TITLE:
Isotopic and Petrographic Evidence as a Proxy in Paleoclimatic Reconstructions from Flowstones in Southern Spain
AUTHORS:
Concepción Jiménez de Cisneros, Antonio González-Ramón, Cristina Sequero, Bartolomé Andreo, Ian J. Fairchild
KEYWORDS:
Speleothems, Flowstones, Fabrics, Isotopic Characterization, Cave, Paleoclimatic Changes
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Geology,
Vol.10 No.6,
June
10,
2020
ABSTRACT: Changes in the morphology and mineralogy of speleothems (flowstones)
clearly respond to climate-related phenomena, such as drip rate variability and
temperature-modulated cave ventilation. Detailed petrographic observations have
been coupled with δ18Oand δ13C values. Fabrics may show changes related to variations in
supersaturation, drip rate or input of detrital particles or organic compounds.
Fabrics formed under relatively constant and regular drips (columnar compact,
open and elongated) show similar δ18O and δ13C values, which are more negative
than those of micrite and microsparite. The combination of internal
microstratigraphy studies and isotopic data (δ18O and δ13C) from two flowstones
collected from two caves in the north of Almeria province (SE Spain), suggest a
spectrum of environmental conditions ranging from wetter to drier periods. Both
records constitute a very useful tool for screening and interpreting
high-resolution paleoclimate reconstructions.