Note to users. If you're seeing this message, it means that your browser cannot find this page's style/presentation instructions -- or possibly that you are using a browser that does not support current Web standards. Find out more about why this message is appearing, and what you can do to make your experience of our site the best it can be.

Science 22 March 1985:
Vol. 227. no. 4693, pp. 1472 - 1474
DOI: 10.1126/science.227.4693.1472
Prev | Table of Contents | Next

Articles

Stable Carbon Isotope Ratios of Rock Varnish Organic Matter: A New Paleoenvironmental Indicator

RONALD I. DORN 1 and MICHAEL J. DENIRO 2

1 Department of Geography, University of California, Los Angeles 90024
2 Department of Earth and Space Sciences and Archaeology Program, University of California, Los Angeles 90024

Stable carbon isotope ratios of organic matter in rock varnishes of Holocene age from western North America and the Middle East show a strong association with the environment. This isotopic variability reflects the abundance of plants with different photosynthetic pathways in adjacent vegetation. Analyses of different layers of varnish on late Pleistocene desert landforms indicate that the carbon isotopic composition of varnish organic matter is a paleoenvironmental indicator.

Submitted on October 18, 1984
Accepted on December 21, 1984


THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
Cation-Ratio and Accelerator Radiocarbon Dating of Rock Varnish on Mojave Artifacts and Landforms.
R. I. Dorn, R. I. DORN, D. B. BAMFORTH, T. A. CAHILL, J. C. DOHRENWEND, B. D. TURRIN, D. J. DONAHUE, A. J. T. JULL, A. LONG, M. E. MACKO, et al. (1986)
Science 231, 830-833
   Abstract »    PDF »
Weathering.
W. B. Whalley, W.B. Whalley, and J.P. McGreevy (1985)
Progress in Physical Geography 9, 559-581
   PDF »


To Advertise     Find Products

Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)