Chemistry and nanoparticulate compositions of a 10,000 year-old ice core melt water

Particulates extracted from a single section of a 10,000 year-old ice core melt sample exhibited characteristics of contemporary, airborne fine particulates: a majority were microcrystalline particulates and aggregated microcrystals, including some mixtures of microcrystals and carbonaceous matter. Particularly significant were the presence of carbon nanotubes and fullerene nanocrystals composing aggregated particulates reflecting global combustion products similar to contemporary, airborne carbon nanocrystal aggregates. ICP elemental analysis of the melt water showed significant concentrations of Ca, K and especially Na (corresponding to K, NaCl), S, Si, Se, and Zn. Overall, the elemental analysis of the melt water is similar to local tap water. However, lead was absent in the local tap water and only half the concentration of selenium was present in the tap water in contrast to the ice core water. While these observations cannot be generalized, the methodology illustrates the potential to characterize and compare airborne particulate regimes and water chemistries in antiquity.