Kola Peninsula

 

Kola Peninsula 

Source:-

"Postglacial relative sea-level history: sediment and diatom records of emerged coastal lakes, north-central Kola Peninsula, Russia" by Jeffrey Snyder et al

The maps below indicate the location for the Kola Peninsula, and for the group of lakes surveyed. 

  

There are four lakes featured, sites 54, 41, 22, and 7. "The sediment character and diatom flora in the basal unit in cores 54,41, and 22 indicate a near shore marine environment."

and, "The diatoms present in these units is consistent with a protected bay with seasonal freshwater influx and perhaps higly variable salinity. "

"In contrast to the other three basins the basal core sediments from core 7 is rich in organic and carbonate material. The diatom flora contains a diverse polyhalobous (marine) and mesohalabous flora, minor halophobous diatom eg eunotia and plant fossils such as betula and empetrum indicate inwashing from terrestrial environments. "

   

The laboratory number, and radiocarbon dates for the lowest levels of the four lakes are detailed here. Additionally the material that was tested to provide the date is stated, and the height of the sample above sealevel. 

Site 54

"GX20140 10,910BP, algae, 54 metres

GX20139 10510BP, algae, 54 metres

Site 41

AA16845 11845BP, algae, 40 metres 

Site 22

GX20141 8820BP, shell, mytilus edulis, 20m

AA16846 9945BP, algae filaments, 20m

AA15619 9765BP, laminated algae mtl, 20m

Site 7

AA20502, 4855BP, shell, mytilus edulis, 10m"

The authors describe the algae as marine algae and it is probable that the algae and the shells came together here as floating rafts.

Molluscs and Seaweed 

The materials dated at Kola Peninsula were algae, (seaweed), and mollusc shells. These components are commonly found on seashores, particularly storm battered beaches. They arrive as floating rafts of seaweed.

 

 

  

The view above is of a beach on the east coast of Orkney. A winter storm has passed over with high seas and furious winds. Everything is calm now. The seaweed that had been growing on the seabed off shore was ripped from its roots in the storm and has now been dumped on the shore.

  

Here, on another tideline, on another beach a pair of mollusc shells have become attached to and enmeshed in, a strand of seaweed washed up to the high water mark. 

Mytilus edulis, (Blue Mussel) Occurs from the high intertidal to the shallow subtidal attached by fibrous byssus threads to suitable substrata. Found on the rocky shores of open coasts attached to the rock surface and in crevices, and on rocks and piers in sheltered harbours and estuaries, often occurring as dense masses. Depth, intertidal to ca. 5m.

These rafts of seaweed would transport flotsam and jetsam wherever the winds and tides directed them

 

Jeffery Nicholls 

Orkney