The Holocene Transgression in the Golfe Du Lion, Southwestern

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The Holocene Transgression in the Golfe Du Lion, Southwestern Document generated on 09/26/2021 2:52 a.m. Géographie physique et Quaternaire The Holocene transgression in the Golfe du Lion, southwestern France: Paleogeographic and paleobotanical evolution La transgression holocene dans le golfe du Lion, Sud-Ouest de la France Die holozän Transgression im Golf von Lion, süd-west Frankreich Jean-Claude Aloïsi, André Monaco, Nadine Planchais, Jean Thommeret and Yolande Thommeret Volume 32, Number 2, 1978 Article abstract Starting from multidisciplinary punctual results, the authors offer a synthesis URI: https://id.erudit.org/iderudit/1000346ar of lithologie seismic analysis, sedimentology, palynology and radiometrical DOI: https://doi.org/10.7202/1000346ar measurements from sites in sea and at the border of the Golfe du Lion. The dated samples (more than 120) and the variety of the studied sites has See table of contents permitted a true methodological approach. The authors also propose a curve of the rising of the Holocene sea that takes into account two major facts: the géomorphologie localisation of the site and the characteristics of the Publisher(s) sedimentary environment (sedimentary facies and paleobotanic environment). They conclude to: 1) a generalised rapid rise of the transgression since 14,000 Les Presses de l’Université de Montréal years BP, with an acceleration from 8000 to 6000 years BP; 2) intervals of relative stability from 12 000 to 8 000 years BP; 3) a high sea-level at +2 m at ISSN around 4500 years BP. 0705-7199 (print) 1492-143X (digital) Explore this journal Cite this article Aloïsi, J.-C., Monaco, A., Planchais, N., Thommeret, J. & Thommeret, Y. (1978). The Holocene transgression in the Golfe du Lion, southwestern France: Paleogeographic and paleobotanical evolution. Géographie physique et Quaternaire, 32(2), 145–162. https://doi.org/10.7202/1000346ar Tous droits réservés © Les Presses de l’Université de Montréal, 1978 This document is protected by copyright law. Use of the services of Érudit (including reproduction) is subject to its terms and conditions, which can be viewed online. https://apropos.erudit.org/en/users/policy-on-use/ This article is disseminated and preserved by Érudit. Érudit is a non-profit inter-university consortium of the Université de Montréal, Université Laval, and the Université du Québec à Montréal. Its mission is to promote and disseminate research. https://www.erudit.org/en/ Géogr. phys. Quat, 1978, vol. XXXII, n°2, p. 145-162. THE HOLOCENE TRANSGRESSION IN THE GOLFE DU LION, SOUTHWESTERN FRANCE: PALEOGEOGRAPHIC AND PALEOBOTANICAL EVOLUTION Jean-Claude ALOÏSI and André MONACO, Centre de recherches de sédimentologie marine, Perpignan, France; Nadine PLANCHAIS, Laboratoire de palynologie du Centre national de la recherche scientifique, université des Sciences et Techniques du Languedoc, Montpellier, France; Jean THOMMERET and Yolande THOMMERET, Laboratoire de radioactivité appliquée, Centre scientifique de Monaco, Monaco. ABSTRACT Starting from multidis- RÉSUMÉ La transgression holocene ZUSAMMENFASSUNG Die holozân ciplinary punctual results, the authors dans le golfe du Lion, Sud-Ouest de la Transgression im Golf von Lion, sOd-west offer a synthesis of lithologie seismic France. Les auteurs font la synthèse de Frankreich. Die Autoren machen die Syn­ analysis, sedimentology, palynology and résultats ponctuels pluridisciplinaires thèse pluridisciplinârer Resultate (litho- radiometrical measurements from sites (analyse lithosismique, sédimentologie sismische Analyse, Sédimentologie, in sea and at the border of the Golfe du palynologie, radiométrie 14C) obtenus Palynologie und Radiometrie), erhalten Lion. The dated samples (more than en mer et sur la bordure du golfe du durch Proben, die im Meer und an der 120) and the variety of the studied sites Lion. Le nombre d'échantillons datés Kùste des Golfes von Lion genommen has permitted a true methodological (plus de 120) et la diversité des sites wurden. Die datierten Proben (mehr als approach. The authors also propose a étudiés permettent une approche mé­ 120) und die Verschiedenheit der stu- curve of the rising of the Holocene sea thodologique. Une courbe de la re­ dierten Plâtze erlauben eine methodische that takes into account two major facts: montée de la mer holocène est propo­ Annâherung. Eine Kurve der Erhebung the géomorphologie localisation of the sée qui tient compte de deux facteurs des Meeresspiegels im Holozân ist vor- site and the characteristics of the essentiels: la position géomorpholo­ geschlagen, die zwei Hauptfaktoren in sedimentary environment (sedimentary gique du site et les caractères du milieu Betracht nimmt: die geomorphologische facies and paleobotanic environment). de sédimentation (faciès sédimentaire et Lage des Platzes und den Karakter des They conclude to: 1) a generalised environnement paléobotanique). On Sedimentationsmilieus (Fazies und rapid rise of the transgression since note: 1) une rapidité générale de la paleobotanische Umgebung). Man be- 14,000 years BP, with an acceleration transgression depuis 14000 ans BP, merkt: 1) eine allgemeine Schnellig- from 8000 to 6000 years BP; 2) inter­ accélérée de 8000 à 6000 BP ; 2) l'exis­ keit der Ubertretung seit 14 000 Jahren vals of relative stability from 12000 to tence de courtes périodes de relative BP, beschleunigt von 8000-6000 BP; 8 000 years BP; 3) a high sea-level at stabilité à 1200 0 et à800 0 BP ; 3 ) l'exis­ 2)da s Vorhandensein von kurzenZeitrâu - +2 m at around 4500 years BP. tence d'un haut niveau marin à environ men relativer Stabilitât um 12000 und +2 m vers 4500 BP. 8000 BP; 3) das Vorhandensein eines hohen Meeresspiegels bei ungefàhr 2m gegen 4500 BP. * English translation by Judith Read (université Paul-Valéry, Montpellier) and Nadine Planchais 146 J.-C. ALOISIefa/. From a multidisciplinary study of the continental the shells of living organisms, and post-depositional shelf of the Golfe du Lion, the main features of the conditions changing the isotopic relationships in the Late-Quaternay paleogeographic evolution of the shells, thus invalidating the ideal radioactive decay region were traced (ALOÏSI ef al., 1975). The results relation. of each aspect are remarkably consistent for the dif­ 14 The change of isotopic C ratio in the fossil shells ferent areas of Languedoc and Roussillon despite the 13 can be quantified by a measurement of the C isotope statistical characters inherent to the radiometrical 13 concentration, but in this study, the C correction measurements performed on the molluscan fauna of for age has not been done because it was judged neg­ the submerged layers. If the correlations with other ligible (at the most some few decades) when compared underwater sites in the Mediterranean (underwater with the other causes of error. According to a study caves) are rendered uncertain by tectonism, they are (NYDAL ef al., 1972) and to some previous measure­ more difficult when one compares the marine and mar- 14 ments (THOMMERET, unpubl.) the C activity of gino-coastal areas. known aged marine shells (pre-1950) do not significant­ A more fundamental approach to the Late-Holocene ly differ from the 95% NBS standard activity. paleogeography has involved multidisciplinary research A certain number of shells dated during this study conducted since 1974 on two types of sites: coastal gives conflicting ages which one can only attempt to lagoons and off-shore bars (Fig. 1) at five localities on rationalize in terms of ecological factors or by implicat­ the coast of Languedoc: Port-la-Nouvelle, Agde, Sète, ing contamination due to exchange of carbon by fresh Palavas and Mauguio. The studies concern sedimen- 14 water from continental origin, or by reworking of the tology, palynology and C age determinations on sedimentary deposit. samples from outcropping layers or borings, as well as complementary data from continuous seismic survey Exchange of carbon isotopes has been the object on the continental shelf which made the amount of of numerous studies (KEITH and ANDERSON, 1963; punctual results easily reliable. CHAPEL and POLACH, 1972; GRANT-TAYLOR, 1972; MANGERUD, 1972; MANGERUD and GULLIKSEN, It is important to state the necessity of carrying 1975; THOM, 1972; THOMMERET, 1976; HILLAIRE- out morphological and faciological analysis of the dat­ MARCEL and OCCHIETTI, 1977) and constitute an im­ ed sites in order to avoid erroneous reconstruction portant source of error in shell age determination; and spurious correlations. the true age is increased if the exchange involves fresh At the same time a methodological and critical ap­ water from calcareous springs or decreased — and proach to the dating of the carbonates was attempted this is the more frequent case — by the action of run­ by multiplying the number of radiocarbon measure­ ning water containing carbonic acid from the air. It ments: a) on several species of molluscs from a given has also been shown that the contaminations by iso­ level; b) on several individuals of the same species in topic exchanges are enhanced by the crystal structure: different degrees of preservation; c) on the fauna col­ aragonite being far less susceptible to ionic substitu­ lected from the modern sand-bar of Languedoc. tion than calcite; in fact an X-Ray diffractogram is suf­ Altogether, the data leads to more general con­ ficient to be able to reveal tests containing recrystal- siderations concerning: a) limitations on the use of lized or foreign calcite. This verification is important radiometric 14C dating of shells, b) sedimentary and we have come to it during a
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