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Geochronological Potential of Isoleucine Epimerization in Calcite Speleothems

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Stein-Erik Lauritzen ,
John Erik Haugen ,
Reidar Løvlie  and
Helge Gilje-Nielsen
Stein-Erik Lauritzen
Affiliation:
Department of Geology, University of Bergen, Allégaten 41, N-5007 Bergell, Norway
John Erik Haugen
Affiliation:
Norwegian Institute for Air Research, Elvegaten 52, P.O. Box 64, N-2001 Lillestrøm, Norway
Reidar Løvlie
Affiliation:
Department of Solid Earth Physic, University of Bergen, Allégaten 41, N-5007 Bergen, Norway
Helge Gilje-Nielsen
Affiliation:
Department of Solid Earth Physic, University of Bergen, Allégaten 41, N-5007 Bergen, Norway
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Abstract

The extent of isoleucine epimerization in a calcite speleothem was determined to evaluate the amino acid racemization method in abiotic calcite. A 5.5-cm-thick flowstone slab from Hamarnesgrotta, northern Norway, was analyzed for amino acid concentration, composition, and isoleucine epimerization at 26 levels through the sequence. U-series dates provide an independent chronologic control. Epimerization increases monotonically with stratigraphic depth and linearily with U-series age, independent of amino acid concentrations. The rate of epimerization is calibrated against the U-series dates, and extrapolation into lower strata beyond the U-series limit yields absolute age estimates that are consistent with paleomagnetic data from the same speleothem. The results suggest that, if adequately calibrated, amino acid dating is applicable to speleothem material reaching time spans beyond the range of conventional dating methods. Amino acids in the speleothem were probably derived from surface soils and are associated with brown humic stains in the calcite.

Type
Articles
Information
Quaternary Research , Volume 41 , Issue 1 , January 1994 , pp. 52 - 58
Copyright
University of Washington

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