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Clim. Past Discuss., 8, 1835-1883, 2012
www.clim-past-discuss.net/8/1835/2012/ doi:10.5194/cpd-8-1835-2012 © Author(s) 2012. This work is distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License. |
The magnesium isotope record of cave carbonate archives
1Ruhr-University Bochum, Institute for Geology, Mineralogy and Geophysics, Universitätsstraße 150, 44801 Bochum, Germany
2Heidelberg Academy of Sciences, Im Neuenheimer Feld 229, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
3Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Institute of Geography, Johann-Joachim-Becher-Weg 21, 55099 Mainz, Germany
4Faculty of Earth and Life Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1085, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
5Leopold-Franzens-University Innsbruck, Institute for Geology and Palaeontology, Innrain 52, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
Abstract. Here we explore the potential of time-series magnesium (δ26Mg) isotope data as continental climate proxies in speleothem calcite archives. For this purpose, a total of six Pleistocene and Holocene stalagmites from caves in Germany, Morocco and Peru and two flowstones from a cave in Austria were investigated. These caves represent the semi-arid to arid (Morocco), the warm-temperate (Germany), the equatorial-humid (Peru) and the cold-humid (Austria) climate zones. Changes in the calcite magnesium isotope signature with time are placed against carbon and oxygen isotope records from these speleothems. Similar to other proxies, the non-trivial interaction of a number of environmental, equilibrium and non-equilibrium processes governs the δ26Mg fractionation in continental settings. These include the different sources of magnesium isotopes such as rain water or snow as well as soil and hostrock, soil zone biogenic activity, shifts in silicate versus carbonate weathering ratios and residence time of water in the soil and karst zone. Pleistocene stalagmites from Morocco show the lowest mean δ26Mg values (GDA: −4.26 ± 0.07 ‰ and HK3: −4.17 ± 0.15 ‰) and the data are well explained in terms of changes in aridity over time. The Pleistocene to Holocene stalagmites from Peru show the highest mean value (NC-A and NC-B δ26Mg: −3.96 ± 0.04 ‰) but only minor variations in Mg-isotope composition, which is in concert with the rather stable equatorial climate at this site. Holocene stalagmites from Germany (AH-1 mean δ26Mg: −4.01 ± 0.07 ‰; BU 4 mean δ26Mg: −4.20 ± 0.10 ‰) record changes in outside air temperature as driving factor rather than rainfall amount. The alpine Pleistocene flowstones from Austria (SPA 52: −3.00 ± 0.73 ‰; SPA 59: −3.70 ± 0.43 ‰) are affected by glacial versus interglacial climate change with outside air temperature affecting soil zone activity and weathering balance. Several data points in the Austrian and two data points in the German speleothems are shifted to higher values due to sampling in detrital layers (Mg-bearing clay minerals) of the speleothems. The data and their interpretation shown here highlight the potential but also the limitations of the magnesium isotope proxy applied in continental climate research. An obvious potential lies in its sensitivity for even subtle changes in soil-zone parameters, a hitherto rather poorly understood but extremely important component in cave archive research. Limitations are most obvious in the low resolution and high sample amount needed for analysis. Future research should focus on experimental and conceptual aspects including quantitative and well calibrated leaching and precipitation experiments.
Citation: Riechelmann, S., Buhl, D., Schröder-Ritzrau, A., Riechelmann, D. F. C., Richter, D. K., Vonhof, H. B., Wassenburg, J. A., Geske, A., Spötl, C., and Immenhauser, A.: The magnesium isotope record of cave carbonate archives, Clim. Past Discuss., 8, 1835-1883, doi:10.5194/cpd-8-1835-2012, 2012.