Palaeosedimentation in Khotavets lake (Mologa-Sheksna lowland) inferred from the results of explicit GPR survey and drilling data

Abstract

Late Glacial – Holocene sedimentary record has been obtained from a lake basin at the north of East-European Plain, and AMS¹⁴C-dated. Coring results were coupled with the ground penetrating radar (GPR) survey, which enabled for the sedimentary sequences’ chronology to be upscaled for the whole basin and beyond. A prominent peat layer (presumably of Allerød age) has been suggested as a marking horizon to correlate with the Late Glacial lacustrine dynamics in the area. Laminated silt with low organic matter content (of the Younger Dryas age), underlain by sandy silt deposits were discovered both from the boreholes and via the geophysical survey. The lower surface of these strata forms wavy and hummocky bottom relief. Organic muds (accumulated in the Holocene) cover the mineral deposits equally.