Taylor and Francis Group, Spectroscopy Letters, 7-8(44), p. 474-479
DOI: 10.1080/00387010.2011.610403
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Spectra cathodoluminescence (CL) emissions of a stalactite from Castañar cave (west-central Spain) exhibit spatially resolved spectra patterns of Mn and rare earth elements (REE). Although the REE signal is smoothed in the speleothem background sample, the REE-enrichment in some growth layer derives from the presence of cerite, xenotime, monazite, and cerianite in the shale matrix. The spectra CL of both host rock and some calcite-aragonite layers show a wide range of spectral luminescence emissions attributed to REE, mainly Sm, Dy, and Ce. The high Mn-REE anomalies in the inner calcite-aragonite layer could indicate its growth during a phase with stronger weathering of host rock and a more active dynamic hydrology.