McKenzie, Marion A; Miller, Lauren; Lepp, Allison; DeWitt, Regina (2024): XRF data from coastal outcrop samples of West Beach 2 from Whidbey Island, Washington state [dataset bundled publication]. PANGAEA, https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.965545

This data is comprised of grain size, trace element, magnetic susceptibility, and moisture content analyses of 278 discrete sediment samples collected from outcrops in the Puget Lowland, Washington state. These samples were collected by Dr. Marion McKenzie and Dr. Lauren Miller from seven sites across Whidbey Island, Washington state in October, 2020 and processed by Dr. Marion McKenzie in the Ice and Ocean Group at the University of Virginia between October 2020 and January 2023. These samples were collected to elucidate glacial interactions with solid Earth dynamics before, during, and following the last glacial occupation of the region. Interpreted facies from these samples include sediments from glacial, glaciomarine, outwash, emergent, and submergent depositional environments. Original outcrop stratigraphy was described from bottom-to-top starting at beach-level, with the lower most units being called "Unit 1". Reference levels for height (in centimeters) are relative to the beach, and samples were taken every 10 centimeters. Upon analysis and manuscript development, these unit names were reassigned, so that the uppermost unit in each stratigraphic group was "Unit 1". The original "field" name, and new "lab" names are recorded in the file "Whidbey Island_XRFandMSdata.xlsx". Grain size analyses were conducted via a BetterSize S3 Plus Particle analyzer on sample matrix material (material ≤ 2 mm). After drying material at 60 degrees Celsius for 48 hours and homogenizing and sieving material at 125 microns, magnetic susceptibility measurements were collected with a Bartington MS2 magnetic susceptibility meter and trace element analyses were conducted on a Niton XLF X-ray fluorescence machine. While digital data and complete analyses are available within these uploaded data files, the physical data are available upon request. To request physical data, please contact Jessica Czajkowski (Jessica.Czajkowski@dnr.wa.gov) and/or Ashley Cabibbo (Ashley.Cabibbo@dnr.wa.gov) at the Washington State Department of Natural Resources.