Weichselzeitliche Kryocalcite als Hinweise für Eisseen in der Hüttenbläserschachthöhle (Iserlohn/NRW)

• Published in: E&G Quaternary Science Journal
• Main Authors: Richter, K., Detlev, Goll, Kristina, Grebe, Witold, Niedermayr, Andrea, Platte, Alexander, Scholz, Denis
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: German
• Published: Geozon Science Media 2015
• Subjects: ddc:551.7; permafrost; Cryogenic calcites; C/O isotopes; Upper Weichselian; ice caves; north-western Germany; Ice
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/11858/00-1735-0000-0029-65E1-8; https://doi.org/10.3285/eg.64.2.02

C/O-stable isotope composition (VPDB) of speleothems from the Makkaronihalle of the Hüttenbläserschacht Cave in Iserlohn shows a clear separation between glacial and interglacial calcites. In contrast to normal speleothems (stalagmites, excentriques, crystals in cave ponds, draperies; δ18O: –4.0 to –6.1 ‰, δ13C: –4.9 to –10.9 ‰), rhombohedral crystal sinter and spherulitic speleoparticles are characterised by lower δ18O (–8.9 to –17.9 ‰) and higher δ13C values (+0.7 to –6.1 ‰). This suggests that these speleogenetic particles were formed in slowly freezing waterpools on ice during the transition from a stadial to an interstadial phase. Precise 230Th/U-dating shows younger Weichselian ages of 28.6 to 33.0 ka for these speleogenetic particles from north-west Germany. These formation periods indicate freezing conditions overlain by 34 m of hostrock and provide the minimum depth of permafrost penetration for the younger Weichselian in the area of the northern Sauerland (north-west Germany). research