ANTHROPOCENE SIGNAL IN THE SEDIMENTARY RECORD WITHIN SEBKHA BOUJMEL, TUNISIA
ELHOUCINE ESSEFI *
Higher Institute of Applied Sciences and Technology of Gabes, Tunisia.
SOUMAYA HAJJI
Water-Energy-Environment Laboratory, Tunisia.
SANA BEDOUI
Faculty of Sciences of Gafsa, Laboratory for the Application of Materials to the Environment, Water and Energy (LAMEEE), University of Gafsa, Tunisia and Higher Institute of Water Sciences and Techniques of Gabes, University of Gabes, 6072 Zrig, Gabes, Tunisia.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
This paper is meant to investigate the record of the Anthropocene signal within the sedimentary record of sebkha Boujmel southeastern Tunisia. A 130 core was recuperated from the sebkha; sampling was carried out each 2 cm to obtain 65 samples. All samples underwent analyses of magnetic susceptibility, geochemical element (Ca and K) and the grain size distribution. At the top of the core, a radical change of all parameters has been noticed indicating the setting of Anthropocene conditions. This idea is confirmed by the clustering technique of all parameters which shows the individualization of samples of the top of the core to set the Anthropocene strata. These results lead to the controversy on the starting date of the Anthropocene (Early Anthropocene theory and the capitalocene) as well as the trajectory of the Great Acceleration in the future.
Keywords: Anthropocene, great acceleration, capitalocene, sebkha boujmel, Tunisia