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- volume 9 (2006)
- number 3-4 - Han-sur-Lesse Symposium - nov. 2004
- THE PROSERPINE STALAGMITE (HAN-SUR-LESSE CAVE, BELGIUM): PRELIMINARY ENVIRONMENTAL INTERPRETATION OF THE LAST 1000 YEARS AS RECORDED IN A LAYERED SPELEOTHEM
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THE PROSERPINE STALAGMITE (HAN-SUR-LESSE CAVE, BELGIUM): PRELIMINARY ENVIRONMENTAL INTERPRETATION OF THE LAST 1000 YEARS AS RECORDED IN A LAYERED SPELEOTHEM
Abstract
A two meters long core from the big “Proserpine” stalagmite of the Han-sur-Lesse cave, deposited from 1800 (±75) U/Th years BP to recent, displays seasonal layering with two layers deposited during one year. Growth rates of up to 2.1 mm per year are observed. Similar changes are observed in the speleothem fabric, the δ18O and δ13C isotopic compositions and the growth rate along the longitudinal axis, suggesting common climatic and/or environmental controls. A first multi proxy approach is attempted, in order to interpret the constructed time-series in terms of changes in climate and environment. We interpreted the changes in proxy data from this speleothems mainly as changes in water recharge or precipitation minus evapo-transpiration. The stalagmite recorded a generally wet Little Ice Age period with two drier and/or colder decennia around 1600 and 1710. The stalagmite also registered the occurrence of early visitors in the cave from 1700 a AD with traces of fires made on top of the stalagmite and the incorporation of straw from torches in the stalagmite. During the upper 170 years an increasing number of visitors are responsible for the incorporation of soot in the calcite.