Extraction and AMS Radiocarbon Dating of Pollen from Lake Baikal Sediments

Abstract

This work focuses on the preparation and dating of sporomorph (pollen and spores) concentrates of high purity. Three sediment cores recovered from Lake Baikal within the EU-Project CONTINENT were subjected to palynological analyses and accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) radiocarbon dating. Laboratory processing of concentrates was aimed at the removal of non-sporomorph organic matter by means of chemical treatment, micro-sieving, and heavy liquid separation. The obtained concentrates were checked under the microscope and sample purity was estimated on the basis of particle counts. The results of AMS 14C dating show differences in the sedimentation rate among 3 sites of Lake Baikal.