Stable isotope geochemistry of Pleistocene travertine from Budakalász (Buda Mts, Hungary)

In the Buda Mts. (Hungary) several Pleistocene travertine outcrops are known. The subject of this paper is a stable isotope study on the Pleistocene travertine from Budakalasz that was deposited on the slope of Monalovac Hill of the Buda Mts. The principal goal of this work is to define the depositional environment and related implications by studying the petrographical and microfacies features and C and O stable isotope compositions. The Budakalasz travertine can be divided into two stratigraphic units. The lower part of the studied sections (approx. 15 m thick) consists of massive limestone, which represents a "smooth-slope" facies and has mean d13C and d18O values of 2.21‰ and -11.1‰ relative to V-PDB, respectively. Microbial shrub structures were also recognized in the lower part of the section, showing slightly higher d13C values (2.6-2.7‰) relative to the other samples.  The upper unit of the sections is composed of what was originally calcareous mud. The studied samples have low d13C values (~1.8‰)...