Geochemical fingerprints by activation analysis of tephra layers in Lake Van sediments, Turkey.

We discuss geochemical and sedimentological characteristics of 12 tephra layers, intercalated within the finely laminated sediments of Lake Van. Within the about 15kyr long sediment record studied, volcanic activity concentrated in the periods 2.6-7.2 and 11.9-12.9kyr B.P. Concentrations of 25 elements provide the geochemical fingerprint of each tephra layer and allow comparison to literature values of potential source volcanoes such as Mts. Nemrut and Süphan. The youngest two tephra layers (and probably also the other three ashes from the 2.6-7.2kyr B.P. eruptions) originate from the Nemrut volcano. The source of the older tephra (11.9-12.9kyr B.P.), however, remains unidentified.