No abstract

Studies with application of stable isotopes of oxygen and carbon have been performed on calcareous tufa, groundwater and dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) from the spring mire cupola in Wardzyń. This study was focused on the verification of the a priori hypothesis that the analysed calcareous tufa is a chemical deposit and on the attempt to supplement an earlier scenario of environmental changes in the Subboreal with oscillations of water temperature. The constructed model of chemical and isotope balance, and δ13C determinations in DIC, allowed for calculating ratios of stable isotopes of carbon in particular speciations and in gaseous CO2. The obtained results coupled with δ13C values in calcite indicate that this mineral precipitated from the solution chemically (without the contribution of living organisms). Additionally, it was possible to reconstruct the temperature range at which the calcareous tufa was formed. The reconstructed scenario of changes in the thermal conditions was refined based on δ18O determinations in groundwater and calcite. Accordingly, the oldest calcareous tufa, with an age of about 5500 cal years BP, was formed in cool climate conditions (with average annual temperatures by about 3 °C lower than presently). The formation of younger series of the calcareous tufa took place between 4400–2900 cal years BP and represents a much warmer period with two distinct cooler episodes at 3900 and 3000 cal years BP, respectively. The course of the obtained temperature curves correlates well with the GISP2 curve and curves obtained for other sites in Northern, and Central Europe.