Petrology and paleoenvironmental significance of detrital sand and silt in a stalagmite from Drotsky's cave, Botswana

Auteurs :
RAILSBACK, L.B.
BROOK, G.A.
WEBSTER, J.W.

Description :
Analysis of a stalagmite from northwestern Botswana shows that variation in the abundance of detrital grains, which can be conveniently approximated by gray-scale measurements, provides a potentially valuable paleoclimatological record. Gray scale (a measure of the lightness or darkness of the cut speleothem is inversely correlative with detrital content and thus with periods of decreased rainfall. It also correlates positively with historical records of rainfall and with rates of speleothem growth, which are controlled by rainfall.


Type de document :
Article de périodique

Source :
Physical geography, issn : 0272-3646, 1999, vol. 20, n°. 4, p. 331-347, Collation : Illustration, Références bibliographiques : 43 ref.

Date :
1999

Editeur :
Pays édition : Royaume-Uni, Abingdon, Taylor and Francis