Detrital sedimentation, resedimentation and geomorphological changes in caves: implications for paleoflood reconstructions based on speleothems

Abstract

The detrital sequences and speleothems with evidence of floods were studied from a chronological and sedimentological perspective in eight caves in the Western Mediterranean (Ostolo, B1, Guixas, Rebeco, Esjamundo, Artiguo Bajo, Ojo de Valjunquera, Ubriga). In the Ojo de Valjunquera cave, OSL dating of several detrital deposits shows a chronological order (149±10 to 126±7 ka) and/or indicates a single flood event recorded throughout the cave (91±7, 89±6, 91±5 ka). Additionally, a flowstone age suggests a sedimentation period preceding the 227±2 ka.