Carbon‐13 enriched carbonate in interstitial waters of Lake Kinneret sediments

Abstract

Dissolved carbonates in interstitial waters of Lake Kinneret sediments (Galilee, Israel) are enriched in 13 C by 10– 20 ‰ over the dissolved carbonate in the lake water. The increase of alkalinity which accompanies this enrichment indicates in situ formation of dissolved carbonate. The interstitial waters are slightly undersaturated in respect to calcite, but dissolution of CaCO 3 cannot explain the enriched 13 C values. The enrichment of 13 C in the pore water carbonate is probably related to the anaerobic decomposition of organic matter in the sediments.