An optimized thermal extraction system for preparation of water from fluid inclusions in speleothems.

Authors

  • E. CABALLERO Instituto Andaluz de Ciencias de la Tierra, CSIC. Fuentenueva 18071 Granada, Spain.
  • J.A. VERA departamento de estratigrafía y Paleontología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Granada. Fuentenueva 18071 Granada, Spain.
  • B. ANDREO departamento de Geología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Teatinos E-29071 Málaga, Spain.

Keywords:

Fluid inclusions, Speleothems, Paleoclimate, Stable isotopes

Abstract

The fluid inclusions present in speleothems (secondary mineral deposits formed in caves) are a relict sample of the parent seepage water from which the speleothem was deposited and determination of their composition can solve the palaeotemperature equation for the precipitation of speleothem carbonate. We have extracted fluid inclusions using a newly-designed thermal vacuum extraction method in stalagmites and stalactites from Nerja Cave, Southern Spain. Optimal conditions were found to involve heating samples crushed to 0.8-2mm for 3 hours at 300-400ºC. Waters extracted from modern aragonitic speleothem samples produced results on the Meteoric Water Line defined by modern infiltration and other waters associated with the cave and hence demonstrate an absence of fractionation effects. This successfully demonstrates the utility of the method.
Any 2011 Vol.: 9 Núm.: 2

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Published

2011-07-14

Issue

Vol. 9 No. 2 (2011)

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Articles

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