SPELEOTHEMS - EFFICIENT TOOL FOR PALEOCLIMATIC STUDIES

Speleothem formation is influenced by several factors, and particularl y, by climatic factors. The latter influence the lithostratigraphy of endokarstic deposits, crystalline fabrics, types and abundance of poll ens, isotopic ratios H-2/H-1, C-13/C-12, 18(O)/O-16. Thus speleothems can constitute remarkable palaeoclimatic sequences and, sometimes they can record astronomical cycles. First we describe the different cryst alline fabrics and the different morphological types of stalagmitic se ries. Then we recall the chronological potentialities of speleothems.