Late Pleistocene cryogenic calcite spherolites from the Malachitdom Cave (NE Rhenish Slate Mountains, Germany): origin, unusual internal structure and stable C-O isotope composition

Authors

Detlev Konrad Richter, Ruhr-University BochumFollow
Dana Felicitas Christine Riechelmann, Ruhr-University Bochum

Abstract

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 caveice, the complex spherolites make up one type of cryogenic calcite particles in the arenitic to ruditic sediment.

DOI

http://dx.doi.org/10.5038/1827-806X.37.2.5

Recommended Citation

Richter, Detlev Konrad and Dana Felicitas Christine Riechelmann. 2008. Late Pleistocene cryogenic calcite spherolites from the Malachitdom Cave (NE Rhenish Slate Mountains, Germany): origin, unusual internal structure and stable C-O isotope composition. International Journal of Speleology, 37: 119-129.
Available at: https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/ijs/vol37/iss2/5