Mineralogical and Sedimentological Characterization of the Clay-Rich Sediments from Ases Cave (Cova Dets Ases, Mallorca, Spain): Origin and Classification

Abstract

The Mallorca coastal caves present large amounts of speleothems that have been studied for decades. However, the sedimentary deposits also present in these cases have not been given the same attention. This work is the first study entirely focused on these deposits, specifically the ones found in the Ases cave. These deposits are formed by clay minerals (illitic phases, kaolinite, smectite, and chlorite), calcite and quartz, and minor proportions of dolomite, albite, orthoclase, hematite, and goethite. The grain size and the electron microscopy studies suggested the presence of different sedimentation processes (bedrock degradation, creep or saltation, and suspension) and different origins (authigenic and detrital origins) for the different sediments. Based on these differences, two types of deposits were characterized: autochthonous and allochthonous deposits. The first ones are located on the floor of chambers and corridors in subaqueous zones, indicating the stability of the mixing zone (and therefore the sea level) over time. The second ones appear filling voids on the walls and the ceiling in the terrestrial zone, evidencing the filling of the cavity in the presence of water (during a wet period). These results are very important to complete the understanding of the caves and their evolution and support the relevance of these materials in paleoenvironmental studies.