Digging into Eocene hothouse climate variability: Linking X-ray fluorescence (XRF) scanning and palynology of Messel sediment cores

The late early to early middle Eocene (~48 Ma) maar lake sediments of the famous Messel fossil-pit, located near Darmstadt, SW Germany, represent a prime archive for climate dynamics operating during the geologically most recent greenhouse period of the Earth. In this study, we investigate the potential of geochemical data obtained via high-resolution XRF core scanning to decipher hydrologic variability from the Messel sediments. Such data have the potential to yield insight into the paleoenvironmental and paleoclimatic evolution of Messel in unprecedented temporal resolution. As such, they may provide further help towards understanding potential climatic impact on evolutionary patterns as revealed by the fossil record. Our preliminary results from the research drill core of 2001 show a robust correlation with available data on the vegetation from the pollen and spore record and hence hint at the great potential of using XRF core scanning as a tool to decipher wet-dry variability during the early and middle Eocene on orbital to interannual time scales.