14C ages of tephra layers from the Holocene deposits of Kunashir Island (Russian Far East)

Abstract

Holocene deposits from the central and southern regions of the Kunashir Island contain tephra from 12 volcanic eruptions (Knl-12). We studied radiocarbon data, mineralogical composition, and distribution of the tephra layers in different Holocene facies. The main sources of the Holocene tephra samples were the volcanoes of Hokkaido Island. The distribution of ash layers on Kunashir Island allows us to estimate their direction. Ash layers can be reliable markers for age determination of different coastal landforms on open oceanic shores. We propose here a tephrastratigraphical scheme for different Middle-Late Holocene facies.