Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-g7gxr Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-02T22:47:56.711Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Multiple Dating of a Long Flowstone Profile∗

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 July 2016

Mebus A Geyh  and
G J Hennig
Mebus A Geyh
Affiliation:
Niedersächsisches Landsamt für Bodenforschung, Hannover D 3000 Hannover, Federal Republic of Germany
G J Hennig
Affiliation:
Niedersächsisches Landsamt für Bodenforschung, Hannover D 3000 Hannover, Federal Republic of Germany
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

Dense speleothem samples are considered as closed systems and are, therefore, possibilities for any dating method. Four dating methods (14C, U/Th, paleomagnetism, and electron spin resonance = ESR) were used for samples up to 1,000,000 yr old and taken along a vertical flowstone profile in the Heggen cave in West Germany. Also δ18O and δ13C analyses were carried out.

The reliability of the results of each method is dependent on the diagenetic processes that took place during the complex growth history of the flowstone. Speleothem growth was interrupted during glacial periods. During interglacial periods, at least the stalagmite growth rate was greater by one order of magnitude than during interstadial periods. During the periods of low interstadial growth rate various processes might have changed the 14C, 18O, and 13C concentrations, leaching might have removed uranium, recrystallization might have moved thorium several centimeters, and increased content of radon in the cave might have exaggerated the accumulated dose (AD) at the speleothem surface. As a result, 14C ages may be too small and U/Th as well as ESR data may be too large.

Type
IV. Methods and Applications
Information
Radiocarbon , Volume 28 , Issue 2A , 1986 , pp. 503 - 509
Copyright
Copyright © The American Journal of Science 

References

Debenham, N C and Aitken, M J, 1984, Thermoluminescence dating of stalagmite calcite: Archaeometry, v 26, p 155–170.Google Scholar
Fanditis, J and Ehhalt, D H, 1970, Variations of the carbon and oxygen isotopic compositions in stalagmites and stalactites: evidence for non-equilibrium isotopic fractionation: Earth Planetary Sci Letters, v 10, p 136–144.Google Scholar
Franke, H W, 1951, Altersbestimmung von Kalzit-Konkretionen mit radioaktivem Kohlenstoff: Naturwissenschaften, v 22, p 527.Google Scholar
Geyh, M A, 1970, Isotopenphysikalische Untersuchungen an Kalksinter, ihre Bedeutung für die 14C-Altersbestimmung von Grundwasser und die Erforschung des Paläoklimas: Geol Jahrb, v 88, p 149–158.Google Scholar
Geyh, M A and Franke, H W, 1970, Zur Wachstumsgeschwindigkeit von Stalagmiten: Atompraxis, v 16, p 1–3.Google Scholar
Grün, R, 1985, Beiträge zur ESR-Datierung: Geol Inst Uni Köln Sonderveröff, v 59, 157 p.Google Scholar
Hays, J D, Imbrie, J and Shackleton, N J, 1976, Variations in the earth orbit: pacemaker of the ice ages: Science, v 194, p 1121–1132.Google Scholar
Hennig, G J, Geyh, M A and Grün, R, in press, The first interlaboratory comparison project of ESR dating (phase II): Nuclear Track, v 25.Google Scholar
Labeyrie, I, Duplessy, J C, Delibrias, C and Letolle, R, 1967, Etude des tempèratures des climats anciens par la mesure del 18O du 13Cdans les concretions des cavernes, in Radioactive dating and methods of low-level counting: Vienna, IAEA, p 153–160.Google Scholar
Shackleton, N J and Opdyke, N D, 1973, Oxygen isotope and palaeomagnetic stratigraphy of equatorial Pacific core V28–238: oxygen isotope temperatures and ice volumes on a 10 year to 106 year scale: Quaternary Research, v 3, p 39–55.Google Scholar
Siegenthaler, U, Richer, U, Oeschger, H and Dansgaards, W, 1984, Lake sediments as continental δ18O records from the glacial/postglacial transition: Annals Glaciology, v 5, p 149–152.Google Scholar