Lead-210 and Pollen Geochronologies on Lake Superior Sediments

Abstract

AbstractRates of sedimentation in two Lake Superior deposits were determined by both ragweed pollen and 210Pb geochronologies. The former yields an average rate over the time since the first appearance of enhanced concentrations of the pollen as a consequence of human settlement. Sedimentation rates derived on these two bases can be brought into accord if the first appearance of ragweed pollen in the sediments was around 1830 and if the sedimentation rates have been uniform over the past century.