With the increasing recognition
of the value of speleothems as high-resolution paleoclimatic archives has come
the recognition of the possible influence of diagenetic processes that may
modify their geochemical signatures. This paper by Perrin et al. provides criteria for distinguishing primary and
secondary features in aragonite and calcite speleothems from study of the
Pont-de-Ratz Cave (France). Combining analysis of mineralogical, textural and
geochemical data at different scales, results highlight the importance of
diagenesis in vadose speleothems and the large variety of potential syn- and
post-formational modifications of spelean precipitates in cave environments.
The coupled petrography and geochemical identify the nature and origin of the
diverse spelean materials, information that must be assessed before extracting
reliable paleoenvironmental and geochronological information.
Aragonite–calcite speleothems: identifying originaland diagenetic features by Christine
Perrin, Laurent Prestimonaco, Guilhem Servelle, Romain Tilhac, Marion Maury,
and Patrick Cabrol
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