Sediment and water geochemistry record of water-rock interactions in King George Island, Antarctic Peninsula

Abstract We used a multidisciplinary approach integrating major, trace and rare earth element geochemistry, mineralogy of rocks sediments along with the ionic composition water reservoirs Admiralty Bay, King George Island, to evaluate record water-rock interactions under Maritime Antarctic conditions. Our results showed that compositions streams meltwaters predominantly reflect atmospheric inputs, while lake waters have higher Na/Cl, Ca/Mg HCO 3 /Cl ratios related chemical weathering in sediments, but this did not allow for distinguishing purely silicate sources. Consistent data, various alteration indices Index Compositional Variability values denote low degree sediments. The records from previously unexplored Mud Lake Upper suggest lakes Bay are better places impacts succession environmental changes occurred watershed, stream channel when accompanied by chemistry may provide more representative source than These findings help revealing intensity contemporary colder climate relatively few mineralogical lesser elemental loss.