Mineralogy of Iza Cave (Rodnei Mountains, N. Romania)

Tămaș, Tudor; Kristály, Ferenc; Barbu–Tudoran, Lucian

doi:10.5038/1827-806x.40.2.9

Cited by 13 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 2 publications

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“…The Tăul Muced peat bog is situated in the Rodna National Park and Biosphere Reserve, Eastern Carpathians (Figure 1). The geology surrounding the mire comprises crystalline rocks such as mica schists, associated with crystalline limestones and dolomites, conglomerates, limestones, black shales and sandstones (Sahy et al, 2008; Tămaş et al, 2011). Climatically, the study area has a moderate temperate continental climate with Atlantic and Baltic influences (Donita, 2005).…”

Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

Last Millennium hydro-climate variability in Central–Eastern Europe (Northern Carpathians, Romania)

et al. 2015

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Proxy-based reconstructions of climate variability over the last millennium provide important insights for understanding current climate change within a long-term context. Past hydrological changes are particularly difficult to reconstruct, yet rainfall patterns and variability are among the most critical environmental variables. Ombrotrophic bogs, entirely dependent on water from precipitation and sensitive to changes in the balance between precipitation and evapotranspiration, are highly suitable for such hydro-climate reconstructions. We present a multi-proxy analysis (testate amoebae, plant macrofossils, stable carbon isotopes in Sphagnum, pollen, spores and macroscopic charcoal) from an ombrotrophic peat profile from the Rodna Mountains (northern Romania) to establish a quantitative record of hydro-climatic changes. We identify five main stages: wet surface mire conditions between AD 800 and 1150 and AD 1800 and 1950, and drying of the mire surface between AD 1300 and 1450, AD 1550 and 1750 and AD 1950 and 2012. Our multi-proxy reconstructions suggest that conditions during the Medieval Climate Anomaly (MCA) period (AD 900–1150) were considerably wetter than today, while during most of the ‘Little Ice Age’ (LIA; AD 1500–1850), they were dry. Mire surface conditions in the Rodna Mountains have dried markedly over the last 40 years mainly as a result of anthropogenic climate change approaching the driest conditions seen over the last 1000 years. There is a marked difference between current hydro-climatic conditions (dry mire) and those of the MCA (wet mire). This implies that for the study region, the MCA cannot provide analogous climatic conditions to the contemporary situation. Our reconstructions are in partial agreement with water table estimates elsewhere in central and eastern Europe but generally contrast with those from NW Europe, especially during LIA. We suggest that these distinctive regional differences result from fluctuations in large-scale atmospheric circulation, which determine the relative influences of continental and oceanic air masses.

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Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

Last Millennium hydro-climate variability in Central–Eastern Europe (Northern Carpathians, Romania)

et al. 2015

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“…The quantity of precipitation is highest in the summer and lowest in winter. From the geological point of view, the surroundings are comprised of crystalline rocks such as mica schists, conglomerates, limestones, black shales and sandstones (Sahy et al, 2008;Tămaş et al, 2011). The regional vegetation is composed of compact spruce (Picea abies) forest (Feurdean et al, 2015a).…”

Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

How warm? How wet? Hydroclimate reconstruction of the past 7500 years in northern Carpathians, Romania

Diaconu

Tóth

Lamentowicz

et al. 2017

Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology

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As natural and anthropogenic ecosystems are dependent on the local water availability, understanding past changes in hydroclimate represents a priority in research concerning past climate variability. Here, we used testate amoebae (TA) and chironomid analysis on a radiocarbon dated complex of small pond and peat bog sediment profiles from an ombrotrophic bog (Tăul Muced, northern Carpathians, Romania) to quantitatively determine major hydrological changes and July air temperature over the last 7500 years.Wet mire surface conditions with a pH between 2.3 and 4.5 were inferred for the periods 4500-2700 and 1300-400 cal yr BP by the occurrence of Archerella flavum, Amphitrema wrightianum and Hyalosphenia papilio. Dry phases in mire surface conditions and a pH between 3 2.5 and 5 were inferred for 7550-4500, 2750-1300 and 0 cal yr BP-present by the dominance of Nebela militaris, Difflugia pulex and Phryganella acropodia. The quantitative reconstruction of mean July temperature based on the chironomid communities suggests low summer temperatures for the periods 6550-5600, 4500-3150 and 1550-600 cal yr BP, while periods of slightly higher summer temperatures were observed for 5600-4500, 3150-1550 and 100 cal yr BP-present.There is a general good agreement between drier phases of the peat surface conditions with higher July temperature, suggesting that temperature may have been a controlling factor for water table fluctuation.Our quantitative reconstructions, among the first for central eastern Europe, show a relatively good agreement with other palaeohydrological studies from central eastern Europe, but contrast with others estimates from north-west Europe. Another important aspect of our study is that it provides valuable information on changes in local hydrology and the potential effect of the mean summer temperature over these changes.

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“…Both caves have been flooded occasionally in the past and floodwaters could have carried in the minerals. Tremul et al (2001) came to a similar conclusion for the cave deposits in the Trieste karst, interpreting the deposition of silt-grade sediment as a consequence of periodic flooding under interglacial conditions. During these events flysch sediments were weathered and eroded and some of the minerals they contained have accumulated in the cave sediments.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 72%

“…Heavy minerals observed in the flysch of the Brkini and Istrian basins are Cr-spinel, garnet, tourmaline, rutile, zircon, ilmenite, and pyrite. Sporadic pyroxenes and chloritoid have also been found in the Istrian samples (Orehek, 1972; Tremul et al, 2001; Lenaz et al, 2003; Lenaz, 2008). The association of the minerals described in both flysch basins corresponds well to the minerals found in the speleothem samples from both caves.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 95%

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Application of Scanning Electron Microscopy/Energy-Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy for Characterization of Detrital Minerals in Karst Cave Speleothems

et al. 2016

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Micro-scale observations in karst caves help to identify different processes that shaped local morphology. Scanning electron microscopy/energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy inspection of speleothems from two karst caves in Slovenia, Predjama and Črna Jama, confirmed the presence of sub-angular to sub-rounded detrital fragments of clay minerals, feldspars, quartz, Fe-oxides/hydroxides, rutile and Nb-rutile, xenotime, kassite, allanite, fluorapatite, epidote, ilmenite, monazite, sphene, and zircon, between 2 and 50 μm across. These occur in porous layers separating calcite laminae in the clayey coating on the layer below the surface of the speleothems, and are also incorporated within actual crystals. It is likely that they are derived from the weathered rocks of the Eocene flysch. Probably they were first transported into the caves by floodwaters forming cave sediments. Later, depending upon the climate conditions, they were moved by air currents or by water to the surface of active speleothems. They might also be redeposited from overlying soils enriched with wind-transported minerals from the flysch, or from higher passages filled with weathered flysch sediment, by drip water percolating through the fissured limestone. As some of the identified minerals are carriers of rare earth elements, Ti and Zr, their presence could affect any palaeoclimatic interpretations that are based upon the geochemical composition of the speleothems.

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Mineralogy of Iza Cave (Rodnei Mountains, N. Romania)

Cited by 13 publications

References 2 publications

Last Millennium hydro-climate variability in Central–Eastern Europe (Northern Carpathians, Romania)

Last Millennium hydro-climate variability in Central–Eastern Europe (Northern Carpathians, Romania)

How warm? How wet? Hydroclimate reconstruction of the past 7500 years in northern Carpathians, Romania

Application of Scanning Electron Microscopy/Energy-Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy for Characterization of Detrital Minerals in Karst Cave Speleothems

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