Sedimentological-Geochemical Data Based Reconstruction of Climate Changes and Human Impacts from the Peat Sequence of Round Lake in the Western Foothill Area of the Eastern Carpathians, Romania
Réka Orsolya Tapody,
Pál Sümegi,
Dávid Molnár,
Máté Karlik,
Tünde Törőcsik,
Péter Cseh,
László Makó
Affiliations
Réka Orsolya Tapody
Department of Geology and Palaeontology, University of Szeged, Egyetem Str. 2-6, H-6722 Szeged, Hungary
Pál Sümegi
Department of Geology and Palaeontology, University of Szeged, Egyetem Str. 2-6, H-6722 Szeged, Hungary
Dávid Molnár
Department of Geology and Palaeontology, University of Szeged, Egyetem Str. 2-6, H-6722 Szeged, Hungary
Máté Karlik
Isotope Climatology and Environmental Research Centre, Institute for Nuclear Research, Bem Square 18/c, H-4026 Debrecen, Hungary
Tünde Törőcsik
Department of Geology and Palaeontology, University of Szeged, Egyetem Str. 2-6, H-6722 Szeged, Hungary
Péter Cseh
Department of Geology and Palaeontology, University of Szeged, Egyetem Str. 2-6, H-6722 Szeged, Hungary
László Makó
Department of Geology and Palaeontology, University of Szeged, Egyetem Str. 2-6, H-6722 Szeged, Hungary
This paper presents the results of comparative sedimentological and geochemical analysis of the mire at Sânpaul, Round Lake (Kerek-tó). The palaeoecological site is situated in the western foothill area of the Eastern Carpathians in Romania. The primary objective of this study was to analyse the accumulation of major and trace elements in a 7500 year-long peat and lake deposition. The concentrations of 13 elements were determined by using handheld XRF. This paper presents the results of a multidisciplinary study, for which the principal aims were to examine the long-term relationship between land degradation in the Homoród Hills using various palaeoecological techniques, primarily comparative geochemical analyses. The PCA of elemental concentrations suggests that Round Lake is mainly controlled by the input of inorganic mineral matter and the LOI550 of peat. However, some elements are influenced by biological processes of vegetation and groundwater. Geohistorical studies compared with vegetation changes and elemental distribution helped the detection of erosion phases in the level of 12 prehistoric cultures.
