A possible mechanism for growth of calcite speleothems without participation of biogenic carbon dioxide

Details A possible mechanism for growth of calcite speleothems without participation of biogenic carbon dioxide A possible mechanism for growth of calcite speleothems without participation of biogenic carbon dioxide

Apr 1982

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1982e%26psl..58..293d&link_type=abstract

Earth and Planetary Science Letters, Volume 58, Issue 2, p. 293-299.

Computer Science

10

Scientific paper

Using Plummer et al.'s [11] rate equations on the dissolution and deposition of CaCO3 in H2O-CO2 systems, we have calculated deposition rates of CaCO3 to stalagmites in caves which are covered by glaciers or bare karst. In this case no biogenic CO2 from vegetated soil is available and the deposition of CaCO3 involves only atmospheric CO2. The mechanism of deposition proceeds by a temperature effect. Cold melting waters of about 0°C dissolve CaCO3 under open system conditions at the surface of the rock. When this solution saturated with respect to CaCO3, flows through the limestone rock its temperature increases by several degrees. Therefore, it becomes supersaturated, and CaCO3 is deposited under open system conditions in the warmer cave. Maximal growth rates of about 10-3 cm/year are possible. From the kinetics of the deposition of CaCO3 from the thin water films present at the surface of stalagmites we are able to estimate the isotopic composition of carbon in the CaCO3 deposited on the stalagmites to be approximately δ13C = +8%, which is close to some observed values.
From our data we conclude that substantial growth of stalagmites is possible during glacial periods as well as in areas of bare karst, a question which was not resolved up to now.

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