Luis Pérez del Villar

Late Pleistocene and Holocene mid-latitude palaeoclimatic and palaeoenvironmental reconstruction: an approach based on the isotopic record from a travertine formation in the Guadix-Baza basin, Spain

A comprehensive palaeoenvironmental reconstruction of the last 219 ka has been carried out by determining the isotopic signatures (δ 18 O and δ 13 C) in 766 samples of a thermogene travertine formation in the Guadix-Baza Tertiary basin (Granada, SE Spain). This travertine formation was dated from ≈ 220 to ≈ 5 ka by means of the alpha-spectrometry technique. Initially, the study of the δ 18 O values of the travertine formation was carried out because they are excellent indicators of the overall palaeoclimatic condition of a particular site. Likewise, the evolution of δ 13 C values, which can be directly related to the biomass development of the site, has also been studied. Finally, an integrated study of both isotopic records has been performed, identifying a total of 12 climatic periods based on their palaeoclimatic and palaeoenvironmental conditions. These periods are grouped into four climatic scenarios: scenario A, characterized by warm and dry periods; scenario B, characterized by cold and humid periods; scenario C, constituted by warm and humid periods; and scenario D, which is characterized by cold and dry periods. Palaeoclimatic scenarios A and B mainly characterized the palaeoclimatic evolution of the site, while in northern Europe the palaeoclimatic evolution is mainly characterized by scenarios C and D. Therefore, it is suggested that the palaeoenvironmental evolution at lower latitudes on the Iberian Peninsula is the opposite of that identified in northern Europe. However, the main climatic events identified at higher latitudes are also reflected in the studied area.

Relation between colloid composition and the environment of their formation: application to the El Berrocal site (Spain)

Abstract In the framework of nuclear waste topics, the role of colloids is more and more emphasized in relation to the transport of radioelements in natural groundwaters. We attempt here to check if the nature and physico-chemical characteristics of the colloids from the granitic site of El Berrocal are closely related to the bedrock composition. The colloids are studied in three types of groundwaters (sulfate and carbonate waters in different redox conditions) as well as colloidal suspensions extracted from clayey materials present in the fractures. The particle size distributions are performed by photon correlation spectroscopy. Their chemical composition is obtained by X-ray microanalysis after transversal ultrafiltration. The main results deal with the chemical composition of colloids. They are mainly composed of silica, aluminosilicate phases, and Fe, Ti, Al oxyhydroxides. In the case of the carbonate and oxidized hydrofacies, traces of Mg, Cu, Zn, Ba, S as well as carbonate phases (Zn, Ca) occur. In the particular case of the sulfate hydrofacies, traces of S, Mg, Cu are identified. Finally in the less oxidized and carbonate groundwater, a lot of phases consist of sulphur with Cu, Zn, Fe as well as of carbonate with Cu, Zn, Fe, Ca and Mg. For the clayey suspensions, colloids are mainly composed of illite and silica. In conclusion, the contribution of the bedrock as well as the influence of the physico-chemical conditions are discussed in order to decipher the role of neoformation and dispersion processes in the colloid formation.