High-resolution analysis of X-ray fluorescence (XRF) elemental counts from the Nyabuiyabuyi wetland sediment core, Eastern Mau, Kenya

This data provides a description of the elemental profile of a 537 cm sediment core covering the last ~16,000 cal yr BP retrieved from the Nyabuiyabuyi wetland, Eastern Mau, Kenya. This data was part of a study to provide a multi-proxy data set from which we can understand the interactions between vegetation change, fire regimes and wetland development since the Late Glacial period. Such a record improves our understanding of forest development through the Holocene as well as providing a comparison with other highland forest sites in East Africa such as Mt. Kenya, the Aberdare Ranges, Mt. Elgon and Mt. Kilimanjaro.A high-resolution analysis of X-ray fluorescence (XRF) elemental counts and magnetic susceptibility are used to trace amounts of terrigenous input which occur during periods of high sedimentation as a result of either increased erosion in wet periods or open ecosystems during arid periods. Periods of increased human activities are identified by the appearance and increase of chemical elements not detected previously and can be correlated with historical records.The core faces were cleaned and scanned with a Cox Analytical Systems ITRAXTM core scanner at the Department of Geography and Earth Sciences, Aberystwyth University, UK. Optical imagery of the core face was collected with a RGB camera, magnetic susceptibility was measured with a Bartington MS2E sensor at 1 centimetres intervals and air corrected between measurements. Twenty two elements were examined at 0.05 centimetre intervals through x-ray fluorescence (XRF) with a 3kW water-cooled Mo anode x-ray tube operating at 60 kV, 35 mA, 200 ms exposure, 10s dwell time every 500 microns giving readings in thousands of counts per second (kcps).