Geochronological investigation of the Danube Djerdap Lake sediments (Serbia): sedimentology and inorganic composition

• Published in: Environmental geochemistry and health Vol. 42; no. 2; pp. 693 - 707
• Main Authors: Kašanin-Grubin, Milica, Hagemann, Lukas, Gajica, Gordana, Štrbac, Snežana, Jovančićević, Branimir, Vasić, Nebojša, Šajnović, Aleksandra, Djogo Mračević, Svetlana, Schwarzbauer, Jan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer Netherlands 01.02.2020; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Anthropogenic factors; Composition; Contamination; Core drilling; Coring; Earth and Environmental Science; Environment; Environmental Chemistry; Environmental Health; Environmental Monitoring; Geochemistry; Geochronology; Geologic Sediments - analysis; Geologic Sediments - chemistry; Grain size; Hydrology - methods; Lake deposits; Lake sediments; Lakes; Lakes - analysis; Lakes - chemistry; Metals - analysis; Minerals; Minerals - analysis; Original Paper; Pollutant load; Pollution; Pollution index; Pollution load; Public Health; Sediment; Sedimentation; Sedimentation & deposition; Sedimentology; Sediments; Serbia; Silt; Soil Science & Conservation; Terrestrial Pollution; Variation; Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis; Serbia; Geochronological investigation; Danube Djerdap Lake; Minor elements; Pollution indices
• ISSN: 0269-4042; 1573-2983
• DOI: 10.1007/s10653-019-00403-6

The objective of this study is geochronological investigation of sedimentological and inorganic composition, in the Danube Djerdap Lake sediments in order to obtain reliable information about former pollution. Eleven samples were taken from the 135-cm-deep sediment core drilled at the Orlova location. Since the core represents sediments deposited during 1972–2016, the sedimentation rate of ~ 3 cm year −1 was estimated. Grain size, mineralogical and geochemical composition was determined. Sediments are sandy silts and clayey silts, and only the deepest and shallowest layers contain > 30% of sand-size fraction. The highest concentrations of minor elements are found in the oldest sediment (1972–1977) as a consequence of the high flux of the material from variable sources. During the sedimentation period (1975–1990), the concentrations of analyzed elements are generally decreasing until the beginning of 1990s. After this period, there are two distinct decreases and two distinct increases in concentrations of elements. The fluctuations in minor element concentrations are a consequence of both natural and anthropogenic sources. Granitic rocks situated south are source of minerals that carry minor elements. Enrichment Factor, Geoaccumulation Index, Contamination Factor and Pollution Load Index indicate that concentrations of certain minor elements at specific depositional periods have anthropogenic source.