Palaeoclimatic and geomorphic implications of 230Th/234U dates on speleothems from Britain

Abstract

A priori arguments and empirical evidence both suggest that widespread deposition of calcite in caves takes place in non-glacial climatic conditions. Radiometric dates from calcite speleothems in Britain indicate deposition before 170,000 yr b.p., during an interglacial around 90–140,000 yr b.p., an inter stadial at 60,000 yr b.p. and in the late Devensian and Holocene. The positions of speleothems within caves allow minimum ages to be estimated for past water tables and associated surface landforms. The main erosion of the Yorkshire Dales is shown to date from before 400,000 yr b.p., while Cheddar Gorge in the Mendip Hills has been deepened by 70 m during the last 400 millenia.