South Carpathians Research Articles

Early Jurassic bennettitalean reproductive structures of Romania

The Romanian Early Jurassic (Hettangian–Sinemurian) floras represent a key element of the Eurosinian Province in which the Williamsoniaceae (Bennettitales) are well represented by vegetative remains (leaves, stems, roots) and reproductive structures. Up to the present, Early Jurassic bennettitalean reproductive structures have been found at only two localities in Romania: Anina and Doman. These localities belong to the Resiţa Basin, Getic Nappe, South Carpathians, Romania, with Anina considered to be the best Romanian Early Jurassic locality in terms of diversity and preservation of fossil plants and animals, i.e. a fossil Lagerstatte. This paper deals with all bennettitalean reproductive structures identified to date. These belong to the Steierdorf Formation, Valea Tereziei Member, and are Sinemurian in age. In total, 32 rare hand specimens (compressions and casts) have been studied and the following taxa identified: Williamsonia banatica Krasser, W. latecostata Semaka, Bennetticarpus sp. A and sp. B, Cycadolepis sp., Weltrichia alfredii Krasser, Weltrichia givulescui Popa, 2001, Weltrichia johannae sp. nov., Weltrichia antonii sp. nov., Weltrichia steierdorfensis sp. nov., Weltrichia sp. A and Weltrichia sp. B. The systematic affinities of these taxa are discussed, as well as aspects related to their stratigraphy and palaeocology.

<span lang="EN-US">Late Quaternary Chrysophycean stomatocysts in a Southern Carpathian mountain lake, including the description of new forms (Romania)</span>

In this study we present results of a low-resolution chrysophyte stomatocyst analysis that followed a high-resolution diatom analysis of a mountain lake sediment sequence from the Retezat Mountains, in the south Carpathians (Romania). The stomatocyst assemblages of the previously distinguished ten diatom assemblage zones of Lake Gales were studied with the aim to describe stomatocyst composition and create a taxonomical basis for detailed stratigraphical analysis in the future. We report 83 stomatocyst forms, and 7 of them are formally described here as new for science. An abrupt shift in cyst as well as diatom assemblages were recorded around 9200 cal yr BP during the 15,000 years long history of the Lake Gales. This Lake Gales event could be linked to the 9.3-ka widespread significant climatic anomaly, which was triggered by a melt water pulse into the North Atlantic.

Characteristics of debris flows from the lower part of the Lotru River basin (South Carpathians, Romania)

This paper focuses on characteristics of debris flows from the lower part of the Lotru River basin (South Carpathians, Romania). The damage produced by these debris flows has included burial of agricultural land, roads covered by debris flows, and even the obstruction of the Lotru River. Simple statistical analysis has been used to emphasize the characteristics of the debris flow sites. The collected data show that heavy rainfall is the main triggering mechanism of debris flow events in the Lotru hydrographic basin. The daily rainfall data for this region show that important debris flow events generally occur when rainfall exceeds 40 mm in 24 h, while rainfall levels between 25 and 40 mm in 24 h result in hyperconcentrated flows. For 11 of 14 studied debris flow sites, the fan area is greater than the source area, probably due to the thickness of the regolith, which is up to 5–10 m deep. Both source area and deposition area are very dynamic. The retreat rate calculated for five debris flow sites ranges from 5 to 30 m in 30 years (from 1975 to 2005). Channel cross section measurements on one of the debris flows show that velocity values vary from 1.31 to 2.64 m/s; corresponding discharge values vary from 4 to 10.03 m3/s.

Source parameters of the December 2011–January 2012 earthquake sequence in Southern Carpathians, Romania

Abstract The seismicity at the contact between the Getic Depression and the South Carpathians is part of the overall seismicity characterizing the contact of the Moesian Platform and the South Carpathians orogen. The December 2011–January 2012 earthquake sequence that occurred close to Tg-Jiu city provides the best data set for the seismic activity in the region. The seismic source parameters are estimated for 15 events of the sequence using the empirical Green's function and spectral ratio techniques. We selected 3 main events and 12 associated collocated small events as empirical Green's functions to calculate the spectral ratios and determine the relative source time functions. Estimates of the source duration and corner frequency imply stress drop values in the range of 6–112 MPa. Relative small radius of the source and high stress drops suggest an intraplate type behaviour. The scaling relationships investigated comply well with similar relationships in other regions in the world and in other seismogenic areas in the South Carpathians region.

Triassic lithostratigraphic correlation in the Moesian Platform (Bulgaria-Romania)

The Moesian Platform occupies a wide area in Bulgaria and Romania, being surrounded to the north and west by the South Carpathians and to the south by the Balkans. The lithostratigraphic division of the representative cross-sections of the Triassic system is performed for both countries. The applied methodology in defining the lithostratigraphic units and their comparison is based on the internationally accepted, widely used stratigraphic rules. The key role of the present work is to unify positions and technical usage of the Triassic lithostratigraphic units. However, they are relatively different in Bulgaria and Romania, which hampers the cross correlation. The Bulgarian part of the Moesian Platform is examined according to the “Regional Lithostratigraphic Scheme of the Triassic sediments from borehole sections in North Bulgaria” compiled by Chemberski in 1985. The lithostratigraphic division for the Romanian part is based on Paraschiv’s work completed in early 1980s. There are three Triassic complexes defined in the Moesian Platform which are divided into formations and horizons. They follow in order of deposition: Lower red bed complex represented by Petrohan Group (Bulgaria) and Rosiori Formation (Romania); Carbonate complex including Iskar Carbonate Group (Bulgaria) and Alexandria Formation and Putinei evaporates (Romania); Upper variegated complex consisting of Moesian Group (Bulgaria) and Segarcea Formation (Romania). The present correlation determines three types of comparative units: analogous units (subjective synonyms); units defined in Bulgarian territory and probably present also in Romania; units located only in the Bulgarian and respectively in the Romanian part of the Moesian Platform.

Crustal structure of the Carpathian–Pannonian region from ambient noise tomography

We use ambient noise tomography to investigate the crust and uppermost mantle structure beneath the Carpathian-Pannonian region of Central Europe. Over 7500 Rayleigh wave empirical Green's functions are derived from interstation cross-correlations of vertical component ambient seismic noise recordings (2005-2011) using a temporary network of 54 stations deployed during the South Carpathian Project (2009-2011), 56 temporary stations deployed in the Carpathian Basins Project (2005-2007) and 100 permanent and regional broad-band stations. Rayleigh wave group velocity dispersion curves (4-40 s) are determined using the multiple-filter analysis technique. Group velocity maps are computed on a grid of 0.2° × 0.2° from a non-linear 2-D tomographic inversion using the subspace method. We then inverted the group velocity maps for the 3-D shear wave velocity structure of the crust and uppermost mantle beneath the region. Our shear wave velocity model provides a uniquely complete and relatively high-resolution view of the crustal structure in the Carpathian-Pannonian region, which in general is validated by comparison with previous studies using other methods to probe the crustal structure. At shallow depths ( 30 km are relatively fast, presumably related to shallowing of the Moho consequent on the extensional history of the Pannonian region.

FAVREINA CARPATICA N. ICHNOSP. (CRUSTACEAN MICROCOPROLITE) FROM THE MIDDLE JURASSIC OF RUCĂR-BRAN ZONE (SOUTHERN CARPATHIANS, ROMANIA)

The new crustacean microcoprolite, Favreina carpatica ,is described from the Middle Jurassic of Rucar-Bran zone, South Carpathians. It is the ichnospecies with the highest number (about 280) of longitudinally arranged canals pasing through the rod-shaped microcoprolite. Favreina carpatica was found in reddish to brown-carbonate sediments.

Sedimentology of the Early Jurassic terrestrial Steierdorf Formation in Anina, Colonia Cehă Quarry, South Carpathians, Romania

Abstract Kędzior, A. and Popa, E.M. 2013. Sedimentology of the Early Jurassic terrestrial Steierdorf Formation in Anina, Colonia Cehă Quarry, South Carpathians, Romania. Acta Geologica Polonica, 63 (2), 175-199. Warszawa. The continental, coal bearing Steierdorf Formation, Hettangian - Sinemurian in age, is included in the Mesozoic cover of the Reşiţa Basin, Getic Nappe, South Carpathians, Romania. The Steierdorf Formation can be studied in Anina, a coal mining center and an exceptional locality for Early Jurassic flora and fauna, occurring in the middle of the Reşiţa Basin. This paper presents the results of sedimentological, stratigraphical and paleobotanical researches undertaken in Colonia Cehă open cast mine in Anina, where the Steierdorf Formation outcrops widely. Several sedimentary facies associations have been described, these associations permitting the reconstruction of various depositional systems such as alluvial fans, braided and meandering river systems, as well as lacustrine and coal generating marsh systems of the Steierdorf Formation. The sedimentary associations recorded within the Steierdorf Formation show a gradual fining upward trend, pointing to a rising marine water table and a decreasing relief within the source area.

Grasslands as pasture and vegetation near the forest limit in the South Carpathian Mountains, Romania

Grasslands as pasture and vegetation near the forest limit in the South Carpathian Mountains, Romania

Isotope geochemistry (O, H and Sr) of Late Cretaceous volcanic rocks, Haţeg Basin, South Carpathians, Romania

Abstract Oxygen and strontium isotopic ratios belonging to Late Cretaceous volcaniclastic deposits of the Haţeg Basin, South Carpathians, are documented here for the first time. The analyses performed on mineral concentrates suggest that associated magmas account for an assimilation–fractional crystallization trend with 87 Sr/ 86 Sr ratios of between 0.705 and 0.706, and a large range of δ 18 O up to 16‰, and a trend with higher 87 Sr/ 86 Sr ratios (0.707–0.708) but lower δ 18 O (8.2–7.9‰) values for leucrocratic minerals, such as plagioclase and sanidine. The Sr–O modelling of the main trend, using mafic minerals (pyroxene and amphibole), indicate 1–3% source contamination associated with up to 20% crustal assimilation. Hydrogen isotopic composition of amphiboles, biotite and groundmass do not confirm any significant involvement of an external fluid, either hydrothermal or diagenetic.

On the formation and evolution of the Pannonian Basin: Constraints derived from the structure of the junction area between the Carpathians and Dinarides

The large number and distribution of rollback systems in Mediterranean orogens infer the possibility of interacting extensional back‐arc deformation driven by different slabs. The formation of the Pannonian back‐arc basin is generally related to the rapid Miocene rollback of a slab attached to the European continent. A key area of the entire system that is neglected by kinematic studies is the connection between the South Carpathians and Dinarides. In order to derive an evolutionary model, we interpreted regional seismic lines traversing the entire Serbian part of the Pannonian Basin. The observed deformation is dominantly expressed by the formation of Miocene extensional detachments and (half) grabens. The extensional geometries and associated synkinematic sedimentation that migrated in time and space allow the definition of a continuous and essentially asymmetric early to late Miocene extensional evolution. This evolution was followed by the formation of few uplifted areas during the subsequent latest Miocene–Quaternary inversion. The present‐day extensional geometry changing the strike across the basin is an effect of the clockwise rotation of the South Carpathians and Apuseni Mountains in respect to the Dinarides. Our study infers that the Carpathian rollback is not the only mechanism responsible for the formation of the Pannonian Basin; an additional middle Miocene rollback of a Dinaridic slab is required to explain the observed structures. Furthermore, the study provides constraints for the pre‐Neogene orogenic evolution of this junction zone, including the affinity of major crustal blocks, obducted ophiolitic sequences and the Sava suture zone.

Strain partitioning at orogenic contacts during rotation, strike–slip and oblique convergence: Paleogene–Early Miocene evolution of the contact between the South Carpathians and Moesia

Oblique convergence accompanied by large-scale strike–slip deformation taking place between orogenic units is an inherent feature of highly bended mountain chains. Strain partitioning during subduction and collision takes place between differently oriented orogenic segments and creates contrasting styles of deformation that may include coeval extension, strike–slip and shortening, in particular when large amounts of rotations are recorded. A typical area is the one connecting the Balkans with East Carpathians along the highly bended South Carpathians Mountains that were affected by large scale Paleogene–Miocene strain partitioning at the contact with their lower Moesia unit in what is commonly known as the Getic Depression. We analyse this contact by the means of a number of seismic transects calibrated by exploration wells. The kinematic restoration of these transects is correlated with connecting depth information and with previously published studies. This has allowed the definition of a novel kinematic evolution of the deformation observed in the Getic Depression. This evolution is compatible with the definition of a Paleogene–Early Miocene period of transtensional opening by using strike–slip faults that terminate along horsetail geometries. This transtensional deformation migrates in space and time across the basin and is kinematically connected with the oblique shortening taking place in the eastern part of the Getic Depression and SE/East Carpathians. In particular interesting is the mechanism of transtensional migration E-wards and contractional migration W-wards that took place coevally during the rotation and E-ward translation of the upper Carpathians units along the strike of the Getic Depression. This has been subsequently followed by shortening and transpression during Middle Miocene–Quaternary times that was recorded at the scale of the entire studied area.

Aspects of Romanian Palaeozoic Palaeobotany and Palynology. Part III. The Late Carboniferous flora of Baia Nouă, Sirinia Basin

The Cucuiova Formation is a Pennsylvanian (late Carboniferous) coal-bearing unit in the intramontane Sirinia Basin, which was formed in the Danubian Units of the South Carpathians. The main coal seam in the Cucuiova Formation was worked at Baia Noua (Nove Doly) and this locality has yielded a typical adpression coal flora. Previous studies have suggested that this flora was Moscovian (late Westphalian or even earliest Stephanian) in age. However, newly collected samples from Baia Noua have included abundant Neuralethopteris, which clearly indicates a late Bashkirian (Langsettian) age. This suggests a possible link with the Svoge Basin in northern Bulgaria, which is another intramontane basin located on the Balkan Terrane with early Westphalian coal-bearing deposits.

Reconstruction of Lateglacial climate change based on sediment geochemistry of a South Carpathian glacial lake (Romania)

Reconstruction of Lateglacial climate change based on sediment geochemistry of a South Carpathian glacial lake (Romania)

Upper mantle structures beneath the Carpathian–Pannonian region: Implications for the geodynamics of continental collision

The Carpathian–Pannonian system of Eastern and Central Europe represents a unique opportunity to study the interaction between surface tectonic processes involving convergence, extension and convective overturn in the upper mantle. Here, we present high-resolution images of upper mantle structure beneath the region from P-wave finite-frequency teleseismic tomography to help constrain such geodynamical interactions. We have selected earthquakes with magnitude greater than 5.5 in the distance range 30°–95°, which occurred between 2006 and 2011. The data were recorded on 54 temporary stations deployed by the South Carpathian Project (2009–2011), 56 temporary stations deployed by the Carpathian Basins Project (2005–2007), and 131 national network broadband stations. The P-wave relative arrival times are measured in two frequency bands (0.5–2.0Hz and 0.1–0.5Hz), and are inverted for Vp perturbation maps in the upper mantle. Our images show a sub-vertical slab of fast material beneath the eastern Alps which extends eastward across the Pannonian basin at depths below ∼300km. The fast material extends down into the mantle transition zone (MTZ), where it spreads out beneath the entire basin. Above ∼300km, the upper mantle below the Pannonian basin is dominated by relatively slow velocities, the largest of which extends down to ∼200km. We suggest that cold mantle lithospheric downwelling occurred below the Pannonian Basin before detaching in the mid-Miocene. In the Vrancea Zone of SE Romania, intermediate-depth (75–180km) seismicity occurs at the NE end of an upper mantle high velocity structure that extends SW under the Moesian Platform, oblique to the southern edge of the South Carpathians. At greater depths (180–400km), a sub-circular high velocity anomaly is found directly beneath the seismicity. This sub-vertical high-velocity body is bounded by slow anomalies to the NW and SE, which extend down to the top of the MTZ. No clear evidence of a residual slab is observed above the MTZ beneath the Eastern Carpathians. These observations suggest that intermediate-depth seismicity in Vrancea Zone is unlikely to be due to slab tearing, but rather could be explained by either gravitational instability or delamination of mantle lithosphere.

Significance of studying the petrography and mineralogy of the geological environment of old rupestrian churches to prevent their deterioration. A case study from the South Carpathians

Abstract This paper provides new insights into understanding the causes of deterioration of the Corbii de Piatra rupestrian church and shows the significance of studying the geological environment of historical rock-cut settlements when undertaking preservation and restoration actions. The Corbii de Piatra church is one of the few rupestrian churches remaining in Romania and is an important part of the country's heritage. The church is carved in a stratum of polymictic sandstone of Oligocene age, which is part of the Getic Depression, located in the southern part of the South Carpathians. In the 14th century the interior walls of the church were decorated with mural paintings of a high artistic value. Over the centuries, the church's walls and mural paintings have been negatively affected by a series of physicochemical processes. These processes were studied through field investigations and laboratory analyses carried out between October 2007 and November 2010. The investigations revealed that tectonic fissuring and the structural anisotropy of the rock facilitate the infiltration of meteoric water through the walls into the interior of the church, from north to south, maintaining a high-level of humidity in the northern wall and in the interior of the church. The most harmful effects observed were: (i) the partial hydrolysis of the feldspars through reaction with water from the pores, producing a friable mass of phyllosilicates which led to a superficial disaggregation of the rock and to a diminished cohesion between the rock and the mortar of the fresco, (ii) the reprecipitation of the gypsum as efflorescences on the northern wall and ceiling, covering the mural painting in localized areas, as a result of the transportation of the gypsum by water from the upper strata, (iii) the alteration of the cinnabar pigment, as a result of water penetration by diffusion through the fresco from the wet rock to the pictorial layer (the secondary effect observed being the formation of sulfuric acid, which further reacted with the carbonate from the fresco to form gypsum), (iv) the development of biotic crusts, predominately algal, on the interior wet walls, which, facilitated by the permanent high humidity and the semi-obscurity of the interior of the church, have covered large surfaces of the fresco. Compared to the interior, the exterior vertical walls have been exposed to prolonged daily and seasonal variations of temperature and humidity. These variations have caused repeated variations in the volume of the sandstone, leading to contraction fissuring and peeling of the vertical walls. Any future procedures that might be used to conserve the church should strive to reduce the humidity of the sandstone in the interior walls.

Avalonian, Ganderian and East Cadomian terranes in South Carpathians, Romania, and Pan-African events recorded in their basement

New U-Pb geochronology is used to refine the provenance and evolution of northwest Gondwana Pan-African terranes preserved in the South Carpathians of Romania. The Drăgsan terrane of Avalonian affinity, from the Danubian domain of the South Carpathians originated in the Panthalassa Ocean and accreted to the Amazonian part of Rodinia not much before 800 Ma, when the Făgeţel orthogneiss was intruded, at around 807–810 Ma. After this event no other Neoproterozoic magmatic pulse is known in the basement of the Drăgsan terrane. The Ganderian type Lainici-Păius terrane from the same domain of the South Carpathians, recorded magmatic pulses at 782 Ma, 739 Ma, 708 Ma, 639 Ma, 600–587 Ma and 574–568 Ma. The East Cadomian Sebes-Lotru terrane from the Getic domain of the South Carpathians recorded magmatic pulses at 817 Ma, 768 Ma, 685 Ma, 620 Ma, 584 Ma and 550 Ma. Post 630 Ma the northwestern Gondwana margin evolved as an active continental margin at least until 550 Ma, but the pre-630 Ma magmatism could be associated to some island arcs docked with different pre-Gondwanan continental fragments. Independent of the tectonic setting, the post 750 Ma orogens dated in the basement of the peri-Gondwanan terranes are discussed in the frame of the Cadomian orogens, as constituents of the Pan-African orogens in a broader sense. The detrital zircon may also record magmatic pulses from Pan-African orogens other than the Cadomian ones.

A 13,600-year diatom oxygen isotope record from the South Carpathians (Romania): Reflection of winter conditions and possible links with North Atlantic circulation changes

This study provides a continuous lateglacial and Holocene record of diatom silica oxygen isotope changes (δ18ODIAT) in a subalpine lake sediment sequence obtained from the Retezat Mts (Taul dintre Brazi, 1740 m a.s.l.). This through-flow, shallow, high-altitude lake with a surface area of only 0.4 ha has short water residence time and is predominantly fed by snowmelt and rainwater. Its δ18ODIAT record principally reflects the oxygen isotope composition of the winter and spring precipitation, as diatom blooms occur mainly in the spring and early summer. Hence, changes in δ18ODIAT are interpreted as seasonal scale changes: in the amount of winter precipitation. Low oxygen isotope values (27–28.5‰) occurred during the lateglacial until 12,300 cal BP, followed by a sharp increase thereafter. In the Holocene δ18ODIAT values ranged from 29 to 31‰ until 3200 cal BP, followed by generally lower values during the late Holocene (27–30‰). Short-term decreases in the isotopic values were found between 10,140–9570, 9000–8500, 7800–7300, 6300–5800, 5500–5000 and at 8015, 4400, 4000 cal BP. After 3200 cal BP a decreasing trend was visible with the lowest values between 3100–2500 and after 2100 cal BP The general trend in the record suggests that contribution of winter precipitation was generally lower between 11,680 and 3200 cal BP, followed by increased contribution during the last millennia.The late Holocene decrease in δ18ODIAT shows good agreement with the speleothem δ18O, lake level and testate amoebae records from the Carpathian Mountains that also display gradual δ18O decrease and lake level/mire water table level rise after 3200 cal BP. Strong positive correlation with North Atlantic circulation and solar activity proxies, such as the Austrian and Hungarian speleothem records, furthermore suggested that short-term increases in the isotopic ratios in the early and mid Holocene are likely connectable to high solar activity phases and high frequency of positive North Atlantic Oscillation indexes that may have resulted in decreased winter precipitation in this region.

Diatom-inferred lateglacial and Holocene climatic variability in the South Carpathian Mountains (Romania)

Climatic and environmental changes were studied using siliceous algae (diatoms and chrysophycean cysts) analyses in a mountain lake in the South Carpathian Mountains for the lateglacial and Holocene. Lake Brazi (1740 a.s.l.) is a small, shallow lake in the Retezat Mountains. According to the basal radiocarbon dating of the core, the lake was formed around 15,750 cal BP and sediment accumulation has been continuous ever since. High resolution diatom analyses were carried out together with loss-on-ignition and biogenic silica measurements. Total epilimnetic phosphorus (TP) concentrations and pH were reconstructed quantitatively. Ten statistically significant zones were distinguished, six of which appeared in the lateglacial and Early Holocene suggesting the instability of diatom assemblages after deglaciation. The uppermost zone covered six thousand years, which suggests that diatom assemblages remained quite stable during the second half of the Holocene. High lake level occurred between 9500 and 9000 cal BP. After 6300 cal BP the lake level gradually increased again until 5800 cal BP. A further increase was detected at 3000 cal BP, while after 1500 cal BP water level decreased. Although there is limited knowledge regarding the environmental constraints of several diatom taxa present in the sequence (e.g. Aulacoseira laevissima), which makes the precise environmental interpretation of the diatom record more difficult, the available data provide an important new insight into the environmental history of Lake Brazi and the Carpathian Mountains. The most remarkable changes in the aquatic ecosystem were observed at 6000 cal BP in the Holocene and 12,800 cal BP, at the onset of the Younger Dryas. Marked changes were also detected at 10,500–10,300; 9800; 9500–9000; 8900–8800; 8300; 6300–5800 and 3100–3000 cal BP.

Using linear discriminant analysis (LDA) of bulk lake sediment geochemical data to reconstruct lateglacial climate changes in the South Carpathian Mountains

A multi-proxy approach is widely used for reconstructing climatic change in alpine lake sediments. This study applied bulk sediment geochemistry to reconstruct lateglacial and early Holocene climatic change in a glacial lake (Lake Brazi, 1740 m a.s.l.) in the Retezat Mts. (South Carpathians, Romania). The lowermost 1 m part of a 4.9-m long sediment core, covering the period between 9950 and 15,750 cal BP, was used for high resolution bulk analysis of major elements (Al2O3, SiO2, TiO2, CaO, MgO, K2O, Na2O, Fe2O3, MnO, SO3). Linear discriminant analysis (LDA) was used to compare a priori classified main chemical groups. Subsamples from the core were priory ordered to “warm” and “cold” groups respectively, according to their age and evidence of cold and warm events in the record, as suggested by proxy correlation with the lateglacial event stratigraphy of North Greenland Ice Core Project (NGRIP). The discriminant function was calculated using concentrations of Al2O3, TiO2, CaO, MgO, K2O, Na2O, Fe2O3, and MnO after log ratio transformation. Loss-on-ignition, silicon and sulphur concentrations were not used for the discriminant analysis, but regarded as comparison proxies for checking up the validity of outputs. Sediments deposited during “cold” and “warm” events were separated significantly by the LDA function; 85.1% of the originally grouped cases were correctly classified under the LDA analysis. The calculated discriminant scores indicated four “cold” and four “warm” events. Sediments ordered into the “warm” group contained larger amounts of organic matter and sulphur, while sediment samples of the “cold” group were characterized by the overall predominance of major oxides bound into inorganic silicates. The discriminant scores showed strong correlation with the NGRIP δ18O data (r = 0.8135) and with the pollen percentage sum of trees and shrubs (r = 0.9460). Loss-on-ignition showed a somehow weaker, but still conclusive linear relationship with the discriminant scores (r = 0.7505). Discriminant analyses of bulk sediment major oxide chemical data may be a useful tool to identify the impact of climatic events upon the nature and composition of materials delivered to a lake basin.