Geochemical evidence of the presence of volcanic and meteoritic materials in Late Pleistocene lake sediments of Lithuania

Abstract Concentrations of trace elements in four Late Pleistocene lake sediment sequences across Lithuania were studied using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Such elements as Cr, Cu, Eu, La, Ni, Zn, Zr, and platinum group elements were used for constraints. The studied sediments deposited during the time interval from Bolling to Allerod and to Younger Dryas. Material for sediments of the Dengtiltis and Krokslys sequences was delivered from the same or very similar source. Geochemical features of the sediments are consistent with the presence of extraterrestrial material in at least two horizons separated by ∼2000 years, and resulted from two separate events. The younger horizon is detected in all studied sequences and corresponds to the age of ca. 11.0–11.5 ka BP. Its geochemical features are suggested to result from a local meteorite impact/bolide explosion tentatively related to the Velnio Duobės meteorite crater. The older horizon detected only for the Ūla-2 sequence corresponds to the age of ca. 13.5 ka BP and is due to the bolide airburst. There is also suggested meteoritic material in sediments dated as ca. 12.9 ka BP. The presence of volcanic materials related to the volcanic activity in the French Massif Central (a volcano of ca. 15.3 ka BP), and Laacher See volcano in Germany (12.88 ka BP) are suggested for some sedimentary layers of the studied sequences.