Dust historical record in ombrotrophic peat: The case study of a NW European bog

Ombrotrophic peatlands are unique environmental archives of natural and anthropogenic atmospheric dust deposition because their surface layers are exclusively fed by atmospheric inputs. Lead (Pb) isotopes have been often used to evidence any anthropogenic influence in peat, but they only record trace metal pollution. Another radiogenic isotope, the Neodymium (Nd), could be also use to discriminate the sources of dust in peat bogs. Dust fluxes were investigated over the last 2500 years in the Misten peat bog in Eastern Belgium. Our aims were to use Nd isotope signature to decipher between local and distal dust supplies, the Pb isotopes to trace the antropogenic influences. To address these aims we analyzed REE and lithogenic element analyses, as well as the Nd and Pb isotopes, using HR-ICP-MS and MC-ICP-MS, respectively in peat layers dated by 210Pb and 14C. Changes in REE concentration variations in peat samples are correlated with Ti, Al, and Zr that are lithogenic conservative elements, suggesting that REE are immobile in the studied peat bogs and can be used as tracers of dust deposition. Dust fluxes show pronounced increase at BC300, AD600, 1000AD, 1200AD and from 1700AD, recording either influence of human activities (regional erosion due to forest clearing and soil cultivation activities) or local and regional climate changes. Lead enrichments reveal strong human impact over the last 300 years. Lead isotope signatures are consistent with local and regional contamination by coal combustion and smelting activities. Neodymium isotopes allow to identify three periods characterised by dominant-distal sources (at 320AD, 1000 AD and 1700AD). Those periods are consistent with local wetter intervals as indicated by lower humification degree. Local erosion prevails durier drier (higher humification) intervals (-100AD, 600AD). On a global scale more distal supplies are driven during colder periods, in particular Oort and Maunder minima, confirming the hypothesis that cold climate conditions favor distal supplies. Combining geochemical elementary content and isotope data in ombrotrophic peat allows to decipher between dust flux changes related to human and climate forcing.