UIS Commission on Karst Hydrogeology and Speleogenesis
Email Print

Karstbase Bibliography Database

Gázquez, Fernando; Calaforra, José Maria; García-Casco, Antonio; Sanna, Laura; Forti, Paolo
DE WAELE, JO; FORTI, PAOLO; NASEDDU, ANGELO
Strontium isotope ratios (87sr/86sr) in gypsum speleothems from the naica mine caves (chihuahua, mexico): genetic implications
GLI ISOTOPI DELLO STRONZIO (87SR/86SR) NEGLI SPELEOTEMI DI GESSO DELLE GROTTE DI NAICA (CHIHUAHUA, MESSICO)
Mine Caves / Grotte di Miniera
Bologna
2013
0
28
231
242

The 87Sr/86Sr ratio of several gypsum speleothems from the caves of the Naica Mine (Chihuahua, Mexico) has been determined in order to evaluate the origin of the saline solution from which they precipitated. The 87Sr/86Sr ratios of the huge selenite crystals from the Cristales Cave (-290 m Level) and of the gypsum core of the “espadas” speleothems from the Espadas Cave (-120 m Level) are 0.707337 and 0.708343, respectively. These values are slightly higher than that of the carbonate host rock (0.7072) as well as that of the Tertiary felsic dikes emplaced in the carbonate sequence (0.7080). They are also lower than those expected for crystallization from seepage water solutions (>0.7090). Therefore, the 87Sr/86Sr values determined for the speleothems at Naica suggest that gypsum in these caves precipitated from a mixture of infiltration water and thermal water. The 87Sr/86Sr ratio of gypsum speleothems is regarded as a useful indicator to infer the rela- tive contribution of meteoric deep thermal water solutions during the genesis of the Naica’s gypsum speleothems.

strontium isotopes; gypsum speleothems;
meteoric water; hydrothermal water; Naica.
978-88-89897-09-6
Gázquez, Fernando; Calaforra, José Maria; García-Casco, Antonio; Sanna, Laura; Forti, Paolo, 2013, Strontium isotope ratios (87sr/86sr) in gypsum speleothems from the naica mine caves (chihuahua, mexico): genetic implications , 0 , 231 - 242