Stable isotopic records in unionid shells as a paleoenvironmental tool

  • S. Verdegaal Faculty of Earth and Life Sciences, Vrije Universiteit, de Boelelaan 1085, 1081 HV Amsterdam, the Netherlands
  • S.R. Troelstra Faculty of Earth and Life Sciences, Vrije Universiteit, de Boelelaan 1085, 1081 HV Amsterdam, the Netherlands
  • C.J. Beets Faculty of Earth and Life Sciences, Vrije Universiteit, de Boelelaan 1085, 1081 HV Amsterdam, the Netherlands
  • H.B. Vonhof Faculty of Earth and Life Sciences, Vrije Universiteit, de Boelelaan 1085, 1081 HV Amsterdam, the Netherlands
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0016774600021211
Keywords: stable isotopes, unionids, isotopic signature, paleo-reconstructions

Abstract

Stable oxygen and carbon isotope studies were performed on unionid shells from Rhine and Meuse rivers. Results show that the characteristic isotopic signature of each river is well documented in the shells with average δ18O values of ∼9.00‰ for the Rhine specimens and of 6.5‰ for the Meuse unionid. The average δ18O values of the shell material corresponds to the average δ18O of the to rivers and thus identifies Rhine or Meuse sedimentary sequences. All δ18O records show distinct seasonality, which may be used to reconstruct past riverconditions

Published
2005-12-01
How to Cite
S. Verdegaal, S.R. Troelstra, C.J. Beets, & H.B. Vonhof. (2005). Stable isotopic records in unionid shells as a paleoenvironmental tool. Netherlands Journal of Geosciences, 84, 403 - 408. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0016774600021211
Issue
Volume 84 - 2005
Section
Regular paper
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