Hydro-sedimentary provenance analyses in the Weiße Elster catchment (Central Germany): The basic dataset

This manuscript documents geological master data and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) data of a standardized 8*8 km sampling grid of the entire Weiße Elster catchment in Central Germany. Further, the manuscript documents XRF data of a refined 4*4 km sampling grid in the proximity of Salsitz floodplain transect as well as grain size data and XRF data of Salsitz SC40 core that was recovered from the Weiße Elster floodplain. The data provide opportunities for hydro-sedimentary provenance analyses as presented in the corresponding research article by Ballasus et al. [1].


Specifications
Earth and Planetary Sciences -Earth-Surface Processes, Stratigraphy Specific subject area Hydro-sedimentary provenance analysis, catchment-scale approach, XRF analysis, Fluvial Geomorphology, Holocene, overbank silt-clay deposition  Type of data  Tables, Figures  How data were acquired For XRF sediment provenance analysis in the Weiße Elster catchment of Central Germany sediment bulk material of recent streambeds from sub-catchments were sampled within a systematic mesoscale framework. A grid of 8 * 8 km cells was arranged over the entire Weiße Elster catchment. Thus, the extracted sediments contain the geochemical signal of the respective sub-catchment. The sub-catchments samples were classified according to their geological features. Based on the grid, a map was created in which the primarily represented geological unit were assigned as a raster-cell parameter. Further, a core was recovered from the Weiße Elster floodplain and a total number of 52 geochemical samples was obtained from this SC40 core. Subsequently, stationary XRF spectrometry (Spectro Xepos energy dispersive XRF spectrometer) was applied for analysing elemental composition of bank and streambed samples from the Weiße Elster sub-basins (111 grids) and SC40 core samples. In addition, grain size analysis from SC40 core samples were conducted using dry-sieving technique for the sand fraction and a SediGraph III 5120 (Micromeritics) for the silt and clay fraction. GRADISTAT v9.1 for the calculation of D50 (median of grain size), D75/D25 and D75-D25 (interquartile range of grain size distribution) was used.

Value of the Data
• The presented data provide information about the elemental composition and the geological background of fluvial deposits in the Weiße Elster catchment. • Geoscientists and geosciences students can use the data for applying and improving hydrosedimentary provenance analyses. • The data can be used with other provenance parameters such as strontium (Sr), neodymium (Nd) and lead (Pb) isotopes providing further insights and/or developments of provenance models. The master data of the standardized 8 * 8 km sampling grid of recent fluvial sediments across the Weiße Elster catchment ( Fig. 1 ) are provided in the data file "Master data sheet: Weiße Elster catchment sampling (fluvial sediments) within an 8 * 8 km grid as sampling template" [2] . Table 1 provides explanations of the parameters for each column. The sample/raster ID "WE 009 * " was not sampled. The corresponding grid cell is located at the edge of the Weiße Elster catchment and no suitable tributary for the extraction of alluvial sediment could be found.

Data Description
(b) XRF data of the standardized 8 * 8 km sampling grid (Weiße Elster catchment) The XRF element data of the standardized 8 * 8 km sampling grid of recent fluvial sediments across the Weiße Elster catchment ( Fig. 1 ) are provided in the data file "XRF element data of fluvial deposits from the Weiße Elster catchment" [5] . Table 2 provides explanations of the parameters for each column. The sample ID "WE 009" does not exist. Duplicate samples from the same position are marked with an "a" and "b".
Comments within the XRF element data file (8 * 8 km grid) indicate the measurement reproducibility: "Very good" indicates very good reproducibility with highly reliable data. "Very good * * " indicates very good reproducibility with highly reliable data but individual values are not secured, since concentrations are based on measurements with < 10 0 0 pulses. Not secured samples are Cl contents in columns 17/18 with values < 2.0 and the Th content of sample WE 020 in columns 101/102.
"Moderate" indicates that values can be used in terms of proportions within the data set. "Moderate * " indicates that values can be used in terms of proportions within this data set but individual values are secured, since concentrations are based on measurements with > 10 0 0 pulses. Secured  "Poor" indicates that data should be treated with caution, since the values were measured close to the detection limit. "Poor * " indicates that data should be treated with caution, since the    (c) XRF data of the refined 4 * 4 km sampling grid (proximity to Salsitz transect) The XRF element data of the refined 4 * 4 km sampling grid of recent fluvial sediments in the direct proximity to the Salsitz transect ( Fig. 2 ) are provided in the data file "XRF data sheet: 4 * 4 km grid, Weiße Elster catchment, Salsitz-Trebnitz section)" [6] . Table 3 provides explanations of the parameters for each column. The data set has to be understood as a supplement or densification of the 8 * 8 km sampling grid of the Weiße Elster river catchment (Ballasus et al. [5] ).
Comments within the refined XRF element data file (4 * 4 km grid) indicate the measurement reproducibility: "Very good" indicates very good reproducibility with highly reliable data. "Very good * * " indicates very good reproducibility with highly reliable data but individual values are not secured, since concentrations are based on measurements with < 10 0 0 pulses. A not secured sample is W content in columns 91/92 with sample ID WE_50C.
"Moderate" indicates that values can be used in terms of proportions within the data set. "Moderate * " indicates that values can be used in terms of proportions within this data set but individual values are secured, since concentrations are based on measurements with > 10 0 0 pulses. Secured samples are Se contents in columns 47/48 with sample ID WE_41A, WE_50C, WE_51B and WE_51D. "Moderate * * " indicates that values can be used in terms of proportions within this data set but individual values are not secured, since concentrations are based on measurements with < 10 0 0 pulses. Not secured samples are Nb contents in columns 59/60 with sample ID WE_41C and WE_50C.
"Poor" indicates that data should be treated with caution, since the values were measured close to the detection limit.

(d) Field description of SC40 core
Salsitz SC40 core is located in the Weiße Elster floodplain ( Fig. 1 ). The stratigraphy of SC40 core ( Fig. 3 , Latitude: 51.034520, Longitude: 12.093900) with a total depth of 400 cm reveals a gravelly braidplain/channel deposit at the base. This is overlain by a sandy bedform that grades upwards into an overbank silt-clay deposition (named "lower overbank silt-clay deposition") that is overprinted by an intensively developed paleosol (paleosol S-PS-3). This paleosol is overlain by three packages of overbank silt-clay deposition (named "upper overbank silt-clay deposition"), which are separated from each other by two paleosols (paleosols S-PS-2 and S-PS-1). A recent plow horizon (Ap) is found at the floodplain surface ( Table 4 ).

(e) Grain size data of Salsitz SC40 core (Weiße Elster floodplain)
Salsitz SC40 core is located in the Weiße Elster floodplain ( Fig. 1 ). The grain size data of Salsitz SC40 core ( Fig. 3 ) are provided in the data file "Grain size data sheet: Weiße Elster overbank silt-clay deposition (SC40 core, transect Salsitz)" [7] . The total drilling depth of SC40 core is 275 cm. Table 5 provides explanations of the parameters for each column.

(f) XRF data of Salsitz SC40 core (Weiße Elster floodplain)
The XRF element data of Salsitz SC40 core ( Fig. 3 ) are provided in the data file "XRF data sheet: Weiße Elster overbank silt-clay deposition (SC40 core, Salsitz transect)" [8] . The total drilling depth of SC40 core is 275 cm. The authors conducted stationary XRF measurements of 52 samples. Table 6 provides explanations of the parameters for each column.
Comments within the XRF element data file indicate the measurement reproducibility: "Very good" indicates very good reproducibility with highly reliable data. "Very good * * " indicates very good reproducibility with highly reliable data but individual values are not secured, since concentrations are based on measurements with < 10 0 0 pulses. Not secured samples are Br contents in columns 49/50 with sample ID WE_SC40-50 to WE_SC40-52.
"Moderate" indicates that values can be used in terms of proportions within the data set. "Moderate * " indicates that values can be used in terms of proportions within this data set but individual values are secured, since concentrations are based on measurements with > 10 0 0 pulses. Secured samples are Cl contents in columns 17/18 with sample ID WE_SC40-1 to WE_SC40-8, WE_SC40-11 to WE_SC40-13 and WE_SC40-22 to WE_SC40-23.
"Poor" indicates that data should be treated with caution, since the values were measured close to the detection limit.

(A) Sediment source sampling in the Weiße Elster catchment
In autumn 2019, sediment bulk material of recent streambeds was sampled from subcatchments within a systematic mesoscale framework (see rasters 1 to 111 in Fig. 1 ). In this context, a grid of 8 * 8 km cells was arranged over the entire Weiße Elster catchment, yielding a total of 111 raster cells. In each raster cell, recent streambed deposits from Weiße Elster tributaries were sampled with a spade with a maximum depth of 20 cm. Thus, the extracted sediments contain the geochemical signal of the respective sub-catchment. At few sites (raster cells 56, 62, 69, 75, 82, 85, 93, 94 in Fig. 1 ) with complex fluvial stratigraphies, duplicate samples were taken and then mean values were calculated from the subsequent XRF analysis. Complex fluvial stratigraphies exist when streambed deposits were not accessible and adjacent sampling sites had to be used that were just outside the recent streambed.
Since the 8 * 8 km sampling approach might not necessarily capture geochemical features of proximal hillslope sediments at Salsitz SC40 core and in order to verify the reliability of the sampling approach, the grid close to the Salsitz floodplain section was further refined (4 * 4 km grids, Fig. 2 ). The 111 sub-catchments samples were classified according to their geological features. Based on the grid, a map was created in which the primarily represented geological units were assigned (largest area in the sub-basin) as a raster-cell parameter ( Fig. 1 ).

(B) Weiße Elster floodplain: recovery and sampling of SC40 core
Within the Weiße Elster floodplain at Salsitz SC40 position ( Fig. 3 ) two parallel overlapping cores were recovered and sampled. A total number of 52 geochemical samples was obtained from Salsitz SC40 core by averaging sediment material over a length of ca. 5 cm.
(C) Weiße Elster catchment and Salsitz SC40 core: XRF-based element analyses A stationary XRF spectrometry was used for analysing elemental composition of bank and streambed samples from the Weiße Elster sub-basins (111 grids) and SC40 core samples. For XRF-sample preparation freeze-dried core and catchment sediments (8 g) were seaved (2mm) to discard the gravel fraction and large organic matter. Further homogenization was undertaken by grinding the samples with a vibratory Retsch mill MM 200. Uniform pellets were created by pressing the powdered samples with a carbon-based binding agent in a Vaneox press at 20 t for 2 min [9] . Elemental analysis was conducted in a He atmosphere using a Spectro Xepos energy dispersive XRF spectrometer.

Ethics Statement
The authors declare that this submission follows the ethical requirements for publication in Data in Brief.