Radiocarbon Dating of Holocene Calcareous Tufa in Southern Poland

Calcareous tufa from five sites in southern Poland, representing several most typical conditions of tufa sedimentation, were chosen for 14C, 13C, and 18O measurements. These tufas were deposited in a high-energy turbulent stream (the Racławka site), in streams with moderate but variable flow (Rzerzuśnia and Trzebienice), and in semilimnic conditions (Sieradowice site). Sediments of the Gliczarów site represent spring travertines. In all but the latter site, direct comparison of 14C dates of carbonate and organic fractions was possible, leading to an estimate of initial apparent age of carbonate sediments. Clear correlation was found between the value of initial apparent age of tufas and the hydrodynamic conditions of sedimentation. Corresponding values range from ca 3900 yr (Racławka) to 910 yr for semilimnic sediments (Sieradowice). Intermediate, almost identical values, equal to 2460 ± 200 yr and 2100 ± 160 yr, were obtained for tufas from Rzerzuśnia and Trzebienice, respectively. Detailed sedimentologic classification of tufaceous deposits is presented and some primary and secondary factors affecting the accuracy of radiocarbon dates of various types of tufas are also discussed.