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Characterization of tufa from the Dinaric Karst of Croatia: mineralogy, geochemistry and discussion of climate conditions

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Abstract

Tufa deposits from four separate occurrences in the Dinaric Karst of Croatia were characterized with respect to mineralogy, geochemistry and activity of radionuclides. Three of the specimens are of Holocene age, formed during Atlantic, Subboreal and present climate. Two locations (Plitvice Lakes and Krka River) have previously been studied. Two locations (Mrežnica and Slunjčica rivers) have not attracted scientific research yet. The major mineral in tufa is calcite. Minor minerals are quartz and dolomite, depending on location. Geochemistry of selected stream sediments (f <63 μm) from the Dinaric Karst was presented for comparison with tufa. Provided statistically significant number of samples studied, the ratios 238U/226Ra, 238U/232Th and 137Cs may provide tighter constraints on the paleoenvironment. It is suggested to be used in comparison of different world tufas. In general terms it is discussed a hypothesis that relates the occurrence of tufas to atmospheric pCO2 and climate conditions. In addition, the needs for future multidisciplinary research on tufa formation are discussed, because there are several other important parameters dependent on climate, which still have to be studied.

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Acknowledgements

This research was supported by Ministry of Science and Technology of the Republic of Croatia, project number 0098041. Special thanks to Nada Horvatinčić, from whom we kindly obtained tufa samples from Plitvice Lakes and Krka River. Stream sediments have been collected within the Ph.D. thesis in progress of S. Frančišković-Bilinski (supervisors L. Palinkaš and E. Prohić). Special thanks go to Kay Emeis for valuable comments and suggestions how to improve the first submitted manuscript. We thank to a native english speaking colleague William Regland, who was kind and has edited the manuscript.

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  1. Institute Ruđer Bošković, POB 180, HR-10002, Zagreb, Croatia

    Stanislav Frančišković-Bilinski, Delko Barišić, Astrea Vertačnik & Halka Bilinski

  2. Division of Mineralogy and Petrology, Faculty of Science, Horvatovac bb, HR-10000, Zagreb, Croatia

    Esad Prohić

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  1. Stanislav Frančišković-Bilinski
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  2. Delko Barišić
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Correspondence to Stanislav Frančišković-Bilinski.

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Frančišković-Bilinski, S., Barišić, D., Vertačnik, A. et al. Characterization of tufa from the Dinaric Karst of Croatia: mineralogy, geochemistry and discussion of climate conditions. Facies 50, 183–193 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10347-004-0015-8

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