High-resolution analyses of mineral dust at Dome Fuji, Antarctica during 35-53 kyrBP

To investigate millennial-scale variations in mineral dust and its provenance during the last glacial period, we analyzed the Dome Fuji deep ice core using a Continuous Flow Analysis (CFA) system. We measured microparticles, eight elements (Na, Mg, Al, Si, K, Ca, Fe, and S), and stable water isotopes over the depth interval from 730 to 930 m. This interval corresponds to approximately 35–53 kyr BP, encompassing Antarctic Isotope Maxima (AIM) 8 to AIM 13 and part of AIM 14. In addition to the CFA measurements, discrete samples were continuously collected at 50 cm intervals and analyzed for particle concentrations and size distributions using a Coulter Multisizer 4e.

Concentrations and fluxes of microparticles—predominantly derived from mineral dust—as well as dust-sourced elements decreased during AIM events and increased during stadial periods, consistent with previous Antarctic ice-core studies. Centennial averages of elemental concentration ratios (Ca/Al, Fe/Al, and Si/Al) exhibit only minor variations throughout this period. This behavior contrasts with the pronounced changes observed during Termination I, suggesting relatively stable dust provenance during 35–53 kyr BP. Microparticle sizes increased during AIM events and decreased during stadials, indicating changes in transport and/or deposition rather than source shifts.