Premium
Coastal uplift rate at Matanzas (Cuba) inferred from MIS 5e phreatic overgrowths on speleothems
Author(s) -
De Waele Jo,
D'Angeli Ilenia M.,
Tisato Nicola,
Tuccimei Paola,
Soligo Michele,
Ginés Joaquín,
Ginés Angel,
Fornós Joan J.,
Villa Igor M.,
Grau González Esteban R.,
Bernasconi Stefano M.,
Bontognali Tomaso R. R.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
terra nova
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.353
H-Index - 89
eISSN - 1365-3121
pISSN - 0954-4879
DOI - 10.1111/ter.12253
Subject(s) - geology , speleothem , phreatic , interglacial , carbonate , cave , paleontology , sea level , geomorphology , geochemistry , oceanography , quaternary , archaeology , aquifer , groundwater , geography , geotechnical engineering , materials science , metallurgy
Abstract Many morphological elements in Cuba's landscape (e.g. marine terraces, tidal notches) demonstrate that coastal uplift has taken place, but the rate at which this occurs is not known. Carbonate phreatic overgrowths on speleothems have been found in a cave in Central North Cuba, ~1 km from the present coastline at 16 m asl. They form exceptional and unique mushroom‐shaped speleothems and balconies decorating the walls of the rooms. These phreatic overgrowths on speleothems ( POS ) formed at the oscillating air–water interface in sea‐level controlled anchialine lakes. U/Th dating of these overgrowths suggests ages that are compatible with the Marine Isotope Stage 5e (i.e. 130–115 ka). These POS have fixed this sea‐level highstand and demonstrate that this part of Cuba has been subjected to a much lower uplift rate than previously reported, that is, less than 0.1 mm/year since the last interglacial.