Biostratigraphy of Upper Neopleistocene and Holocene sediments from the Kandalaksha Bay of the White Sea

Two cores were collected in the Kandalaksha Bay of the White Sea and studied by pollen and diatom analysis. The stratigraphy of the Upper Neopleistocene and Holocene sediments was established. The repeated hiatuses in sediment accumulation and difficulties in interpreting the Late Holocene spore-pollen spectra and diatom complexes were revealed as well as the absence of clearly defined pollen spectra of the Subatlantic age. Pinus pollen dominated during formation of the Holocene deposits. The significant participation of Betula pollen in the Boreal period was indicated. Contents of Picea pollen increase during the Atlantic and Subboreal periods and marine sublitoral benthic species dominate among diatoms at the same time. It was shown that the accumulation of ash-gray, soft-plastic clays with unclear layering started in the Upper Neopleistocene and continued in the Boreal period of the Holocene. Generalisation and analysis of the received and published materials indicates the need to obtain new and revise previous data in this region.