ESR and Th-230/U-234 dating of speleothems from Aladaglar Mountain Range (AMR) in Turkey

Electron spin resonance (ESR) and Th-230/U-234 ages of speleothem samples collected from karstic caves located around 3000 m elevation in the Aladaglar Mountain Range (AMR), south-central Turkey, were determined in order to provide new insight and information regarding late Pleistocene climate. ESR ages were validated with the Th-230/U-234 ages of test samples. The ESR ages of 21 different layers of six speleothem samples were found to range mostly between about 59 and 4 ka, which cover the Marine Oxygen Isotope Stages (MIS) MIS 3 to MIS 1. Among all, only six layers appear to have deposited during MIS 8 and 5. Most of the samples dated were deposited during the late glacial stage (MIS 2). It appears that a cooler climate with a perennial and steady recharge was more conducive to speleothem development rather than a warmer climate with seasonal recharge in the AMR during the late Quaternary. This argument supports previous findings that suggest a two -fold increase in last glacial maximum mean precipitation in Turkey with respect to the present value. (c) 2013 University of Washington. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.