Late Pleistocene cryogenic calcite spherolites from the Malachitdom Cave (NE Rhenish Slate Mountains, Germany): Origin, unusual internal structure and stable C-O isotope composition.
Cryogenic calcites yielded U-series ages in the range from 15.61±0.20 ka to 14.48±0.12 ka, which is the youngest age obtained so far for this type of cryogenic cave carbonates in Europe. Most of these particles of the Malachitdom Cave (NE Brilon, Sauerland, North Rhine-Westphalia) are complex sphero...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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University of South Florida Libraries
2008-07-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Speleology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.ijs.speleo.it/pdf/68.565.37(2)_Richter.Riechelmann.pdf |
| Summary: | Cryogenic calcites yielded U-series ages in the range from 15.61±0.20 ka to 14.48±0.12 ka, which is the youngest age obtained so far for this type of cryogenic cave carbonates in Europe. Most of these particles of the Malachitdom Cave (NE Brilon, Sauerland, North Rhine-Westphalia) are complex spherolites usually smaller than 1 cm. They show δ13C-values between –1 and –5 ‰ VPDB and δ18O-values ranging from –7 to –16 ‰ VPDB, the δ13C-values increase and the δ18O-values decrease from centre to border. The complex spherolites are interpreted to be formed in slowly freezing pools of residual water on ice, a situation that repeatedly occurred during the change of glacial to interglacial periods in the periglacial areas of Central Europe. After the melting of the cave-ice, the complex spherolites make up one type of cryogenic calcite particles in the arenitic to ruditic sediment. |
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| ISSN: | 0392-6672 1827-806X |