Recognition of the Minoan tephra in the Acigöl Basin, western Turkey: Implications for inter-archive correlations and fine ash dispersal

Abstract

Here we report the recognition of the Minoan tephra layer in the Acigöl Basin (western Turkey), which represents the most eastward occurrence of this tephra on land and the first in continental deposits out of lacustrine sediments in mainland Turkey. The correlation is supported by glass and mineral geochemistry, which includes solution and laser-ablation ICP-MS data for trace and rare earth elements. Thickness and grain size data allow the extension of already described occurrences to an area of about 359000 km2, from the eastern Mediterranean to Black Sea throughout central-western Turkey. Coupling dispersal area and grain-size data suggests the joint influence of high and low atmosphere dynamics in dispersal of fine ash during volcanic eruptions. The thickness and lateral continuity of the Minoan tephra in the Acigöl Basin testifies to the widespread impact on the Late Bronze Age environment of mainland Turkey of this important ash deposit. © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.