Pathways of carbonate sediment accumulation in a large, shallow lake

Since carbonate formation is an important process linking inorganic and biological components of freshwater ecosystems, we characterized the formation of modern carbonate sediments in a large, shallow, calcareous lake (Lake Balaton in Hungary). We measured the amount of allochtonous mineral particle...

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Main Authors: Ágnes Rostási, Kornél Rácz, Melinda A. Fodor, Boglárka Topa, Zsombor Molnár, Tamás G. Weiszburg, Mihály Pósfai
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2022-12-01
Series:Frontiers in Earth Science
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feart.2022.1067105/full
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author Ágnes Rostási
Kornél Rácz
Kornél Rácz
Melinda A. Fodor
Boglárka Topa
Boglárka Topa
Zsombor Molnár
Zsombor Molnár
Tamás G. Weiszburg
Mihály Pósfai
Mihály Pósfai
author_facet Ágnes Rostási
Kornél Rácz
Kornél Rácz
Melinda A. Fodor
Boglárka Topa
Boglárka Topa
Zsombor Molnár
Zsombor Molnár
Tamás G. Weiszburg
Mihály Pósfai
Mihály Pósfai
author_sort Ágnes Rostási
collection DOAJ
description Since carbonate formation is an important process linking inorganic and biological components of freshwater ecosystems, we characterized the formation of modern carbonate sediments in a large, shallow, calcareous lake (Lake Balaton in Hungary). We measured the amount of allochtonous mineral particles delivered to the lake by tributaries and through the atmosphere over a 2-year period, and estimated the mass of carbonate minerals that precipitated from lakewater. Chemical and structural features of mineral particles from various sources were also studied. Both the mineralogical character and the amount of particles delivered by streams and through the atmosphere were similar, and formed a minor fraction of the annual sediment increment (∼5%–6% by mass). Since the watercourses feeding the lake had high concentrations of Ca2+, Mg2+, and HCO3− (with a Mg/Ca mol ratio ranging from 1 to 4), Mg-bearing calcite (with 2–17 mol% MgCO3) was found to continually precipitate in the lake. According to X-ray powder diffraction measurements, the Mg content of calcite increased from West to East, in parallel with changes in water chemistry. Dolomite was detected as a minor phase, and in the eastern part of the lake it typically produced a split 104 peak in X-ray diffractograms, suggesting two distinct sources: stoichiometric dolomite was allochtonous, whereas a Ca-rich protodolomite fraction formed in the lake. Mg-bearing calcite precipitating in the lake was found by far the largest contributor to sediment formation, with an estimated annual accumulation of about 0.75–0.9 mm consolidated sediment; thus, ∼89% of the currently forming sediment consists of autochtonous carbonate. In addition to providing new estimates for the rates of accumulation of distinct sediment fractions, our results also provide a baseline for further studies on the retention and release of nutrients by sediment minerals.
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spelling doaj.art-35ddca85cd81481089cbc518b6a226002022-12-22T04:23:52ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Earth Science2296-64632022-12-011010.3389/feart.2022.10671051067105Pathways of carbonate sediment accumulation in a large, shallow lakeÁgnes Rostási0Kornél Rácz1Kornél Rácz2Melinda A. Fodor3Boglárka Topa4Boglárka Topa5Zsombor Molnár6Zsombor Molnár7Tamás G. Weiszburg8Mihály Pósfai9Mihály Pósfai10ELKH-PE Air Chemistry Research Group, Veszprém, HungaryELKH-PE Environmental Mineralogy Research Group, Veszprém, HungaryResearch Institute of Biomolecular and Chemical Engineering, University of Pannonia, Veszprém, HungaryResearch Institute of Biomolecular and Chemical Engineering, University of Pannonia, Veszprém, HungaryInstitute of Mineralogy and Geology, University of Miskolc, Miskolc, HungaryDepartment of Mineralogy, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, HungaryELKH-PE Environmental Mineralogy Research Group, Veszprém, HungaryResearch Institute of Biomolecular and Chemical Engineering, University of Pannonia, Veszprém, HungaryDepartment of Mineralogy, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, HungaryELKH-PE Environmental Mineralogy Research Group, Veszprém, HungaryResearch Institute of Biomolecular and Chemical Engineering, University of Pannonia, Veszprém, HungarySince carbonate formation is an important process linking inorganic and biological components of freshwater ecosystems, we characterized the formation of modern carbonate sediments in a large, shallow, calcareous lake (Lake Balaton in Hungary). We measured the amount of allochtonous mineral particles delivered to the lake by tributaries and through the atmosphere over a 2-year period, and estimated the mass of carbonate minerals that precipitated from lakewater. Chemical and structural features of mineral particles from various sources were also studied. Both the mineralogical character and the amount of particles delivered by streams and through the atmosphere were similar, and formed a minor fraction of the annual sediment increment (∼5%–6% by mass). Since the watercourses feeding the lake had high concentrations of Ca2+, Mg2+, and HCO3− (with a Mg/Ca mol ratio ranging from 1 to 4), Mg-bearing calcite (with 2–17 mol% MgCO3) was found to continually precipitate in the lake. According to X-ray powder diffraction measurements, the Mg content of calcite increased from West to East, in parallel with changes in water chemistry. Dolomite was detected as a minor phase, and in the eastern part of the lake it typically produced a split 104 peak in X-ray diffractograms, suggesting two distinct sources: stoichiometric dolomite was allochtonous, whereas a Ca-rich protodolomite fraction formed in the lake. Mg-bearing calcite precipitating in the lake was found by far the largest contributor to sediment formation, with an estimated annual accumulation of about 0.75–0.9 mm consolidated sediment; thus, ∼89% of the currently forming sediment consists of autochtonous carbonate. In addition to providing new estimates for the rates of accumulation of distinct sediment fractions, our results also provide a baseline for further studies on the retention and release of nutrients by sediment minerals.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feart.2022.1067105/fullcarbonate precipitationlake sedimentLake Balatonmineral budgetsedimentation rate
spellingShingle Ágnes Rostási
Kornél Rácz
Kornél Rácz
Melinda A. Fodor
Boglárka Topa
Boglárka Topa
Zsombor Molnár
Zsombor Molnár
Tamás G. Weiszburg
Mihály Pósfai
Mihály Pósfai
Pathways of carbonate sediment accumulation in a large, shallow lake
Frontiers in Earth Science
carbonate precipitation
lake sediment
Lake Balaton
mineral budget
sedimentation rate
title Pathways of carbonate sediment accumulation in a large, shallow lake
title_full Pathways of carbonate sediment accumulation in a large, shallow lake
title_fullStr Pathways of carbonate sediment accumulation in a large, shallow lake
title_full_unstemmed Pathways of carbonate sediment accumulation in a large, shallow lake
title_short Pathways of carbonate sediment accumulation in a large, shallow lake
title_sort pathways of carbonate sediment accumulation in a large shallow lake
topic carbonate precipitation
lake sediment
Lake Balaton
mineral budget
sedimentation rate
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feart.2022.1067105/full
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