Biogeochemical properties and diagenetic changes during the past 3.6 Ma recorded by FTIR spectroscopy in the sediment record of Lake El'gygytgyn, Far East Russian Arctic

Abstract

A number of studies have shown that Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIRS) can be applied to quantitatively assess lacustrine sediment constituents. In this study, we developed calibration models based on FTIRS for the quantitative determination of biogenic silica (BSi; n = 420; gradient: 0.9–56.5%), total organic carbon (TOC; n = 309; gradient: 0.02–2.89%), and total inorganic carbon (TIC; n = 153; gradient: 0.01–1.46%) in a 318 m long sediment record with a basal age of 3.6 Ma from Lake El'gygytgyn, Far East Russian Arctic. The developed partial least squares regression (PLSR) models yield high cross-validated (CV) R2CV = 0.85–0.91 and low root mean square error of cross-validation (RMSECV) (2.1–4.3% of the gradient for the different properties). The FTIRS-inferred concentrations of BSi, TOC, and TIC provide an initial insight into the climatic and environmental evolution at Lake El'gygytgyn throughout the late Pliocene and Quaternary showing a considerably high bioproductivity in the lake ecosystem between ~ 3.27–3.54 Ma during the early Pliocene warm period. Moreover, we found that the recorded FTIR spectra contain information on sample burial depth as a result of diagenetic changes (dehydration/dehydroxilation) of certain mineral phases. Despite the indicated post-depositional processes, the calibration models yield good statistical performances showing that general FTIRS models can be developed for several hundred meters long records extending several million years back in time. Our results highlight FTIRS to be a rapid, cost-effective alternative to conventional methods for quantification of biogeochemical properties.