Thermoluminescence properties of fiord sediments from Engelskbukta,western Spitsbergen,Svalbard: a new tool for deciphering depositional environment?

This study explored the relationship between high-Arctic fiord depositional environments and the natural thermoluminescence (TL) signal of sediments. The energy and duration of light exposure during transportation and deposition controls the TL level of silicate mineral grains in the sediment. The TL signal of sediments rapidly decreases within c. 0·5 km of a glacier sediment source. The highest TL levels are from tills and ice-proximal glacial-marine sediments, which receive little or no light exposure during transportation and deposition. Intermediate and consistent TL levels are recorded for ice-distal glacialmarine muds, c. 0·5–5·0 km from the glacier front, reflecting slower sedimentation rates. The lowest TL levels are for littoral and sublittoral sediments which receive extended light exposure with shoaling. The granulometry of the sediments is fairly homogeneous and is not diagnostic of a sedimentary environment with most samples dominated by silt and clay; littoral and ice-proximal samples exhibit peak abundances in sand. These results suggest that the relative TL signal of sediments is sensitive to a depositional environment, particularly for environments proximal (within 0·5 km) to a glacier terminus and in shallow water, less than 15 m deep.