ABSTRACT
This chapter deals withlithological characteristics of lake, mire and bog deposits that can be used as a basis for palaeoenvironmental reconstruction. It examines the palaeoenvironmental potential of detrital and carbonate deposits in caves. Caves form natural sediment traps in which the deposits are largely protected from the effects of sub-aerial weathering agencies and erosion. Like caves, lakes form natural sediment traps, and analysis of the sedimentary record in lake basins allows inferences to be made about environmental changes around the lake catchment. Wherever possible, lithological investigations should be carried out on open sections so that variations in stratigraphy, both vertically and horizontally, can be carefully recorded. Laboratory analysis of Quaternary sediments is an integral part of palaeoenvironmental investigations. The chapter provides a brief introduction to the methods that are most commonly used in the description and analysis of Quaternary sediments. The analysis of carbon isotopes in marine sediments can also provide valuable data on oceanographic changes during the Quaternary.
