NDLI: Magnetic and mineralogical characteristics of rocks at the Mezmaiskaya cave Paleolithic site (Northern Caucasus)

Content Provider	Springer Nature Link
Author	Pospelova, G. A. Golovava, L. V. Drochev, V. B. Tselmovich, V. A.
Copyright Year	2011
Abstract	The results of magnetic and microprobe studies of the rock sequences in the Mezmaiskaya cave at the unique multilayer Paleolithic site are discussed. The magnetic properties of rocks are analyzed for 17 layers (upwards from layer 4 to layer 1\1) dated from over 73 ka ago to recent times. The rocks of layer 1C (Early Upper Paleolithic, ∼38 ka) are found to have the highest magnetic susceptibility (K) (up to 2500 × 10$^{−6}$ SI), which is related to the intensive activity of [Homo sapiens]. The minimum K corresponds to the rocks of layer 2, which is overlain by layer 1D. The sizes of magnetic grains vary throughout the rock section. The largest grains are found in the middle part of the section in the Middle Paleolithic layers 2B3, 2B2, 2B1, 2A, and 2. The superparamagnetic fraction is identified in all layers. This fact supports the view that the cave was open as early as the formation of layer 4. According to the thermomagnetic data on the saturation magnetization and the temperature curves of magnetic susceptibility, magnetite is the main carrier of the rock magnetization; some samples contain iron hydroxides. Samples with iron sulfides (pyrite) are abundant. The study of the hysteresis parameters of rocks showed that the question on whether sulfide-bearing rocks are suitable for reliable paleomagnetic determinations requires further laboratory research into the origin of magnetite in the rocks. The chemical composition of rocks composing layer 2B3 and layers 1D (∼39 ka) and 2B1 (∼45 ka), in which the presence of volcanic ash has been previously established according to the presence of volcanic glass, was determined by detailed microprobe analysis. A wide variety of chemical elements (up to 18 items) was recognized in layers 1D and 2B1. The iron, titan, chrome, manganese content, and concentrations of other components vary from grain to grain. The microprobe analysis of samples from layers 1D and 2B1 revealed a set of magnetic particles with compositions characteristic of volcanic rocks, which supports the ash origin of these layers. Layer 2B3 is established not to be volcanic ash. The results on the volcanic glass in the rocks of layers 1D and 2B1 were published by Golovanova and her colleagues in Current Anthropology in October 2010 [Golovanova et al., 2010].
Starting Page	641
Ending Page	651
Page Count	11
File Format	PDF
ISSN	10693513
Journal	Izvestiya, Physics of the Solid Earth
Volume Number	47
Issue Number	7
e-ISSN	15556506
Language	English
Publisher	SP MAIK Nauka/Interperiodica
Publisher Date	2011-07-07
Publisher Place	Dordrecht
Access Restriction	One Nation One Subscription (ONOS)
Subject Keyword	Geophysics/Geodesy
Content Type	Text
Resource Type	Article
Subject	Earth and Planetary Sciences Environmental Science

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