaking through the fingers.

A general approach is presented to derive probabilistic radionuclide distribution coefficients (Kd) in soils from a Kd dataset. The main aim was to derive informed estimates with a low inherent uncertainty by restricting the Kd value data to subsets based on key soil factors and the experimental approach used to calculate the Kd value (e.g., sorption and desorption tests). As an example, the general approach was applied to uranium (U) Kd values that are part of a critically reviewed dataset containing more than 5000 soil Kd entries for 83 elements and an additional 2000 entries of Kd data for 75 elements gathered from a selection of other, non-soil, geological materials. The overall soil U Kd dataset included 196 values spanning a range of four orders of magnitude (1-67,000 L kg−1), with additional 50 entries for other geological materials. Whereas the effect of the experimental approach could be disregarded, major factors in decreasing U Kd variability were pH and organic matter content (OM). Limitation in the number of entries made it difficult to use texture information (sand, silt, clay) to further decrease U Kd variability. The integrated combination of pH + OM permitted some soil groups to have U Kd confidence intervals as narrow as two orders of magnitude. Specifically for U Kd, data in the Mineral (< 20% OM) and Organic (≥ 20% OM) partial datasets were significantly different. Analogue data from geological materials other than soils, such as subsoil, till and gyttja (a lacustrine mud having elevated organic matter (OM) contents), were also statistically evaluated to determine whether they could be used to fill U Kd data gaps. It was shown that U Kd from subsoils and tills, but not gyttjas, could be used to enhance soil U Kd datasets. Selection of probabilistic Kd values for risk modelling can be made more reliably and with less uncertainty by using appropriate geochemical data representative of the study site to narrow the wide range of potential Kd values.

We present a case study of a bog showing how an integrated approach of multi-method geophysical sounding and local soil sampling can be used to identify, differentiate, and map organic sediments. Our study is based on ground-penetrating radar (GPR), electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) and shear-wave seismic (SH seismic) profiling applied to sediments of the former Lake Duvensee (northern Germany), nowadays a bog. This is a well-known locality for remains from the Mesolithic hunter-gatherers&rsquo, occupation that has been attracting archaeological and geoarchaeological research for100 years. The bog is embedded in low conductive glacial sand and is characterized by layers of different gyttja sediments (detritus and calcareous). The present study was conducted in order to identify the bog morphology and the thickness of the peat body and lake sediments, in order to understand the basin evolution. To validate the geophysical results, derived from surface measurements, drilling, soil analyses as well as borehole guided wave analysis of electromagnetic waves and Direct-Push (DP-EC) have been carried out and used for comparison. It turned out that each method can distinguish between sediments that differ in grain size, particularly between peat, lake sediments (gyttjas and mud) and basal glacial sand deposits. GPR is even able to separate between strongly and weakly decomposed peat layers, which is also clear considering resistivity variations in the ERT computation. From the association between geophysical properties and sediment analysis (e.g., water content and organic matter) different gyttjas were distinguished (coarse and fine) and seismic velocity was correlated to bulk density. Moreover, GPR and SH-wave seismics present different resolutions, confirming that the latter allows measurements, which are more focused on determining the extension of basal sand deposits, the depth of which is difficult to reach with GPR. Representative values of electrical resistivity, dielectric permittivity, and shear wave velocity have been determined for each sediment type and are therefore available to complete the investigation of wetland environments. Fine grained lake sediments were difficult to differentiate by the applied methods. This could be a result of high ionic concentration within the permanent groundwater body, partly masking the sediment properties.

The Rozprza stronghold functioned as a seat of a noble family since at least the early14th century AD in the form of the motte-and-bailey residence. The remains of the residence are situated in the central part of mid-Luciąza River valley, on the river terrace remnant adjoining a strongly expanding floodplain. The situation and state of preservation give a unique opportunity to conduct research that explain the construction process, detailed history of the medieval moat and palaeoenvironmental reconstruction of the valley floor. Radiocarbon and dendrochronological dating and analysis of artefacts confirmed 14th century age of the moat. Organic deposits (gyttja, peat and organic mud) of moat fill allowed for a set of multiproxy analyses based on sediment cores. The research results indicate shallow water with brief episodes of in-wash in the first stage (13th-14th c. AD), followed by a transformation into telmatic habitat in the second phase of the moat development from 16th-17th c. AD. The deposition of overbank alluvium took place within the moat ditch system as late as the 18th and/or 19th c. AD. We studied the development of this moat environment in the context of valley floor changes.

The coastal cliffs in Klaksvik (Borðoyar Bay) are the only known locality with Eemian sediments in the Faroe Islands. Previous studies carried out there focused on the sedimentology, tephra chemistry, paleoecology including aquatic environment, or the age of the deposits. In the lacustrine, clayey to silty gyttja we collected scattered wood fragments, identified as Larix sp., Pinus sp., Taxus sp. and Betulaceae? In addition, these wood remains contain numerous trace fossils, made by marine wood-boring bivalves (Teredolites longissimus), which together with a discussion about the areal extent of the identified tree species leads us to conclude that they are non-native, i.e. driftwood. Northern Siberia is usually regarded as the most likely source area for driftwood in the eastern North Atlantic region. We combined the approximate transport distance from the areal extent of the wood with the main directions of marine currents in the relevant section of the North Atlantic. Adding the known average marine current velocities during the penultimate interglacial resulted in 130–200 days for transport from North America and 350–1100 days from Siberia. Comparing this with the maximal buoyancy period for the identified tree species, we conclude that the Faroese driftwood may originate not only from Siberia, but also from the eastern coast of North America, especially from the region around the Great Lakes, as well as from western Europe. (Less)

The preconsolidation stress is an important phenomenon that determines the value of stress history exerted in the past on the subsoil in the geotechnical engineering. Overconsolidation ratio (OCR) is one of the main criteria conditioning soil behaviour and its characteristics. Here thought, the yield stress ratio (YSR) is used to determine the value of preconsolidation stress resulting from mechanical overburden than can be changed by many post depositional processes like secondary and tertiary compressibility, cementation, aging, temperature change and others. The yield stress ratio (YSR) is defined as the relationship between vertical yield stress (σ’vy) to the effective vertical stress (σ’v0). The eemian gyttja was used as a foundation in the engineering construction. In practical geotechnical engineering, evaluation of stress history is usually based on the overconsolidation ratio (OCR). The yield stress ratio (YSR) was used in the laboratory as one of the basic parameters for the geotechnical design of the structure. To know the relation between geological background, history and mechanical behaviour in long-time process of the soil aims a knowledge that can help engineers who often have to predict soil behaviour based upon the soil geological history and a few geotechnical data. In order to evaluate the yield stress ratio of eemian gyttja it is necessary to restore this soft, organic soil as much as possible to the in situ conditions. The laboratory tests were used to determinate the vertical yield stress and then the yield stress ratio. The laboratory tests were made in the automatic oedometer and the in situ tests were carried out on the dilatometer test (DMT). The comparison between the determination the yield stress ratio of eemian gyttja from the laboratory and the overconsolidation ratio from in situ test has been done. The studies have shown that the values of the overconsolidation ratio determinate from the laboratory tests are a little higher than determinate from the in situ tests.

Several shallow lakes have been drained to make way for additional arable land or pasture in the Mazurian Lakeland (NE Poland) since the 19th century. As a result of these hydrotechnical works, the water level usually decreased by approximately 6 m. Bottom sediments of the former lakes were transformed into surface limnic soils. Part of them, developed from highly calcareous gyttja, may be called limnic rendzinas. However, the present position of these soils in the Polish Soil Classification is unclear. Where the lake has undergone a natural terrestrialisation, the gyttja is covered with peat and mursh. The raw gyttja soils differ in type of organic matter forming the topsoil horizon and are subject to further transformation, the direction of which depends on the sequence of sediments in the profile, mursh formation, mineral admixture and adjoining colluvial phenomena. Common features of all these soils are high content of calcium carbonate in the surface horizons, alkaline reaction, high groundwater level and periodical flooding. The paper presents the variability of limnic rendzinas based on many examples from the Mazurian Lakeland (NE Poland). Finally, new type additions were suggested to the next edition of the Polish Soil Classification.

The Radom Plain is a region with numerous fossil palaeolakes that formed a palaeolakeland. Lacustrine sediments of thickness varying from 0.5 to 18 m were encountered in numerous boreholes. Pollen analyses of the sediments filling the palaeolakes have proven that their sedimentation began after the retreat of the Saalian ice-sheet (MIS 6), continued during the Eemian Interglacial (MIS 5e), and terminated at the beginning of the Weichselian Glaciation (MIS 5d). Climate and palaeoenvironmental changes have been recorded in different deposits: muds, peats and gyttja. Local factors, such as reservoir depth, and geological conditions have influenced the type of the accumulated sediments. Eemian sites occur in two geomorphological positions: in small depressions on the glacial plateau and in small valleys in ox-bow palaeolakes. Eemian lakes were formed from the melting of dead-ice blocks. Pollen data obtained from the palaeolake sediments document climate and vegetation changes characteristic of the Late Glacial period, the Eemian Interglacial, and the beginning of the Weichselian Glaciation. In many sites, a record of a complete Eemian succession is present, whereas in others it is fragmentary. Comparison of pollen data between the Radom region and other localities in Poland shows local and regional differences in the development of forest communities in the Eemian. In the Eemian sequences of the Radom Plain, a considerable contribution of Tilia , Picea and Abies pollen is distinct in the forest communities, often higher than in other Eemian sites of Central Poland. The particularly high percentage of Tilia (exceeding 30%), Picea (up to 67%) and Abies (30%) pollen are recorded in the Babin site. This phenomenon may indicate favourable environmental and climate conditions, facilitating further propagation of these trees. In the pollen record from the Babin site, three distinct abrupt/cool climate oscillations have been noted, with the oldest one recorded in the Saalian Glaciation. The two younger oscillations have been distinguished at the very beginning and at the very end of the Last Interglacial, respectively. Eemian sites from the Radom Plain are important for the reconstruction of palaeoenvironmental and palaeoclimate changes in the Eemian Interglacial in Poland and Europe.

The estimation of groundwater-driven lacustrine dissloved inorganic phosphorus (DIP) loading is a challenging task associated with uncertainties related to simplifications used in the empirical and numerical methods. A multi-disciplinary approach can result in a better understanding of a system and therefore the improved estimate of external DIP loading into lakes. Groundwater discharge and DIP loading to a naturally eutrophic lake were estimated using three methods based on field measurements: (1) the lake segment approach, (2) three-dimensional (3D) flow and transport modelling, and (3) integrating mapped water chemistry with the 3D flow model. Field measurements and 3D flow modelling show the groundwater contribution to the lake water budget 75–81%. The in situ measured spatial distribution of the groundwater discharge rate, based on seepage meters and a conservative tracer (Cl−) budget approach, is well reproduced by the 3D flow model. DIP fluxes between the aquifer and the surface water vary between 220 and 351 kg yr−1. The integrated approach is associated with the lowest degree of uncertainty and therefore predicts the spatial distribution of the mass loading into the lake with the highest degree of accuracy. 3D hydrological information is crucial to estimate the magnitude of DIP transport. Despite the high measured and simulated DIP concentration in groundwater beneath gyttja covering the lake bottom, the actual contribution of this area into annual groundwater-driven DIP loading is low due to low groundwater discharge rates. DIP loading is concentrated instead in the narrow littoral high discharge zones. Low release rate of DIP within the old lake bottom (0.14 µg L−1) predicted with the use of the zero-order release term in MT3DMS results in a high average DIP concentration in the groundwater (60 µg L−1) and is one of the major factors responsible for the long-term lake eutrophication.

Five sections of sediment from mire infillings located in different part of the catchment small river valley in central Europe were studied by lithological and geochemical analysis in order to examine the response of aquatic ecosystems to the environment changes during Late Weischselian (LW). Differentiation of geochemical composition and grain-size properties in biogenic deposits is being considered as a result of change hydroclimatic conditions and geology structure in individual parts of the catchment. The principal component analysis (PCA) and clustered by hierarchical method (HCA) were chosen to create the lithogeochemical facies and their chronostratigraphy variability. Biogenic sediments of the studied river mires, regardless of the location in a given reach of the valley, are represents mainly by mineral or organic-mineral lithogeochemial facies with increased of lithophilic elements (Na, K and Mg). Similar chemical composition of gyttja and peat sediments in almost all periods of LW, indicate the strongly mechanical denudation processes in the Grabia River valley. The major process, conditioning the development of the mires (in it type and rate sedimentation), was the variable terrigenous material input which are related to its variable dynamic of floods. The higher than expected chemical denudation probably a result of specific groundwater flow direction and dissolving vari-grained sands and silts, which build plains in the central part of the study catchment. The number and thickness of individual lithogeochemical facies are caused by differences in the potential volume of the hydrologically active zone and geological conditions of the emerge or disappear permafrost.

In several road projects in western Norway, it is common to encounter a soil consisting of mineral soils with an organic part and high water content. The organic soil is referred to as gyttja and the organic part originates from remains of plants and animals rich in fats and proteins. It is common to find up to 14 m thick soil layers containing gyttja. The amount of organic content is much lower than peats however this is observed to significantly alter the engineering property of mineral soils involving clay and silt. However, there exists no systematic study on characterization of strength and deformation properties of gyttja in Norway. As a result, it is a common practice to excavate and replace such soils. However, this shall not be a viable engineering solution as removal of organic soils gives a significant CO2 emission. This implies that it is important to find ways to deal with such types of soils apart from always replacing them. To achieve this, it is essential to establish engineering properties for characterization of strength and deformation behaviour of gyttja. This research work thus focuses on looking at these aspects based on extensive field and laboratory tests. Effect of cement as a stabilization method to improve strength is also experimentally looked at. Results are also compared with available data from literature documenting other countries experiences with organic soils. This work presents and discusses main trends, correlations and characteristics related to strength and deformation behaviours of Norwegian gyttja.

The overconsolidation ratio of eemian gyttja determination. The overconsolidation ratio is an important parameter that determines the value of stress history exerted in the past on the subsoil in the geotechnical engineering. Overconsolidation ratio (OCR) is one of the main criteria conditioning soil behavior and characteristics. To know the relation between geological background, history and mechanical behavior of the soil, aims a knowledge that can help engineers who often have to predict soil behavior based upon the soil geological history and a geotechnical data. In order to evaluate the overconsolidation ratio of eemian gyttja, it is necessary to restore this soft soil as much as possible to the in situ conditions. The eemian gyttja is an organic soft soil from the “Zoliborz channel” located in Warsaw. These soils are used as a base construction in the foundation engineering. In practical geotechnical engineering, evaluation of stress history is based on the overconsolidation ratio. The overconsolidation ratio is one of the basic parameters for the geotechnical design of the structure. Determination of this parameter using for example dilatometer tests, is usually based on empirical formulas which were established in different countries. Therefore, regional geotechnical conditions could have substantially affected on the empirical relationships. The laboratory tests are used to determinate the preconsolidation pressure and then the overconsolidation ratio. The laboratory tests were made in the automatic oedometer and the in situ tests were carried out on the dilatometer test (DMT). The paper presents results of determination the overconsolidation ratio of eemian gyttja from the laboratory and in situ tests. The studies have shown that the values of the overconsolidation ratio determination from the laboratory tests are a little higher than determination from the in situ tests.

Diatoms and sediments were examined in a 530 cm core from Ishiba Ngandu, Zambia, a lake formed by gentle downwarping. Diatom zone D (>20 cal ka BP) was mostly sand with abundantAulacoseiraandEunotia, suggesting a shallow lake perhaps kept fresh by spring inputs and lake discharge, except during deposition of the lowermost 66 cm. Gyttja deposition between about 22 and 20 cal ka BP suggested a deeper lake and a wetter climate, perhaps because the Congo Air Boundary (CAB) was farther southeast relative to modern times. The next zone, zone C (about 20–19 cal ka BP), was sand with abundantAchnanthidiumandEunotiabut very few planktonic diatoms, apparently representing very shallow water and an arid period without the CAB. The gyttja and diatoms in zone B (19–4 ka) suggested an increase in moisture when the CAB returned. Zone A (4–0 cal ka BP) was dominated by the planktonicAulacoseira(>89%), suggesting an increase in wind-driven mixing. Uniquely, Ishiba Ngandu likely has been relatively moist since the last glacial maximum, matching pre-Holocene wetness in Botswana but not its Holocene aridity; evidently the climate here had switched to that of East Africa.

This article presents the results of a comprehensive geochronological study of gyttja deposits from a section of a terrace above a floodplain located on the right bank of the Ob River near the town of Kolpashevo. According to the 230Th/U dating, the age of the gyttja could be dated in the range of 110–95 kyr. The results of spore–pollen analysis suggest that the gyttja deposit was formed in the period of a wide distribution of middle taiga forest landscapes with the dominance of spruce; the climatic conditions were similar to modern ones. These events probably took place in the interstadial time during MIS-5c or at the end of Kazantsevo interglacial period.

Bu çalışmada, Doğu Akdeniz Tarım Havzasında bazalt, serpantin ve kireçtaşı ana materyalleri üzerinde oluşmuş topraklarda gidya (% 0, 1, 2, 4) ve azot (0, 70, 140 ve 210 mg kg-1) uygulamalarının kırmızı biber bitkisi ve farklı toprak çeşitleri üzerine etkileri incelenmiştir. Araştırmada, vejetatif gelişim bakımından gidya uygulamalarında bitki ağırlıklarındaki artış istatistiksel olarak önemli bulunmuştur. Ancak, gidya uygulamalarının meyve verimi üzerine önemli bir etkisi gözlemlenmemiştir. Diğer yandan, 140 mg kg-1 ve 210 mg kg-1 azot dozlarında bitki ve meyve ağırlıklarında önemli oranda artışlar görülmüştür. Farklı topraklarda yetiştirilen kırmızı biber bitkilerindeki morfolojik değişimler bakımından en yüksek bitki boyu ve en yüksek bitki ağırlığı bazaltik topraklarda, en yüksek meyve ağırlığı serpantinli topraklarda ve en yüksek meyve sayısı kireçli topraklarda yetişen bitkilerde ölçülmüştür.

Plant morphological attribute has been reported to be increased through the application of organic material (Gyttja) to the soil. Snapdragons (Antirrhinum majus L.) was studied under plastic house conditions to determine the effect of two different soil depth-SH (0-20 cm and 20- 40 cm), four different gyttja doses-GD (0, 1, 2, and 3%), and three different nitrogen doses-ND (0, 140, and 280 mg kg-1) on some of the plant’s morphological characters; Plant Height (PH), Fresh Weight Per Plant (FWP), Number of Leaves Per Plant(NLP), Stem Diameter(SD), Number of Branches Per Plant (NBP), Number of Flower Per Spikes (NFPS) and Flower Spike Length (FSL). The results showed that gyttja application at doses of 3%, significantly increased PH, SD, NBP, NFPS, and FSL, while FWP increased only at 2% gyttja application dose and decreased at the 3% dose. The application of 280 mg kg-1 of nitrogen significantly increased (PH, FWP, NLP, NBP, NFPS and FSL). All parameters increased at (0-20 cm) soil depth, and the GD x SH x ND interaction had a significant effect on (SD, NLP, NFPS and FSL). These results suggest that adding of gyttja with nitrogen fertilizer to the calcareous and infertile soil will enhance the morphological attributes of plants.

Despite recent progress in understanding high-latitude climate variability, paleoclimate records are scarce from the Alaskan Arctic. We conducted isotopic and sediment analyses at Wahoo Lake to infer Holocene climate variability in northeastern Alaska. Water δ18O and δD values from the lake and its inlet/outlet streams suggest that winter precipitation dominates modern water inputs and that evaporation has limited influence on the lake’s hydrological budget. The isotopic composition of Pisidium exhibits marked variations during the past 11,500 years, with δ18O ranging between −18.7‰ and −16.2‰ and δ13C between −7.1‰ and −2.3‰ (Vienna Pee Dee Belemnite (VPDB)). Elevated δ18O and sediment composition from 11.5 to 8.9 kcal. BP suggest evaporative 18O enrichment and arid conditions. Rising lake levels are evidenced by the disappearance of Pisidium and a transition to low-carbonate gyttja ca. 6.3 kcal. BP and by the onset of sediment deposition on an adjacent shelf by 5.3 kcal. BP. These changes coincided with enhanced effective moisture in interior and southern Alaska as inferred from lake-level records and may be related to broad-scale atmospheric circulation changes. In the shelf sediments, carbonate abundance increases markedly at 3.5 kcal. BP, and δ18O increases from −18.0‰ to −16.5‰ at 2.1 kcal. BP, possibly resulting from increased temperature and/or summer precipitation. After 2.1 kcal. BP, δ18O fluctuates with an overall decreasing trend to −17.2‰ at 0.9 kcal. BP. Late-Holocene variations in our δ18O record display coherent patterns with regional glacier fluctuations at centennial to millennial scales, suggesting that δ18O minima were related to a combination of low temperatures and enhanced winter snowfall. Holocene variations in organic matter abundance at Wahoo Lake also show broad similarities to total solar irradiance, implying that suborbital solar variability played a role in modulating regional climate and aquatic productivity.

For the first time, plant macrofossil analysis supported by detailed stratigraphic studies was used to reconstruct peatland development in South Africa. Two peat cores (4.69 and 1.5 m) from two coastal peatlands in KwaZulu-Natal were analysed for carpological macrofossils, wood and macrocharcoal. The first one, Matitimani, is an unchannelled valley bottom peatland (site VB), and the second one, KwaMazambane, an interdune depression peatland (site ID) further up in the same catchment. Radiocarbon dating reveals the peatland initiation at site VB at about 6260 cal. yr BP. Rising sea level and humid climatic conditions during that time coincide with the formation of organic gyttja (dominantly aquatic seeds like Nymphaea sp.). In ca. 4950 cal. yr BP, a change to drier condition took place, revealed by the formation of radicell peat from Cyperaceae, and an increase of fire frequency (macrocharcoal). After ca. 1200 cal. yr BP, peat swamp forest emerged, with Ficus trichopoda, Syzygium cordatum and Voacanga thouarsii forming wood peat. Site ID dates back to ca. 920 cal. yr BP. Its initiation is assumingly related to reduced drainage capacities of the catchment subsequently to the peat formation in Matitimani valley. A steady change from gyttja forming communities ( Nymphaea sp.– Eleocharis dulcis) to radicell peat-forming Cyperaceae communities took place. The long-term apparent rate of carbon accumulation (LORCA) is higher for site ID (89 gC m−2 yr−1) than for site VB (55 gC m−2 yr−1). Except for the peat swamp forest period, fire occurred frequently at both sites, however less in environments with frequent inundations.

Disturbed lacustrine deposits of eastern Canada have been associated with past seismic events in the intraplate Western Quebec Seismic Zone (WQZ) and the Charlevoix–Kamouraska Seismic Zone (CKSZ). With five major earthquakes that occurred during historical times and hundreds of minor earthquakes, the CKSZ is the most active seismic zone in eastern Canada. Here we present new high-resolution multibeam bathymetric, subbottom profiler and sediment core data collected in Lake Temiscouata, southeastern Quebec, the largest lake located within the influence of the CKSZ. The occurrence of mass-movements in the highly cohesive glaciolacustrine deposits of the lake produced a peculiar lacustrine landscape consisting of steep slide scars and residual mounds and very narrow residual crests. Our data indicate that postglacial times were marked by recurrent seismically-induced mass-movement events that cannot be individually identified in the sedimentary record due to the highly disturbed stratigraphy of the lake and to the absence of significant postglacial background sediments between events. The most recent recorded mass-movement is a distinct debris flow sediment layer on the lake floor that was deposited at ~ 1300 cal BP, very shortly after a distinct large-scale mass-movement event observed across the entire lake basin. The presence of silt layers in gyttja overlying these disturbed units suggests that the region was affected by other seismic events following this event, although no MMDs could be directly related to these layers.

Organic-rich freshwater sediments formed from the remains of water plants, plankton and benthic organisms, which are transformed by microorganisms, and mixed with mineral components supplied from the lake basin, are known as gyttja (sapropel or dy). Gyttja is a valuable natural resource that can be used in various fields such as agriculture, forestry, construction, chemical industry, balneology and the latter ones are especially interested in chemical composition and safety of natural materials. The aim of the study was to investigate micro- and macro-element content of gyttja derived from lakes of eastern Latvia (north-east of Europe). Depending on composition, sediment samples were identified as peaty, various algae, green algae, diatom, carbonate and organic-silicate types of gyttja. Dried samples were wet-digested by heating in HNO3/H2O2 solution until complete mineralization. Sample solutions were analysed by atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) to detect concentration of Ca, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na and Zn, but inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) was applied for As, Ba, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Li, Ni, Pb, Rb, Se, Sr and V concentration measurements. Total content of elements was variable; higher macroelement concentration was detected for gyttja of carbonate type, but higher microelement concentration-for organic-silicate gyttja. As concentration of several elements was much lower than permitted by the European Union legislation, gyttja is not only safe, but also highly valuable resource applicable in organic agriculture. There is a potential to use gyttja as a peloid in health care, but element bioavailability should be estimated likewise.

Recently, geotechnical problems that are characterized by a high degree of complexity and uncertainty with respect to input data have been solved using Bayesian analysis. One example is the problem of cautious estimation of geotechnical parameters according to Eurocode 7 requirements. The research included various types of soil such as peat, gyttja, organic mud, and clays. These were studied in order to develop an empirical correlation for determining the unit weight of mineral and organic soils. The compiled database of documented field research sites for different types of soil was used to investigate and develop direct relationships between measured results and dilatometer (DMT) readings, i.e., po and p1 together with pore water pressure (uo) and pressure (Pa). The soil unit weights were determined for both mineral and organic soils. The paper addresses the applicability of the Bayesian approach in geotechnics via a simple example related to the determination of characteristic values of geotechnical parameters for design structures. The results show that it is possible to conduct a more reliable forecast with improved statistical measures compared to other available methods for multilayer subsoils.

Heavy metals which pollute aquatic environments typically bond with bottom sediments and the analysis of the spatial distribution of metals allows to assess the geochemical purity of deposits and to identify the potential pollution sources. Research carried out on the Wigry Lake involved the collection of almost 500 samples of sediments, and the specification of the depth of their residence (0.2–71.4 m) as well as the level of concentration of three metals: Fe (80.3–32 857 mg kg−1), Mn (17.8–1698 mg kg−1) and Zn (3.14–632 mg kg−1). The geochemical and bathymetric data was interpolated using geostatistical methods and mapped with the consideration of 5 types of sediments: lacustrine chalk, carbonate gyttja, fluvial-lacustrine sediment, organic gyttja and clastic sediment. As a result, a significant increase in the concentration of metals was revealed in deeper zones, at a considerable distance from the lake shore, wherein the respective values of correlation coefficients were as follows: depth–Mn 0.77; depth–Fe 0.60; depth–Zn 0.58. A strong dependency between the concentration of analysed metals and the type of sediment, attributed to the granular and chemical composition of sediments, was also revealed. Correlations between individual metallic pairs (Fe–Mn 0.77; Fe–Zn 0.80; Mn–Zn 0.75) indicated that similar factors influence spatial distribution of metals in sediments. The implementation of 3 different geochemical backgrounds allowed to conclude that the Wigry Lake is slightly polluted with the analysed metals, and that the origin of Mn is mainly natural, while in the case of Fe and Zn anthropogenic influence can also be identified.

WOS:000462830400025 In this study, the effects of gyttja on some soil properties in two different nickel-contaminated soils (Inceptisol and Entisol) were investigated. This study was conducted with the application of three levels of gyttja (0, 5 and 10%) in two different soils (Inceptisol and Entisol) contaminated with Ni at three levels of concentration (0, 40 and 80 mg kg(-1)) in a factorial experimental design with three replications. Some soil properties showed differences in different nickel and gyttja applications. Soil nickel content significantly (P < 0.01) increased in nickel-contaminated soils. Soil organic matter and phosphorus contents in gyttja applicated soils were found to reach higher levels compared to those without gyttja application.

In February 2011, two landslides in which 11 people were killed, occurred in the Collolar open pit mine, situated in the Elbistan Basin in eastern Turkey. In the coalfield, a thick sequence of clay (>100 m) overlies karstic limestone bedrock. These are overlain by deposits consisting of a 20–50 m thick lignite sequence and a 20–50 m thick gyttja sequence. The gyttja is in turn overlain by Quaternary deposits. In this study, we aimed to shed light on the geologic factors that led to the instability and on the precise trigger for the failure. Therefore, we focused on the above Plio-Quaternary lacustrine and fluvial sediments and applied geomorphological, sedimentological, and geotechnical analyses. After establishing the geomorphology of the coalfield and the landslides, we analyzed 38 samples from existing drill cores, 10 surface samples, and 35 undisturbed samples from new boreholes. Our results indicate that the February 2011 landslides were caused by the liquefaction of the organic-rich “seekreide” (low plasticity, Ca-rich marls) layers at the transition between gyttja and unconsolidated, fine-grained Quaternary sediments. We inferred that the trigger for the landslides might be related to changes in the groundwater flow dynamics in and around the coalfield, and that the shaking caused by the first landslide might have contributed to triggering the second landslide. In brief, we conclude that the second landslide at the Collolar coalfield was a unique example of a landslide that did not have typical rotational, spoon-shaped failure planes and retrogressive progression, as previously proposed.

TEZ12556 Tez (Yüksek Lisans) -- Çukurova Üniversitesi, Adana, 2019. Kaynakça (s. 87-90) var. XI, 92 s. :_res. (bzs. rnk.), tablo ;_29 cm. Bu tezin amacı Afşin-Elbistan Kömür havzası E Sektörü içinde yer alan Gidya biriminin geçirgenlik özelliğinin belirlenmesi ve susuzlaştırma açısından öneminin ortaya konmasıdır. Bu kapsamda, çalışma alanı olarak seçilen ESektöründe, akifer testi planlanarak 12 adet pompaj kuyusu ve farklı derinliklerde 35 adet gözlem kuyusu açtırılmıştır. Bu kuyularda, akiferin ve kuyunun verimini belirleyebilmek amacıyla 16 kademeli test, 29 adet sabit debili çekim testi ile gözlem kuyularında 40 adet slug testi gerçekleştirilmiştir. Gerek jeolojik model, gerek yeraltı suyu köken değerlendirmeleri ve E-Sektörü içerisinde gerçekleştirilen testler, E-Sektöründe yer alan kömür-gidya katmanlarının bulunan yeraltı suyunun büyük ölçüde geçirimsiz ve oldukça önemli kalınlığa sahip olan iki kil seviyesi arasında basınçlı bir nitelik taşıdığını göstermiştir. Kavramsal olarak, basınçlı ve serbest akifer niteliği taşıyan bu iki sistem arasında önemli bir hidrolik alışveriş olmadığı sonucuna varılmıştır. Ayrıca yapılan kararlı izotop analizlerine göre gidya ve kömür katmanlarındaki yeraltı suyunun birimlerin oluşum sürecinde gözeneklerde bulunan sular oldukları söylenebilir. The aim of this thesis is to determine the permeability of gyttja unit in Sector E of Afşin-Elbistan Lignite basin and to determine its importance in terms of dewatering. In this context, in the E-Sector selected as the study area, aquifer test was planned and 12 pumping wells and 35 observation wells were drilled at different depths. In order to determine the yield of aquifer and well in these wells, 16 stage test, 29 constant flow attraction tests and 40 slug tests were performed in observation wells. Both geological model, groundwater origin evaluations and tests conducted within the E-Sector have shown that the coal-gyttja layers in the ESector is largely impermeable and pressurized between two clay levels of considerable thickness. Conceptually; it is concluded that there is no significant hydraulic exchange between these two systems which have the characteristics of confined and unconfined. In addition, according to the improvement isotope analysis, it can be said that the groundwater in the gyttja and coal layers are the waters in the pores during the formation of the units.

The weathering of U and/or Th rich granite plutons, which occurs worldwide, may serve as a potentially important, but as yet poorly defined source for U and Th in (sub-)surface environments. Here, we assessed the impact of an outcrop of such granite (5 km in diameter) and its erosional products on the distribution of U and Th in four nemo-boreal catchments. The results showed that (i) the pluton was enriched in both U and Th; and (ii) secondary U and Th phases were accumulated by peat/gyttja and in other Quaternary deposits with high contents of organic matter. Movement of the ice sheet during the latest glaciation led to dispersal of U- and Th-rich materials eroded from the pluton, resulting in a progressive increase in dissolved U and Th concentrations, as well as U concentrations in aquatic plants with increasing proximity to the pluton. The accumulation of U in the aquatic plants growing upon the pluton (100–365 mg kg−1, dry ash weight) shows that this rock represents a long-term risk for adjacent ecosystems. Dissolved pools of U and Th were correlated with those of dissolved organic matter (DOM) and were predicted to largely occur as organic complexes. This demonstrates the importance of DOM in the transport of U and Th in the catchments. Large fractions of Ca2UO2(CO3)30(aq) were modeled to occur in the stream with highest pH and alkalinity and thus, explain the strongly elevated U concentrations and fluxes in this particular stream. In future climate scenarios, boreal catchments will experience intensified runoff and warmer temperature that favor the production of hydrologically accessible DOM and alkalinity. Therefore, the results obtained from this study have implications for predicting the distribution and transport of Th and U in boreal catchments, especially those associated with U and/or Th rich granite plutons.

Marine interglacial deposits are fairly common and widespread in Denmark, but so far none have been reported from the Herning area in central Jylland. In 2014, the Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland (GEUS) received samples at one metre intervals from a borehole at 55°59.3´N, 8°56.6´E (elevation 27.56 m above sea level), at Hesselvigvej 7 near Kibæk in central Jylland (Fig. 1). The succession consisted of Miocene and Quaternary deposits. The Quaternary part was dominated by glaciofluvial sand and a single till bed, but it also contained a marine clay unit (16–21 m depth, 6.5–11.5 m a.s.l.). This marine clay contained spines of the sea-urchin Echinocardium cordatum, a boreal species known from Eemian and Holocene deposits from Denmark, but unknown from interstadial deposits. A lacustrine unit between 26 and 33 m depth (5.5 m b.s.l. to 1.5 m a.s.l.) consisted of clay, calcareous-rich gyttja and diatomite. Because Quaternary marine deposits are unexpected in this part of Denmark, we report here on analyses of pollen from the lacustrine unit and foraminifera from the marine unit, and we compare these with some interglacial records from Jylland.

Drainage of peatlands affects the fluxes of greenhouse gases (GHGs). Organic soils used for agriculture contribute a large proportion of anthropogenic GHG emissions, and on-farm mitigation options are important. This field study investigated whether choice of a cropping system can be used to mitigate emissions of N2O and influence CH4 fluxes from cultivated organic and carbon-rich soils during the growing season. Ten different sites in southern Sweden representing peat soils, peaty marl and gyttja clay, with a range of different soil properties, were used for on-site measurements of N2O and CH4 fluxes. The fluxes during the growing season from soils under two different crops grown in the same field and same environmental conditions were monitored. Crop intensities varied from grasslands to intensive potato cultivation. The results showed no difference in median seasonal N2O emissions between the two crops compared. Median seasonal emissions ranged from 0 to 919 µg N2O m−2 h−1, with peaks on indivi...