Ciencia e 2021 Editorial

Neogranadina
Ingeniería Vol. 31(1)
Neogranadina enero - junio ■ ISSN: 0124-8170 ▪ e-ISSN: 1909-7735 ■ pp. 9-24

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18359/rcin.5071

Paleoenvironmental Interpretation
of Last Millennium Sediments in the
Marriaga Swamp, Atrato Delta, Colombia*
Liliana Betancurth Montesa ■ Julio Eduardo Cañón Barrigab

Abstract: This paper presents the first paleoenvironmental reconstruction of the last 1,130 a of the
Marriaga Swamp in the Atrato River delta in northwestern Colombia. The geochemical analyses of a
220 cm sediment core retrieved from the swamp reveal interesting climatic episodes and sedimen-
tary changes in the last millennium. We split the core into three segments, according to sediment
features, organic carbon content (OC), and geological ages. Records show different alternations of
humid and dry periods, biological productivity, carbonate precipitation, weathering grade, and high
heavy metal concentrations. The segments also concur with the geochemical differences determined
by (Zr+Rb)/Sr, Ca/Ti Mn/Fe, OC/Ti, Mg/Ca Ba/Al, Sr/Al, and Ca/Al ratios. The older sequence (between
1,130 ± 90 a and 870 ± 70 a) shows a dry period with intermittent flooding events and high OC pro-
duction in subareal conditions, followed by a more humid environment between 870 ± 70 a and 530
± 40 a, with depletion of trace element ratios and OC. The more recent period (530 ± 40 a to present)
evinces an environment dominated by the fluvial regime, based on a lower Ca/Al ratio and a rise of
OC. The statistical correlations display three main clusters that distinguish among organic-biological
productivity, bedrock source components, and heavy metal inputs.

Keywords: Swamp sediments; environmental reconstruction; trace elements; paleoclimate;

weathering

Received: 31/07/2020 Accepted: 19/01/2021 Online: 23/07/2021

How to cite: L. Betancurth Montes and J. E. Cañón Barriga, “Paleoenvironmental Interpretation of
Last Millennium Sediments in the Marriaga Swamp, Atrato Delta, Colombia”, Cien.Ing.Neogranadina,
vol. 31, no. 1, pp. 9-24, Jul. 2021.

* Research article
a PhD, MSc, Spc. in Environmental Engineering. BSc in Geology. Grupo de Modelación y Gestión Ambien-
tal (gaia), Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia. E-mail: [email protected] ORCID:
http:// orcid.org/0000-0002-4095-2722
b PhD and MSc in Hidrology. BSc in Civil Engineering. Grupo de Modelación y Gestión Ambiental (gaia),
Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia. E-mail: [email protected] ORCID: https://orcid.
org/0000-0001-8041-2774

9
 Interpretación paleoambiental de los sedimentos del último milenio en la
Ciénaga de Marriaga, Delta de Atrato, Colombia
Resumen: en este estudio se presenta la primera reconstrucción paleoambiental de los últimos 1130
años de la Ciénaga de Marriaga en el delta del río Atrato, en el noroeste de Colombia. Los análisis
geoquímicos de un núcleo de sedimento de 220 cm recuperado en la ciénaga revelan episodios
climáticos interesantes y cambios sedimentarios en el último milenio. Se dividió el núcleo en tres
segmentos, según las características de los sedimentos, el contenido de carbono orgánico (CO) y las
edades geológicas. Los registros muestran diferentes alternancias de períodos húmedos y secos, la
productividad biológica, precipitación de carbonato, grado de meteorización y altas concentraciones
de metales pesados. Los segmentos también coinciden con las diferencias geoquímicas determina-
das por las relaciones (ZR+RB)/Sr, Ca/Ti Mn/Fe, CO/Ti, Mg/Ca Ba/Al, Sr/Al Ca/Al. La secuencia inferior
(entre 1130 ± 90 a y 870 ± 70 a) muestra un período seco con inundaciones intermitentes y una alta
producción de CO en condiciones subaéreas, seguida de un entorno más húmedo entre 870 ± 70
años y 530 ± 40 años, con agotamiento de las proporciones de oligoelementos y CO. El período más
reciente (530 ± 40 a al presente) evidencia un ambiente dominado por el régimen fluvial, basado en
una relación Ca/Al más baja y un aumento de CO. Las correlaciones estadísticas muestran tres gru-
pos principales que distinguen entre la productividad biológica orgánica, los componentes de la roca
madre y los aportes de metales pesados.

Palabras clave: sedimentos de ciénagas, reconstrucción ambiental, oligoelementos, paleoclima,

meteorización.

10
 Revista Ciencia e Ingeniería Neogranadina ■ Vol. 31(1)

water depth (measured during this research) of 4

Introduction m (Fig. 1). The swamp is connected to two main
Lacustrine sediments are formed by accumulated streamflows: the Atrato River to the west and the
organic and inorganic particles derived from dif- Caño Tarena to the north. The area has a tropical
ferent bedrock sources usually transported by riv- climate corresponding to the Intertropical Con-
ers under continuous and episodic sediment loads vergence Zone (itcz) with average annual rainfall
[1]-[2]. Each lacustrine setting provides a unique from 2,500 to 3,000 mm [16]-[17]. The average tem-
record of the geographic, climatic, and geological perature is estimated at 33.8 °C. Humidity ranges
variations occurring over time in a basin [3]-[7]. from 80 to 86 % throughout the year [18].
Proxies such as grain size, mineralogy, isotopes, The principal human activity in the area is fish-
organic matter, dating, and geochemistry provide ing by the citizens of a small village named Mar-
valuable information to reconstruct the environ- riaga. This village is located on the east side of the
mental record of such lacustrine environments swamp, along the inlet feeds from Atrato River,
[8]-[9]. This environmental record includes the just in the main entrance towards the swamp.
analysis of sediment bedrock sources, mineral Bedrock in the area consists of Cretaceous
phases, sediment accumulation rates, weathering rocks of igneous origin (basalts, andesites, and
intensity, heavy metal thresholds, and chemical granitoids) cropping to the west and south of the
processes to identify past environmental distur- Marriaga Swamp in the Baudó-Darien mountain
bances [10]-[12]. ridge [19]-[20]. A broad group of Eocene sedi-
The climate of the last millennium has been mentary rocks outcrop towards the west of the
widely investigated worldwide. However, some Marriaga Swamp and comprise cherts, detrital
tropical lacustrine settings remain unexplored. limestones, mudstones, carbonaceous sandstones,
That is the case of swamps in the Atrato River delta and marls [21]. The Quaternary deposits of the vast
in Colombia, in which paleoenvironmental recon- alluvial plain are composed of clay and silt sedi-
structions are limited to characterizations based ments [22] surrounding the Marriaga Swamp.
on water, surface sediments, or shallow cores (< This research aims to determine the depo-
80 cm) [13]-[15]. This study focuses on the flood sitional processes and climatic impacts of the
plain area of the Atrato River, considered one of Marriaga Swamp, northern Colombia, in the last
the most important rivers of western Colombia, millennium, using quantitative data obtained
with more than 20 lacustrine systems spread along from xrf geochemical analyses. It is the first ap-
its vast flood plain [13]. The Marriaga Swamp is the proach to understanding the Marriaga Swamp’s
northernmost lacustrine landform of the Atrato paleoenvironmental features with major and trace
River delta (8° 06’ 70” N; 76° 58’ 28” W; 15 m.a.s.l.) elements interpretations within the framework of
with a surface area of 12.47 km2 and a maximum the Atrato delta.

Paleoenvironmental Interpretation of Last Millennium Sediments in the Marriaga Swamp, Atrato Delta, Colombia 11
 Revista Ciencia e Ingeniería Neogranadina ■ Vol. 31(1)

Fig. 1. Location of the Marriaga Swamp. (a) Regional location and (b) detailed location.
Source: Modified from igac Topographic Base (2015) and Landsat image eos (2020).

Spectrometer/Thermo Scientific. The procedure

Materials and Methods consisted of grounding samples in an S-1000
We drilled a sediment core at the center of the Mar- RETCH Centrifugal Ball Mill with a zirconi-
riaga Swamp with a Livingstone Bolivia corer. The um oxide vessel at 3,000 rpm for 5 minutes. The
core consists of two overlapping sections with a to- grounded powder was calcinated at 550 °C for
tal length of 220 cm, retrieved at the central area of three hours to determine Loss of Ignition (loi)
the swamp where the depth of water to surface sed- and calculate OC. The geochemical data included
iments was 4 m. We sliced the core into 16 sections, concentrations of ten oxides (SiO2, Al2O3, Fe2O3,
between 5 and 10 cm long each, according to visu- MgO, Na2O, CaO, K 2O, TiO2, P2O5, and MnO) and
ally identified stratigraphic changes. We chose eight 22 trace elements (Cl, S, Ba, V, Cu, Zr, Sm, Cr, Zn,
samples distributed on top, middle, and bottom sec- Sr, W, Tb, Ni, Co, La, Rb, Br, Y, Sc, Ga, and Cd).
tions of the sequence for detailed characterizations. Measurements were made with the standard and
The physical properties of the sediment layers duplicate samples (Table 1).
were initially determined with visual and tactile The ages at the top, middle, and bottom sections
inspections of color, texture, and organic matter were determined with the Infrared Stimulated Lu-
content. The geochemical analyses followed the minescence (irsl) technique in the Institute of
patterns related to the three segments previously Earth and Environmental Sciences laboratory at
defined by their sediment characteristics, age, and the Albert-Ludwigs-University of Freiburg, Ger-
organic carbon (OC) content. We measured varia- many [23]. The basic sample was prepared in the
tions of major and trace elements and determined Universidad eafit photoluminescence laboratory
correlations from which we analyze dry and hu- in Medellín, Colombia. The core was split into two
mid periods, biological productivity, carbonate parts, selecting three samples on the top, middle,
precipitation, fluvial-marine sediment input fluc- and bottom of the sedimentary sequence. A first
tuations, and human impacts. dry process was carried out at 40 °C for 24 hours to
We performed the geochemical analyses at obtain the water content. The robust material was
the Universidad de Antioquia Spectrometry prepared at the University of Freiburg red-light
Laboratory, using an ARL OPTIM´X WDRRF adapted laboratory. Before an HCl (30 %) and H2O2

12 L. Betancurth Montes ■ J. E. Cañón Barriga

 Revista Ciencia e Ingeniería Neogranadina ■ Vol. 31(1)

(30 %) treatment, several sieve stages were com- Both coarse and fine fractions were used for age
pleted to remove carbonates and organic matter. determination procedures.
Table 1. Major (wt %) and trace (ppm) elements composition in the Marriaga Swamp

Samples S1 S2 S3 S4 S5 S6 S7 S8
loi 17,83 16,33 15,20 14,38 13,49 21,22 21,61 19,35
OC 10,34 9,47 8,82 8,34 7,82 12,31 12,54 11,22
Depth 5,00 33,00 61,00 82,00 113,00 162,00 201,00 219,00
SiO2 41,62 41,16 45,68 45,25 46,41 44,27 46,79 52,39
Al2O3 20,37 17,89 17,83 18,13 18,64 19,06 19,16 19,41
Fe2O3 11,52 11,27 10,56 10,53 10,50 9,14 8,88 8,38
MgO 3,38 2,86 3,31 3,44 3,37 3,58 3,94 4,04
Na2O 0,94 1,16 1,39 1,50 1,31 2,08 2,43 2,50
CaO 1,43 1,48 1,75 1,77 1,71 1,71 2,57 2,76
K 2O 0,90 0,98 1,25 1,33 1,32 1,40 1,37 1,51
TiO2 0,65 0,67 0,76 0,78 0,76 0,78 0,79 0,74
P2O5 0,32 0,19 0,09 0,17 0,10 0,27 0,26 0,15
MnO 0,40 0,19 0,11 0,10 0,11 0,09 0,12 0,11
Cl 606 3320 3950 4140 2490 6880 7260 4550
S 2630 3840 13100 18900 17000 6370 2610 976
Ba 589 429 497 514 502 810 937 977
V 270 214 206 210 205 253 215 217
Cu 273 261 269 246 254 253 220 207
Zr 123 165 233 197 177 304 380 456
Sm 146 175 150 152 199 170 121 0
Cr 104 138 180 179 194 174 187 166
Zn 148 134 144 138 142 157 126 122
Sr 111 159 202 200 192 201 260 274
W 108 103 112 105 90 61 0 74
Tb 129 121 123 107 153 122 111 94
Ni 111 89 100 111 115 120 113 112
Ar 178 186 146 0 111 149 0 0
Co 65 71 81 80 72 78 61 38
La nd nd nd nd nd nd nd 65
Rb 27 36 38 44 35 51 37 40
Br 22 48 42 29 26 39 23 14
Y 22 24 27 25 25 26 28 16
Sc 22 20 26 0 21 0 0 29
Ga 11 20 13 16 17 26 20 18
Cd nd nd nd nd nd nd nd 65
Note. ND: Not detected.
Source: Own elaboration.
Paleoenvironmental Interpretation of Last Millennium Sediments in the Marriaga Swamp, Atrato Delta, Colombia 13
 Revista Ciencia e Ingeniería Neogranadina ■ Vol. 31(1)

estimated ages: bottom segment (Seg. i: 220–135

Results and Discussion cm; 1,130 ± 90 to 870 ± 70 a), middle segment (Seg.
ii: 135 cm-70 cm; 870 ± 70 to 530 ± 40 a), and upper
Physical Features of Sediments segment (Seg. iii: 70–0 cm; 530 ± recent a).
The 220 cm sedimentary sequence consists of lam- Seg. i involves the coarser sediments of brown-
inated grayish to brownish fine sand, silt, and clay ish fine sand to silty sediments, interbedded with
layers, intercalated with peat layers (Fig. 2). The black laminations enriched with organic matter
ages estimated with the IRSL technique indicate and mica. Seg. ii comprises grey-brown alterna-
1,130 ± 90 a at the bottom of the core, around 870 tions of silt and clay sediments with thin sandy
± 70 a in the middle section, and around 530 ± laminations, scarce organic matter, and mica con-
40 a on the top. The core was divided into three tent. Seg. iii comprises greyish silt with intercala-
segments, according to sediment features and tions of clay with poor content of organic matter.

Fig. 2. Photograph of the core and schematic sedimentary column of Marriaga Swamp sediments. Ages obtained by
IRSL. Segment division is represented by color transparency. Organic carbon content.
Source: Own elaboration

Organic matter content is present in the core, that indicates subaerial and redox conditions. The
with values ranging between 7.8 and 12.5 %. In coarser sediments in the most recent segment (Seg.
the oldest segment (Seg. i), the organic matter iii) indicate the influence of high-energy flows
content is considerably high, as evinced by four feeding the swamp. Seg. iii is characterized by an
peaty layers. These layers indicate exposure con- increase in organic matter content towards the
ditions that allowed vegetation cropping between surface, approx. 530 ± 40 a to present. However,
approx. 1,130 ± 90 and 870 ± 70 a. In Seg. ii (be- Seg. iii resembles Seg. ii in terms of grain size and
tween 870 ± 70 and 530 ± 40 a), the organic matter the absence of clear peaty layers, except for milli-
is low and relates to a sedimentary sequence of clay metric laminations.

14 L. Betancurth Montes ■ J. E. Cañón Barriga

 Revista Ciencia e Ingeniería Neogranadina ■ Vol. 31(1)

concentrations, whereas Seg. ii (middle of the se-

Geochemistry
quence) shows an increment of Fe and a reduction
of Mg and Na. Seg. iii (upper sequence) exhibits
Major elements high Al and Mg concentrations and reductions
Si, Al, Fe, Mg, Na, Ca, and K are associated with a in Si and Ca. The patterns of Ca and Mg are more
siliciclastic provenance (Fig. 3). Seg. i (lower part complex, probably due to the variety of bedrock
of the sequence) has high Si, Mg, Na, Ca, and K sources with detrital and endogenic inputs.

Fig. 3. Major element concentrations along the Marriaga Swamp sedimentary sequence.
Source: Own elaboration

High concentrations of major elements (Si, Al, The (Zr+Rb)/Sr ratio reveals terrigenous inputs,
K, Ti, and Fe) represent detrital contributions re- whereas the Ca/Ti ratio indicates carbonate pro-
lated to flooding events; high values of Ca demon- duction [26] and the relation with drought in hu-
strate sediment reworking during dry periods or mid conditions. High (Zr+Rb)/ Sr and Ca/Ti imply
swamp level fluctuations [24], whereas Mg, Cl, and possible drought conditions observed in Seg. i (220
Na indicate salinity intrusions [25]-[26]. to 160 cm) from 1,130 ± 90 and 870 ± 70 a, with
a significant fall towards more recent sediments.
Trace elements A relatively constant humid environment is con-
The extended analysis of trace elements exposes sistent with these low ratios observed in the upper
several paleoenvironmental features. Dry and hu- 120 cm of the core (Seg. ii and Seg. iii).
mid periods, for instance, are related with (Zr+Rb)/ Biological productivity was important from
Sr and Ca/Ti ratios; biological productivity is rep- 1,130 ± 90 to 870 ± 70 a. The middle to low Mn/Fe
resented by Mn/Fe, OC/Ti, and Mg/Ca ratios (Fig. ratio in Seg. i indicates some intermittent, short
4). Carbonate precipitation employs Ba/Al, Sr/Al, periods of paleo-redox conditions (220-160 cm).
and Ca/Al ratios (Fig. 5), and the possible anthro- Low values of Mn/Fe at 120 to 60 cm in Seg. ii in-
pogenic impact is associated with Cu, Ni, Zn, Co, dicate more oxygenated conditions from 870 ± 70
and Cr (Fig. 6). to 530 ± 40 a. The rise of biological productivity

Paleoenvironmental Interpretation of Last Millennium Sediments in the Marriaga Swamp, Atrato Delta, Colombia 15
 Revista Ciencia e Ingeniería Neogranadina ■ Vol. 31(1)

remains from 60 cm to the surface. Important the surface. The fine lamination of sediments pre-
OC/Ti ratios show high concentrations in Seg. i served in upper and lower sediments indicates an-
and Seg. iii with a significant decrease at Seg. ii. oxic conditions in the Marriaga Swamp in Seg. i
The Mg/Ca is relatively high at Seg. iii, close to and Seg. iii

Fig. 4. Trace element plots for dry, humid, and biological productivity interpretations.
Source: Own elaboration

Fig. 5. Trace element plots to interpret carbonate precipitation.

Source: Own elaboration

16 L. Betancurth Montes ■ J. E. Cañón Barriga

 Revista Ciencia e Ingeniería Neogranadina ■ Vol. 31(1)

Fig. 6. Heavy metal plot to interpret natural source and human impact for Cu, Ni, Zn, Co, and Cr.
Source: Own elaboration

Carbonate precipitation (Fig. 5.), interpreted mining activities upstream the Atrato River that
from Ba/Al, Sr/Al, and Ca/Al ratios, shows high can incorporate mined sediments during floods
Ba/Al profile values in Seg. i (220–120 cm), with into the Marriaga Swamp [30].
a notable increase in the sequence’s upper sedi- Cu, Ni, Zn, Co, and Cr concentrations were
ments, suggest authigenic processes. The presence normalized with average Upper Continental Crust
of ion-rich waters and chemical precipitation is (ucc) concentrations [31]-[32] and compared to
interpreted from Sr/Al and may indicate a saline, regional background data (Fig. 7) from stream
brackish stage in the Marriaga Swamp from 1,130 sediments sampled by the Geological Survey of
± 90 to 530 ± 40 a (220-60 cm), with clear decreas- Colombia upstream the Marriaga Swamp in the
ing values from 60 cm to surface. Atrato River [33]. The purpose of this normaliza-
The brackish state is consistent with the fact tion was to determine if the heavy metal concen-
that the Marriaga Swamp could be affected by sea- trations in the Marriaga Swamp showed extreme
water inputs during high tidal conditions. High thresholds.
values of Ca/Al in the lower sequence (220–60 cm) The normalization of heavy metals against the
correspond to half of Seg. i. Moderate and constant ucc shows that all concentrations are several times
values from 160 to 60 cm are compatible with half higher than the ucc values, which points to the
of Seg. i and whole Seg. ii. A sharp decrease of Ca/ possible anomalous enrichment of Cu, Ni, Zn, Co,
Al occurs in the upper sequence (Seg. iii), consis- and Cr in the swamp. The values for the regional
tent with more fluvial inputs. background are also higher compared to the ucc
Heavy metal enrichments have been typical- and conservatively close to those found in the
ly associated with a human impact [25], but they Marriaga Swamp sediments, except for Cr, which
could also be associated with natural thresholds is higher for the regional records. Natural leaching
due to bedrock origins [28]-[29]. We considered could be one of the causes of the high values in the
that the high values found in the Marriaga Swamp Marriaga Swamp sediments, which is also related
profile (Fig. 6) are a combination between nat- to the high Chemical Index of Alteration (cia) and
ural thresholds from basic bedrock weathering the dilution effect of silica that promotes heavy
and specific anthropogenic effects associated with metal dilutions [34].

Paleoenvironmental Interpretation of Last Millennium Sediments in the Marriaga Swamp, Atrato Delta, Colombia 17
 Revista Ciencia e Ingeniería Neogranadina ■ Vol. 31(1)

If human activities were the most substantial presence along with the sequences. Since intense
reason for heavy metal enrichment in the Mar- human presence or activities are not reported in
riaga Swamp, the concentrations would be higher the area before 500 a in the late Holocene (corre-
only in the upper sediments (Seg. ii) after 500 a, sponding to Seg. i and part of Seg. ii: ~1130 ± 70 to
resulting from colonial mining [35]. However, the 500 a), it is unlikely heavy metals are only a contri-
values in the profile (Fig. 7) demonstrate a constant bution of human sources.

Fig. 7. Ni, Zn, Co, Cr, and regional background normalized against ucc.
Source: Own elaboration

Chemical Index of Alteration (cia) Where Al2O3, Na2O, and K 2O are the mole
percentage and CaO* is the calcium content of
The cia is used as a proxy of weathering grade and
silicates.
paleoclimatic signal to distinguish humid and arid
An increase in cia values is generally attribut-
conditions [36]-[38]. The cia has been employed to
ed to climatic fluctuations from cold to warm and
examine the relationship between some major ele-
humid [40]-[41]. For the Marriaga Swamp, the cia
ments and assume the disintegration of feldspars
is in a medium range for the lower sedimentary
and further formation of clay minerals during the
sequence (220–162 cm) and high over 162 cm to
weathering processes [39]. We used the cia to de-
near-surface (Fig. 8). The cia increases within the
termine the production of detrital sediments and
medium range from bottom to upper sequences,
their contributions to sediment accumulation in
indicating climatic changes from 1,130 ± 90 a to
the lacustrine setting of the Marriaga Swamp. The
present, from more arid and maybe colder condi-
cia is the molecular percentage of principal (ox-
tions in late Holocene to humid and warmer con-
ides) elements (Equation 1):
ditions nowadays.
= ∗+
100 (1)

18 L. Betancurth Montes ■ J. E. Cañón Barriga

 Revista Ciencia e Ingeniería Neogranadina ■ Vol. 31(1)

Fig. 8. Al/Na ratio versus cia for the Marriaga Swamp sediments.
Source: Own elaboration

The cia ranges hint at low weathering from 0 to features and biological productivity, 2) Si, Fe, Mg,
40, moderate from 40 to 70, and high from 70 to 100 Na, Ca, K, Ba, Cl, and Cu are positively correlated
[40]. The Marriaga Swamp cia values range from with depth, concerning the interpretation of bed-
65 to 82, with an average of 72, which means the rock components, and 3) Cr, Zn, and Co, related
Marriaga Swamp sediments are highly weathered. with heavy metal inputs.
A Principal Component Analysis (pca) of the
variables OC, depth, major elements, and trace el-
Statistical analysis
ements (Fig. 9) reveal that pc-1 explains 54 % of the
We applied a Pearson correlation to identify the total variance and is positively linked to Al, OC,
statistical significance association (r > 0.70; p-val- Ba, Na, Mg, Ca, Si, Cl, K, Ti, Cl, and depth and
ue > 0.05) between OC, depth, major elements, and negatively linked to Fe, Cu, Zn, Co, and S. pc-2 ac-
trace elements (Table 2). The results can be clus- counts for 24.1 % of the total variance and is posi-
tered in three main groups: 1) OC has a positive tively linked to Mg and P and negatively linked to
correlation with Na and Ba, concerning organic Cu, Zn, Co, S, Cr, Ti, K, Cl, and Si.

Fig. 9. Biplot of pc-1 versus pc-2 for OC, depth, major and trace elements in the Marriaga Swamp.
Source: Own elaboration

Paleoenvironmental Interpretation of Last Millennium Sediments in the Marriaga Swamp, Atrato Delta, Colombia 19
 20
Table 2. Pearson correlation for major and trace elements in the Marriaga Swamp

  OC Depth Si Al Fe Mg Na Ca K Ti P Mn Cl S Ba Cu Cr Zn Ni Co

OC 1,00                                      

Depth 0,60 1,00                                    

Si 0,18 0,81 1,00                                  

Al 0,54 0,18 0,10 1,00                                

Fe -0,67 -0,98 -0,80 -0,20 1,00                              

Mg 0,62 0,86 0,80 0,51 -0,87 1,00                            

Na 0,71 0,97 0,75 0,18 -0,99 0,87 1,00                          

Ca 0,52 0,88 0,87 0,21 -0,87 0,88 0,90 1,00                        

K 0,27 0,89 0,84 -0,10 -0,87 0,74 0,83 0,73 1,00                      

Ti 0,14 0,67 0,53 -0,31 -0,64 0,52 0,62 0,47 0,86 1,00                    

P 0,67 -0,05 -0,43 0,69 0,00 0,15 0,06 -0,10 -0,36 -0,31 1,00                  

Mn 0,01 -0,64 -0,56 0,61 0,61 -0,29 -0,58 -0,44 -0,84 -0,85 0,59 1,00                

Cl 0,65 0,76 0,36 -0,17 -0,79 0,53 0,83 0,57 0,69 0,75 0,10 -0,70 1,00              

S -0,78 -0,25 -0,05 -0,58 0,32 -0,31 -0,38 -0,37 0,17 0,44 -0,60 -0,40 -0,16 1,00            

Ba 0,85 0,88 0,66 0,54 -0,91 0,92 0,92 0,85 0,63 0,38 0,34 -0,23 0,64 -0,60 1,00          

Cu -0,49 -0,89 -0,83 -0,19 0,86 -0,83 -0,89 -0,95 -0,74 -0,46 0,05 0,47 -0,57 0,33 -0,82 1,00        

Cr -0,09 0,61 0,55 -0,49 -0,54 0,36 0,50 0,43 0,82 0,93 -0,58 -0,92 0,61 0,53 0,20 -0,42 1,00      

Zn -0,12 -0,46 -0,59 0,05 0,41 -0,42 -0,48 -0,76 -0,29 -0,06 0,25 0,21 -0,18 0,31 -0,40 0,77 -0,17 1,00    

Ni 0,37 0,56 0,40 0,57 -0,53 0,69 0,46 0,31 0,57 0,52 0,29 -0,17 0,30 0,09 0,56 -0,34 0,33 0,23 1,00  
Revista Ciencia e Ingeniería Neogranadina
■

Co -0,44 -0,55 -0,66 -0,55 0,55 -0,64 -0,56 -0,75 -0,27 0,18 -0,10 -0,11 -0,04 0,67 -0,69 0,75 0,16 0,71 -0,15 1,00
Source: Own elaboration

L. Betancurth Montes ■ J. E. Cañón Barriga

Vol. 31(1)
 Revista Ciencia e Ingeniería Neogranadina ■ Vol. 31(1)

The positive values of pc-1 indicate more de- conditions and fluvial influence, with a signifi-
trital and allochthonous components, whereas the cant drop of detrital Si, rise of Al, and moderate
negative values denote more anoxic conditions presence of Na and Ca. A rise in biological pro-
and heavy metal components, which also could ductivity is inferred by high Fe concentrations
justify the humid and dry alternations inside the and Mg/Ca ratios. However, the tidal influence is
Marriaga Swamp. Positive values of PC-2 may im- represented by high Ba/Al ratios towards the low-
ply an endogenic precipitation process, supported est part of the sequence (< 25 cm). Concentrations
by the Mg and P, whereas negative values of PC-2 of heavy metals also prove an increase of Cu, Ni,
suggest heavy metal precipitation, combined with and Zn for Seg. iii, possibly related to human ac-
saline-brackish swamp regimes. tivities such as mining, whereas the reduction of
Cr and Co could be interpreted as the influence of
Geochemical signatures in northwestern intense weathering and dilution of natural sources
Colombia during the Late Holocene for these two metals.
The Marriaga Swamp sedimentary sequence anal-
yses contribute and complement the paleoenviron- Conclusions
mental reconstructions for northwestern Colombia The sedimentary sequence and the geochemistry
[42]-[43]. This research specifies the alternation of of the Marriaga Swamp expose significant envi-
humid and dry conditions in the Atrato River delta ronmental changes that occurred during the last
setting in the last millennium. These climatic al- 1130 a in the Atrato River delta. Detrital contri-
ternations are consistent with the migration of the butions portray flooding events, generally associ-
itcz during the Holocene in the north of South ated with high concentrations of Si, Al, K, Ti, and
America [44]-[46]. Fe in sediments. In contrast, high concentrations
Based on geochemical proxies such as the os- of Ca reveal the possibility of sediments rework-
cillations of Si, Al, K, and Ti (representing detri- ing during dry periods and level fluctuations in
tal inputs) and Ba/Al and Sr/Al ratios, we identify the Marriaga Swamp. Biological productivity
different authigenic lacustrine and allochthonous manifests in the high contents of organic car-
processes in the Marriaga Swamp. The lower se- bon and high carbonate precipitation (Mg/Ca).
quence (Seg. iii), for instance, is characterized by Higher Ca/Al, Sr/Al, and Ba/Al ratios are also
the predominance of a dry (arid) phase, where the indicative of endogenic calcite precipitation. The
high OC represents the potential for lamination of presence of high concentrations of heavy met-
fine sand (coarsest sediments of the sequence) [47]. als (Cu, Zn, Co, Ni, and Cr) along the entire se-
Sediment reworking and carbonate precipitations quence of the Marriaga Swamp sediments imply
also occur at the lower end of the sequence, as il- that their origin is likely a combination of natural
lustrated by the Ca/Al ratio and the high concen- bedrock sources and human impacts, especially
trations of heavy metals (Cu, Ni, Co, Zn, and Cr). towards the more recent deposits. High regional
On the other hand, Seg. ii represents a tran- background concentrations for the same metals
sition period between dry to moderately humid suggest natural enrichments of these heavy met-
conditions. This part of the sedimentary sequence als due to dilution processes in the sources that
exhibits a light decrease in detrital inputs (Si, Al, feed the swamp. The cia is high along the sed-
K, Ti, and Fe) and a reduction of OC and carbon- imentary sequence, with a remarkable increase
ate production, represented by a low, Ca/Ti ratio towards the surface, which points to a transi-
and the deposition of finer sediments (wide clay tion from arid to more humid conditions. The
layer interbedded with some coarser lamination statistical correlations show three main clusters
towards 90 cm deep). that distinguish among organic and biological
The upper sequence (Seg. iii) is the clearest productivity, bedrock source components, and
sedimentary section representing more humid heavy metal inputs.

Paleoenvironmental Interpretation of Last Millennium Sediments in the Marriaga Swamp, Atrato Delta, Colombia 21
 Revista Ciencia e Ingeniería Neogranadina ■ Vol. 31(1)

vol. 87, pp. 12–23, 2014. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.quas-

Acknowledgments cirev.2013.12.015
This study was supported by the Colombian Ad- [5] H. Sakai, R. Fujii, M. Sugimoto, R. Setoguchi, and M.
ministrative Department of Science, Technology, Paudel, “Two times lowering of lake water at around
and Innovation (Colciencias, Call 727/2015) as 48 and 38 ka, caused by possible earthquakes, recorded
part of the first author’s Ph.D. in Environmen- in the Paleo-Kathmandu lake, central Nepal Himala-
ya,” Earth Planets Space, vol. 68, no. 1. pp. 1–10, 2016.
tal Engineering at Universidad de Antioquia. We
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-019-02420-5
thank the gaia research group of Universidad de
[6] A. E. Self et al., “The relative influences of climate and
Antioquia, the Köln University of Germany, the
volcanic activity on Holocene lake development in-
xrf Lab of the Materials Engineering Department, ferred from a mountain lake in central Kamchatka,”
Universidad de Antioquia, the irls Freiburg Uni- Glob. Planet. Chang., vol. 134, pp. 67–81, 2015. https://
versity, the drx Laboratory of the Universidad de doi.org/10.1016/j.sedgeo.2006.04.006
Antioquia, and the Pascual Bravo Technological [7] J. P. Corella et al., “Sediment dynamics in the subaquat-
Institute in Medellín for facilitating sample prepa- ic channel of the Rhone delta (Lake Geneva, France/
ration and laboratory essays. Special thanks to Dr. Switzerland),” Aquat. Sci., vol. 76, no. S1, pp. 73–87,
Frank Preusser for supporting, advising, and hold- 2014. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00027-013-0309-4
ing the irsl dating of ard sediments of the first [8] F. Ocakoğlu et al., “A 2800-year multi-proxy sedimenta-
author during her internship in 2018 at the Ludwig ry record of climate change from Lake Çubuk (Göynük,
Bolu, NW Anatolia),” Holocene, vol. 26, no. 2, pp. 205–
University of Freiburg; to Dr. Stephen Optiz from
221, 2016. https://doi.org/10.1177/0959683615596818
the University of Köln for performing laser grain
[9] M. L. Carrevedo et al., “A 700-year record of cli-
size essays; to Dr. María Teresa Flórez from Uni-
mate and environmental change from a high An-
versidad de Antioquia for her invaluable academic dean lake: Laguna del Maule, central Chile (36°S),”
support. Sincere thanks to the communities of the Holocene, vol. 25, no. 6, pp. 956–972, 2015. https://doi.
Atrato Delta region that assisted the first author org/10.1177/0959683615574584
during field campaigns and project dissemination. [10] M. S. Tonello et al., “Geochemistry and mineralogy
of southwestern Lake Superior sediments with an em-
phasis on phosphorus lability,” J. Soils Sediments, vol.
References 20, no. 2, pp. 1060-1073, 2020. https://doi.org/10.1007/
[1] S. Lojen and N. Williams, “Geochemical and miner- s11368-019-02420-5
alogical characterization of sediments from Lake Fut-
[11] N. Fagel, E. Thamó-bózsó, and B. Heim, “Mineralog-
alaufquen (42.8°S, Andean Patagonia) to evaluate their ical signatures of Lake Baikal sediments: Sources of
potential as paleoclimatic proxies,” Quat. Res., vol. 98, sediment supplies through Late Quaternary,” Sedi-
pp. 1–18, 2020. https://doi.org/10.1017/qua.2020.34 ment. Geol., vol. 194, no. 1-2, pp. 37–59, 2007. https://
[2] A. K. M. Hasberg et al., “Modern sedimentation pro- doi.org/10.1016/j.sedgeo.2006.04.006
cesses in Lake Towuti, Indonesia, revealed by the com- [12] S. Purnawan, I. Setiawan, and Z. A. Muchlisin, “Sed-
position of surface sediments,” Sedimentology, vol. iment grain-size distribution in the Lake Laut Tawar,
66, no. 2, pp. 675–698, 2019. https://doi.org/10.1111/ Aceh Province, Indonesia,” Aquac. Aquarium, Con-
sed.12503 serv. Legis. Int. J. Bioflux Soc., vol. 8, no. 3, pp. 404–410,
[3] X. Zhang, D. E. Walling, X. He, and Y. Long, “Use of 2015. http://www.bioflux.com.ro/aacl
landslide-dammed lake deposits and pollen tracing [13] J. D. Correa, “Calidad del agua en humedales del pla-
techniques to investigate the erosional response of a no de inundación del río Atrato,” Rev. Cienc. Ambient.
small drainage basin in the Loess Plateau, China, to Sostenibilidad cas, vol. 1, no. 1, pp. 93–109, 2014.
land use change during the late 16th century,” Cate- [14] A. F. Rúa Cardona, M. T. Flórez Molina, and J. P. Bae-
na, vol. 79, no. 3, pp. 205–213, 2009. http://dx.doi. na, “Variación espacial y temporal en los contenidos
org/10.1177/0959683615574584 de mercurio, plomo, cromo y materia orgánica en sedi-
[4] I. Matthias and T. Giesecke, “Insights into pollen source mento del complejo de humedales de Ayapel, Córdoba,
area, transport and deposition from modern pollen ac- noroccidente colombiano,” Rev. Fac. Ing., no. 69, pp.
cumulation rates in lake sediments,” Quat. Sci. Rev., 244–255, 2013.

22 L. Betancurth Montes ■ J. E. Cañón Barriga

 Revista Ciencia e Ingeniería Neogranadina ■ Vol. 31(1)

[15] G. Bernal and J. Betancur, “Sedimentología de las [26] R. M. Joeckel and B. A. Clement, “Surface features of
lagunas costeras: Ciénaga Grande de Santa Marta y the Salt Basin of Lancaster County, Nebraska,” Cat-
Ciénaga de Pajarales,” Bol. Investig. Mar. Costeras, vol. ena, vol. 34, no. 3–4, pp. 243–275, 1999. https://doi.
25, pp. 49–76, 1996. https://doi.org/10.25268/bimc.in- org/10.1016/S0341-8162(98)00114-3
vemar.1996.25.0.370 [27] M. Haberzettl et al., “Lateglacial and Holocene
[16] J. D. Restrepo and S. A. López, “Morphodynamics of wet-dry cycles in southern Patagonia: chronolo-
the Pacific and Caribbean deltas of Colombia, South gy, sedimentology and geochemistry of a lacustrine
America,” South Am. Earth Sci., vol. 25, no. 1, pp. 1–21, record from Laguna Potrok Aike, Argentina,” Ho-
2008. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsames.2007.09.002 locene, vol. 17, no. 3, pp. 297–310, 2007. https://doi.
[17] G. Poveda, “La hidroclimatología de Colombia: una org/10.1177/0959683607076437
síntesis desde la escala inter-decadal hasta la escala di- [28] J. Ridgway, N. Breward, W. J. Langston, R. Lister, J.
urna,” Rev. Acad. Colomb. Cienc. Exactas Fís. Nat., vol. G. Rees, and S. M. Rowlatt, “Distinguishing between
28, no. 107, pp. 201–222, 2004. natural and anthropogenic sources of metals enter-
[18] Y. Thomas, M. Cesaraccio, C. García, and L. Ménan- ing the Irish Sea,” Appl. Geochemistry, vol. 18, no.
teau, “Contribución de la hidrografía histórica al estu- 2, pp. 283–309, 2003. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0883-
dio de la cinemática de los fondos marinos: evolución 2927(02)00126-9
del golfo de Urabá, Colombia,” Bolet. Cientif. cioh, vol. [29] P. Negrel, “Multi-element Chemistry of Loire Estuary
25, pp. 110–119, 2007. Sediments: Anthropogenic vs. Natural Sources,” Estu-
[19] G. Rodríguez and G. Zapata, “Características del plu- ar. Coast. Shelf Sci., vol. 44, no. 4, pp. 395–410, 1997.
tonismo Mioceno Superior en el segmento norte de la https://doi.org/10.1006/ecss.1996.0139
Cordillera Occidental e implicaciones tectónicas en el [30] Y. Palacios-Torres, K. Caballero-Gallardo, and J. Ol-
modelo geológico del Noroccidente colombiano,” Bo- ivero-Verbel, “Mercury pollution by gold mining in a
let. Cienc. Tierra, no. 31, pp. 5–22, 2012. https://revis- global biodiversity hotspot, the Choco biogeograph-
tas.unal.edu.co/index.php/rbct/article/view/31250 ic region,” Chemosphere, vol. 193, pp. 421–430, 2018.
[20] E. Lugo, R. Rodríguez, and G. Domínguez, “Prospec- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2017.10.160
ción Geológica y Geoquímica Regional en el Área de [31] S. M. Mclennan, “Relationships between the
Mandé,” Ingeominas, Bogotá, Colombia, Inf. Tecn., trace elements composition of sedimentary rocks
2003. and upper continental crust,” Geochem. Geophy.
[21] G. Bedoya et al., “Inventario, compilación, inter- Geosy., vol. 2, no. 4, pp. 1–24, 2001. https://doi.
pretación y evaluación integral de la información org/10.1029/2000GC000109
geológica, geofísica y geoquímica de lIIa cuenca Atrato [32] K. H. Wedepohl, “The composition of the continen-
y cuenca San Juan,” anh, Bogotá, Colombia, Inf. Técn., tal crust,” Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta, vol. 59, no. 7,
2007. pp. 1217–1232, 1995. https://doi.org/10.1016/0016-
[22] H. Gonzalez, Investigación Integral del Andén Pacífico 7037(95)00038-2
Colombiano. Tomo 1 Geología, Bogotá, Colombia: ig- [33] E. Parra, “Potencial de recursos del subsuelo en la
ac-Ingeominas, 2001. cordillera occidental zona Norte, fase 0,” Ingeominas,
[23] L. Betancurth, F. Preusser, D. Mueller, C. Rambeau, Bogotá, Colombia, Inf. Tecn., 2006.
and J. Cañón. “First luminescence chronology of late [34] M. A. H. Bhuiyan, M. J. J. Rahman, S. B. Dampare,
Holocene deposits of the tropical Atrato Delta, Colom- and S. Suzuki, “Provenance, tectonics and source
bia,” J. South Am. Earth Sci., vol. 104, p. 102813, 2020. weathering of modern fluvial sediments of the Brah-
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsames.2020.102813 maputra-Jamuna River, Bangladesh: Inference from
[24] C. Martin-Puertas et al., “Geochemical processes in geochemistry,” J. Geochemical Explor., vol. 111, no.
a Mediterranean Lake: a high-resolution study of the 3, pp. 113–137, 2011. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gexp-
last 4,000 years in Zoñar Lake, southern Spain,” J. Pa- lo.2011.06.008
leolimnol., vol. 46, no. 3, pp. 405-421, 2011. https://doi. [35] L. Bénat-Tachot, “Santa María la Antigua del Darién:
org/10.1007/s10933-009-9373-0 chronique d’une infortune locale,” e-Spania, no.
[25] M. Carbonell Ventura, A. Navarro Flores, and Borrell 2006, pp. 12–32, 2015. https://doi.org/10.4000/e-span-
Ruscalleda, “Heavy metals contamination and seawa- ia.25105
ter intrusion in the northeastern of delta river Foix [36] D. Meunier, A. Caner, L. Hubert, F. El Albani, and
(Barcelona),” Bolet. Geolog. y Min., pp. 1–24, 2014. A. Pret, “The weathering intensity scale (wis): an al-

Paleoenvironmental Interpretation of Last Millennium Sediments in the Marriaga Swamp, Atrato Delta, Colombia 23
 Revista Ciencia e Ingeniería Neogranadina ■ Vol. 31(1)

ternative approach of the chemical index of alteration [42] C. Vélez- Agudelo and N. Aguirre-Ramírez, “Influen-
(cia),” Am. J. Sci., vol. 313, no. 2, pp. 113–143, 2013. cia del río Atrato en el golfo de Urabá durante el ho-
https://doi.org/10.2475/02.2013.03 loceno tardío, mar caribe colombiano,” Bol. Investig.
[37] G. E. Qian, X. U. E. Z. George, Y. E. Liming, and X. Mar. Costeras, vol. 45, no. 1, pp. 73–97, 2016. https://
doi.org/10.25268/bimc.invemar.2016.45.1.631
U. Dong, “Distribution Patterns of Major and Trace
Elements and Provenance of Surface Sediments on [43] A. Rua, G. Liebezeit, R. Molina, and J. Palacio, “Un-
the Continental Shelf off Western Guangdong Prov- mixing Progradational Sediments in a Southwestern
ince and Northeastern Hainan Island,” J. Ocean Caribbean Gulf through Late Holocene: Backwash of
Univ. China, vol. 18, no. 4, pp. 1–10, 2019. https://doi. Low-Level Atmospheric Jets,” J. Coast. Res., vol. 32, no.
2, pp. 397–408, 2015. https://doi.org/10.2112/JCOAS-
org/10.1007/s11802-019-3738-4
TRES-D-14-00216.1
[38] K. Goldberg and M. Humayun, “The applicability of
[44] R. J. Smith and F. E. Mayle, “Impact of mid to late
the Chemical Index of Alteration as a paleoclimatic
Holocene precipitation changes on vegetation across
indicator: An example from the Permian of the Paraná
lowland tropical South America: a paleo-data synthe-
Basin, Brazil,” Palaeogeogr. Palaeoclimatol. Palaeo-
sis,” Quat. Res., vol. 89, no. 1, pp. 1–22, 2017. https://
ecol., vol. 293, no. 1–2, pp. 175–183, 2010. https://doi. doi.org/10.1017/qua.2017.89
org/10.1016/j.palaeo.2010.05.015
[45] S. Sachs, J. P. Sachse, D. Smittenberg, R. H. Zhang, Z.
[39] G. M. Nesbitt and H. W. Young, “Early Proterozoic cli- Battisti, D. S., and Golubic, “Southward movement of
mates and plate motions inferred from major element the Pacific intertropical convergence zone AD 1400–
chemistry of lutites,” Nature, vol. 299, no. 5885, pp. 1850,” Nat. Geosci., vol. 2, no. 7, pp. 519–525, 2009.
715–717, 1982. https://doi.org/10.1038/299715a0 https://doi.org/10.1038/ngeo554
[40] S. O. Oni and A. S. Olatunji, “Depositional environ- [46] A. Jerardino, “Late Holocene Neoglacial episodes in
ments signatures, maturity and source weathering of southern South America and southern Africa: com-
Niger Delta sediments from an oil well in southeastern parison,” Holocene, vol. 5, no. 3, pp. 361–368, 1995.
Delta State, Nigeria,” Eurasian J. Soil Sci., vol. 6, no. 3, https://doi.org/10.1177/095968369500500313
pp. 259–274, 2017. https://doi.org/10.18393/ejss.297245 [47] N. Tribovillard, T. J. Algeo, T. Lyons, and A. Riboul-
[41] L. Harnois, “The ciw index: A new chemical in- leau, “Trace metals as paleoredox and paleoproduc-
dex of weathering,” Sediment. Geol., vol. 55, no. 3-4, tivity proxies: an update,” Chem. Geol., vol 232, no.
pp. 319–322, 1988. https://doi.org/10.1016/0037- 1-2, pp. 12–32, 2006. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chem-
0738(88)90137-6 geo.2006.02.012

24 L. Betancurth Montes ■ J. E. Cañón Barriga