Volcanic glass geochemical fingerprints of the Black Sea tephra layers in the last ~60 kyr

Journal article

Tephra layers preserved in marine sedimentary archives constitute key isochronous markers for reconstructing volcanic activity and regional stratigraphic frameworks. Here we present a comprehensive geochemical dataset of volcanic glass from tephra layers identified in sediment core M72/5-25-GC1 recovered from the southwestern Black Sea. The dataset includes major and trace element compositions of volcanic glass shards from 19 tephra layers deposited in the last ~60 kyr, preserved as both visible tephra and cryptotephra horizons. Glass shards were analyzed using electron probe micro-analyzer and sector-field laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, following rigorous analytical protocols and quality control procedures. The dataset spans a wide compositional range, reflecting inputs from multiple volcanic regions, including the Central Anatolian Volcanic Province, the Aegean arc, and Italian volcanic districts. This dataset provides a robust geochemical framework for tephra fingerprinting and correlation across the Black Sea and surrounding areas, and represents a valuable resource for tephrochronological applications, paleoenvironmental reconstructions, and future comparative or data-driven studies.

Authors: Sunyé-Puchol, I; Bolós, X; Özsoy-Ünal, R; Smith, VC; Tavazzani, L

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: Nature Research
• Journal: Scientific Data
• Publication date: 2026-06-01
• DOI: 10.1038/s41597-026-07504-9
• EISSN: 2052-4463
• ISSN: 2052-4463
• Language: English
• Keywords: Magma; Sedimentary rock; Volcanic glass; Tephra; Volcanic ash; Tephrochronology; Volcano; Trace element