Project Info

The primary goal of this subproject is to set up a tephra database (TephATA) by combining geochemical fingerprinting data (major, minor, and trace elements) of tephra samples with available chronological and stratigraphic information. In case of only poor or contradictory available age information, we will refine the chronology by state-of-the-art dating techniques. The database will allow us to cluster and correlate tephra layers between the different sites, and potentially link them to more proximal, but well‐dated volcanic deposits from the source areas in the Central Volcanic Zone of the Andes, e.g., the Altiplano‐Puna Volcanic Complex.

The TephATA database that will provide the geochemical and chronological backbone that enables us to link visible tephra and non‐visible cryptotephra layers in continental (A02, C02, C04, C05, D04) and marine archives (A04) and assign them to volcanic eruptions of known age. By establishing reliable correlations of tephra layers based on their geochemical composition, age information can be transferred to tephra that does not contain sufficient minerals for absolute dating. Particularly widespread tephra layers will function as independent tie‐points for the synchronization of the various sedimentary records investigated by the CRC.