Volcanic glass geochemical fingerprints of the Black Sea tephra layers in the last ~60 kyr

Abstract Tephra layers preserved in marine sedimentary archives constitute key isochronous markers for reconstructing volcanic activity and regional stratigraphic frameworks. Here we present a comprehensive geochemical dataset of volcanic glass from tephra layers identified in sediment core M72/5-25-GC1 recovered from the southwestern Black Sea. The dataset includes major and trace element compositions of volcanic glass shards from 19 tephra layers deposited in the last ~60 kyr, preserved as both visible tephra and cryptotephra horizons. Glass shards were analyzed using electron probe micro-analyzer and sector-field laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, following rigorous analytical protocols and quality control procedures. The dataset spans a wide compositional range, reflecting inputs from multiple volcanic regions, including the Central Anatolian Volcanic Province, the Aegean arc, and Italian volcanic districts. This dataset provides a robust geochemical framework for tephra fingerprinting and correlation across the Black Sea and surrounding areas, and represents a valuable resource for tephrochronological applications, paleoenvironmental reconstructions, and future comparative or data-driven studies.