Widespread platinum anomaly documented at the Younger Dryas onset in North American sedimentary sequences

Affiliations

¹ Savannah River Archaeological Research Program, South Carolina Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology, University of South Carolina, P.O. Box 400, New Ellenton, SC 29809, USA.
² GeoScience Consulting, Dewey, AZ, 86327, USA.
³ Center of Excellence in Remote Sensing Education and Research, Elizabeth City State University, Elizabeth City, NC 27921, USA.
⁴ Department of Anthropology, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858, USA.
⁵ South Carolina Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology, Columbia, SC 29208, USA.
⁶ Department of Environmental Studies, Wofford College, 429 N Church Street, Spartanburg, SC 29303-3663, USA.
⁷ Department of Geosciences, University of West Georgia, 1601 Maple Street, Carrollton, GA 30118, USA.
⁸ University of Washington, Luminescence Dating Laboratory, 125 Raitt Hall, Seattle, WA 98195-3412, USA.
⁹ Department of Earth Sciences and Marine Science Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, USA.
¹⁰ Departments of Anthropology and Geology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45221, USA.
¹¹ Department of Natural Sciences, Elizabeth City State University, Elizabeth City, NC 27909, USA.
¹² Geology Program, School of Earth Science and Environmental Sustainability, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ 86011, USA.

PMID: 28276513
PMCID: PMC5343653
DOI: 10.1038/srep44031

Widespread platinum anomaly documented at the Younger Dryas onset in North American sedimentary sequences

Christopher R Moore et al. Sci Rep. 2017.

. 2017 Mar 9:7:44031.

doi: 10.1038/srep44031.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Savannah River Archaeological Research Program, South Carolina Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology, University of South Carolina, P.O. Box 400, New Ellenton, SC 29809, USA.
² GeoScience Consulting, Dewey, AZ, 86327, USA.
³ Center of Excellence in Remote Sensing Education and Research, Elizabeth City State University, Elizabeth City, NC 27921, USA.
⁴ Department of Anthropology, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858, USA.
⁵ South Carolina Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology, Columbia, SC 29208, USA.
⁶ Department of Environmental Studies, Wofford College, 429 N Church Street, Spartanburg, SC 29303-3663, USA.
⁷ Department of Geosciences, University of West Georgia, 1601 Maple Street, Carrollton, GA 30118, USA.
⁸ University of Washington, Luminescence Dating Laboratory, 125 Raitt Hall, Seattle, WA 98195-3412, USA.
⁹ Department of Earth Sciences and Marine Science Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, USA.
¹⁰ Departments of Anthropology and Geology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45221, USA.
¹¹ Department of Natural Sciences, Elizabeth City State University, Elizabeth City, NC 27909, USA.
¹² Geology Program, School of Earth Science and Environmental Sustainability, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ 86011, USA.

PMID: 28276513
PMCID: PMC5343653
DOI: 10.1038/srep44031

Abstract

Previously, a large platinum (Pt) anomaly was reported in the Greenland ice sheet at the Younger Dryas boundary (YDB) (12,800 Cal B.P.). In order to evaluate its geographic extent, fire-assay and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (FA and ICP-MS) elemental analyses were performed on 11 widely separated archaeological bulk sedimentary sequences. We document discovery of a distinct Pt anomaly spread widely across North America and dating to the Younger Dryas (YD) onset. The apparent synchroneity of this widespread YDB Pt anomaly is consistent with Greenland Ice Sheet Project 2 (GISP2) data that indicated atmospheric input of platinum-rich dust. We expect the Pt anomaly to serve as a widely-distributed time marker horizon (datum) for identification and correlation of the onset of the YD climatic episode at 12,800 Cal B.P. This Pt datum will facilitate the dating and correlating of archaeological, paleontological, and paleoenvironmental data between sequences, especially those with limited age control.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing financial interests.

Figures

**Figure 1**
Map showing study sites tested for platinum (Pt) and palladium (Pd): (#1) Arlington Canyon, Santa Rosa Island, California; (#2) Murray Springs, Arizona; (#3) Blackwater Draw, New Mexico; (#4) Sheriden Cave, Ohio; (#5) Squires Ridge, North Carolina; (#6) Barber Creek, North Carolina; (#7) Kolb, South Carolina; (#8) Flamingo Bay, South Carolina; (#9) Pen Point, South Carolina; (#10) Topper, South Carolina; (#11) Johns Bay, South Carolina. Map generated with ArcGIS software (v.10.2.2) using an Esri© basemap of the United States.

**Figure 2**
Site graphs for western and Midwestern study sites (a–d). Graphs show abundance in ppb (error = +/−0.1 ppb), archaeostratigraphic data (Paleoindian Clovis hafted biface silhouettes), radiocarbon dates (calibrated B.P.), microspherule and nanodiamond peaks, and interpreted YDB. Each sample is plotted in the middle of the sample interval. The chronostratigraphic position of the YDB for each site was determined based on (a) linear interpolation of 12 AMS dates; (b) interpolation of 7 conventional and AMS radiocarbon dates based on second-order polynomial regression; (c) logarithmic interpolation of 5 conventional and AMS radiocarbon dates and the stratigraphic position of temporally diagnostic hafted bifaces; and (d) 3 AMS dates selected from the YDB layer. A Bayesian analysis of dates from all western and Midwestern study sites demonstrates synchronous deposition of the YDB layer within the limits of dating uncertainty (~100 y). See Supplementary Figures 4–7 and Supplementary Table 3 for more detail on stratigraphy and dating for sites.

**Figure 3**
Site graphs for eastern study sites (a–g). Graphs show platinum (Pt) abundance in ppb (error = +/−0.1 ppb), generalized archaeostratigraphic data (Paleoindian through Woodland hafted biface silhouettes), chronometric dates (OSL [ka] and radiocarbon [Cal B.P.]), depth of microspherule peak (Squires Ridge), and interpreted YDB. Each sample is plotted in the middle of the sample interval. (a) Radiocarbon date from Level 11 (100-110 cmbs) at Barber Creek is from an adjacent excavation block. (b) Radiocarbon date from Clovis occupation surface “Clovis Floor” at Topper is from an adjacent excavation block. In a paper by Kennett *et al*., a Bayesian analysis of dates from Topper and Barber Creek demonstrated synchronous deposition of the YDB layer within the limits of dating uncertainty (~100 y). See Supplementary Figures 9–15 and Supplementary Tables 4–6 for more detail on stratigraphy and dating for sites.

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References

1. Petaev M., Huang S., Jacobsen S. B. & Zindler A. Large Pt anomaly in the Greenland ice core points to a cataclysm at the onset of Younger Dryas, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 110, 12917–12920 (2013). - PMC - PubMed
1. Sawlowicz Z. Iridium and other platinum-group elements as geochemical markers in sedimentary environments. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 104, (1–4) (1993).
1. Firestone R. B. et al. Evidence for an extraterrestrial impact 12,900 years ago that contributed to the megafaunal extinctions and the Younger Dryas cooling. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 104, 16016–16021 (2007). - PMC - PubMed
1. Bunch T. E. et al. Very high-temperature impact melt products as evidence for cosmic airbursts and impacts 12,900 years ago. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 109(28), E1903–E1912 (2012). - PMC - PubMed
1. Kennett D. J. et al. Shock-synthesized hexagonal diamonds in Younger Dryas boundary sediments. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 106, 12623–12628 (2009). - PMC - PubMed

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Widespread platinum anomaly documented at the Younger Dryas onset in North American sedimentary sequences

Affiliations

Widespread platinum anomaly documented at the Younger Dryas onset in North American sedimentary sequences

Authors

Affiliations

Abstract

Conflict of interest statement

Figures

References

Publication types

LinkOut - more resources

Full Text Sources

Other Literature Sources