Difficulties in interpreting fast mixing in the radiometric dating of sediments using210Pb and137Cs

Abstract

210Pb geochronologies should be validated with independent tracers such as 137Cs. In the cases with constant 210Pb activity in the topmost sediments, the presence of a distinct 137Cs peak within the 210Pb plateau has been used as a definitive demonstration of acceleration (increase in the sedimentation rate in recent years) versus fast mixing. Nevertheless, some limitations can be identified in the use of semiquantitative arguments, and a global understanding of the whole 137Cs activity profile is then required. Particularly, the incomplete mixing within the top sediment zone (described through the Incomplete Mixing Zone model) can explain quantitatively and simultaneously the 137Cs peak and the flattening in the 210Pb activity profile. This is demonstrated using selected examples from literature data. Thus, measured constant 210Pb activities in the top 6 cm of a sediment core from Lake Zurich. Nevertheless, they found 7Be only in the uppermost layer, the distinct 137Cs maximum at 6 cm depth, and undisturbed varves. The fast mixing seemed then opposed to common sense. The constant rate of supply model shows acceleration and it adequately matches the position of the 1963 137Cs peak. Nevertheless it fails to explain the whole 137Cs profile when handling time series of 137Cs atmospheric deposition. Finally, it is shown how the incomplete mixing of the activity (through the pore water) over a certain mass depth at the top sediment, with a finite value of the mixing coefficient, can quantitatively explain the whole activity versus mass depth profiles of 137Cs and 210Pb, and the presence of 7Be only in the uppermost sediment layer. A further validation of these ideas is presented from other literature data.