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The AAPG/Datapages Combined Publications Database

Journal of Sedimentary Research (SEPM)

Abstract


Journal of Sedimentary Petrology
Vol. 44 (1974)No. 1. (March), Pages 207-218

Sedimentation Rates and Recent Sediment History of Lakes Ontario, Erie and Huron

A. L. W. Kemp (2), T. W. Anderson (3), R. L. Thomas (2), A. Mudrochova (2)

ABSTRACT

Sedimentation rates and changes in organic carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus and mercury concentrations were determined for 14 core locations, representing basins of fine-grained sediment in Lakes Ontario, Erie and Huron. Sedimentation rates were estimated by averaging the weight of sediment deposited above the Castanea (chestnut) pollen decline dated at 1930 for Lake Ontario and 1935 for Lake Erie, and above the Ambrosia (ragweed) pollen rise, dated at 1850. Present-day sedimentation rates were high in Lake Erie, ranging from 847 to 5,049 g/m2yr, low to intermediate in Lake Ontario, ranging from 366 to 1,156 g/m2yr and low in Lake Huron ranging from 147 to 325 g/m2yr. There has been a threefold increase in sedimentation rate in Lake Erie sinc 1935 and the Kingston basin of Lake Ontario since 1930.

The nutrient and Hg concentrations are enriched at the sediment surface in all the cores from Lakes Ontario and Erie, while the Huron cores show little change at the surface from their background concentrations. The enrichments are attributed to increased nutrient and Hg loading to the Ontario and Erie sediments, with the major increases after about 1950. The present-day loading of nutrients and Hg to the sediments parallels the rates of sedimentation at each location, being greatest in Lake Erie. Early-colonial loading of nutrients and Hg to Lakes Ontario and Erie are generally similar to the modern loading of Lake Huron. The total loading of sediment, nutrients and Hg was estimated for each lake. Present-day sediment accumulation of 4,600 
times 103, 23,400 ^times 103, and 3,900 ^times l03 metric tons was estimated for Lakes Ontario, Erie and Huron respectively.


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