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Hydrogeological and Environmental Investigations in Karst Systems pp 569–577Cite as

Trace Elements in Speleothems as Indicators of Past Climate and Karst Hydrochemistry: A Case Study from Kaite Cave (N Spain)

Part of the Environmental Earth Sciences book series (EESCI,volume 1)

Abstract

A stalagmite that grew during the Holocene (between 4.9 and 0.9 ka BP) in Kaite Cave (Ojo Guareña Karst Complex, Burgos, N Spain) has been analyzed by Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) with the aim of reconstructing secular variations in the hydrochemistry of the karst system, in turn related to changes in the environment outside the cave. LIBS analyses yield significant changes in Mg/Ca and Sr/Ca intensity ratios through the stalagmite, which reveal consistent trends and patterns at decadal to centennial scales. The origin of the observed changes in Mg/Ca and Sr/Ca ratios is discussed in the framework of the cave system and the regional climatic variability, particularly the changes in precipitation.

Keywords

  • Laser Induce Breakdown Spectroscopy
  • Karst System
  • Drip Water
  • Abundant Trace Element
  • Calcite Dissolution

These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.

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Acknowledgments

Contribution to project CGL2010-21499-BTE and researches groups “Paleoclimatology and Global Change” and “Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS)” from the UCM (Spain). We thank the facilities and permissions given by the Junta de Castilla y León (Spain) for accessing and working in the Ojo Guareña Natural Monument. The collaboration of the Grupo Espeleológico Edelweiss (Exma. Dip. Prov. Burgos) is also greatly acknowledged. Thanks are extended to S. Moncayo, M.B. Muñoz García, and S. Manzoor for their help and advice in this work.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Estratigrafía, Facultad de Ciencias Geológicas, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040, Madrid, Spain

    J. A. Cruz & J. Martín-Chivelet

  2. Instituto de Geociencias (CSIC, UCM), C/José Antonio Nováis 12, 28040, Madrid, Spain

    J. A. Cruz & J. Martín-Chivelet

  3. Departamento de Química Analítica, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040, Madrid, Spain

    A. Marín-Roldán & J. O. Cáceres

  4. Departamento de Medioambiente, Ciemat, Avda. Complutense 22, 28040, Madrid, Spain

    M. J. Turrero

  5. Department of Geology and Geophysics, University of Minnesota, 310 Pillsbury Drive SE, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA

    R. L. Edwards

  6. Centro Nacional de Investigación sobre la Evolución Humana CENIEH, Paseo Sierra de Atapuerca S/N, 09002, Burgos, Spain

    A. I. Ortega

Authors
  1. J. A. Cruz
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  2. J. Martín-Chivelet
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  3. A. Marín-Roldán
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  4. M. J. Turrero
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  5. R. L. Edwards
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  6. A. I. Ortega
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  7. J. O. Cáceres
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to J. A. Cruz .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geology and Centre of Hydrogeology, University of Málaga (CEHIUMA), Málaga, Spain

    Bartolomé Andreo

  2. Department of Geology and Centre of Hydrogeology, University of Málaga (CEHIUMA), Málaga, Spain

    Francisco Carrasco

  3. Investigación&Prospectiva Geocientífica, Spanish Geological Survey (IGME), Madrid, Spain

    Juan José Durán

  4. Department of Geology and Centre of Hydrogeology, University of Málaga (CEHIUMA), Málaga, Spain

    Pablo Jiménez

  5. PELA, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA

    James W. LaMoreaux

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Cruz, J.A. et al. (2015). Trace Elements in Speleothems as Indicators of Past Climate and Karst Hydrochemistry: A Case Study from Kaite Cave (N Spain). In: Andreo, B., Carrasco, F., Durán, J., Jiménez, P., LaMoreaux, J. (eds) Hydrogeological and Environmental Investigations in Karst Systems. Environmental Earth Sciences, vol 1. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-17435-3_64

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