Conference PaperPDF Available

The Direndall tufa deposit (Luxembourg): a new record of environment and climate evolution during the Holocene based on combined stratigraphical, malacological and geochemical studies.

Authors:
  • GéoArchÉon/ Laboratoire de Géographie Physique : environnements quaternaires et actuels
  • Independent Researcher

Abstract

A new multidisciplinary study is in progress at Direndall in the Mamer Valley in Luxembourg, combining stratigraphy, geochemistry, malacology and palynology. As it covers a wide part of the Holocene (C14 dating between c. 10 000 to 900 ka BP), the 8m-high tufa deposit provides a great opportunity to discuss modalities and timing of the so-called ‘late Holocene tufa decline’ (Goudies et al., 1993) and the combined controls of climate and human activity on fluvial formations since the Early Holocene. Recent fieldworks at Direndall allowed collection of new stratigraphical data and samples for a geochemical study. We investigate calcite stable isotopes (δ18O and δ13C) and Mg/Ca and Sr/Ca ratios from Direndall tufa as records of past temperature and humidity conditions. Comparisons with the environmental reconstructions from a previous malacological study (Meyrick, 2000) show strong consistency with the δ13C record suggesting that humidity might have been the main climatic factor controlling environment evolution at Direndall during the Holocene. Despite the clear climatic variations observed at Direndall, none can explain the environmental change toward open conditions while optimum forest develops as recorded by molluscs at the top of the sequence. This episode is very likely to be linked to local anthropogenic forest clearance during the Roman occupation of Direndall surroundings. However, no clear impact of human activity has been observed in the tufa stratigraphy or precipitation rate. The exceptionally long Direndall tufa sequence thus already provided outstanding palaeoenvironmental and palaeoclimatic data and might become, together with the underlying fluvial and colluvial deposits, a reference site for the Holocene and Tardiglacial in Luxembourg and surrounding areas.
A preview of the PDF is not available
ResearchGate has not been able to resolve any citations for this publication.
ResearchGate has not been able to resolve any references for this publication.