Formation of helictite in the cave Dragon Belly (Sardinia, Italy)-Microstructure and incorporation of Mg, Sr, and Ba

The Sr and Ba concentrations measured by laser ablation along helictites can be explained by cation incorporation during calcite precipitation close to equilibrium. Dilution effects caused by seasonality control the elemental distribution in the helictite, which result in a positive correlation between Sr and Ba. Variability of Mg is unrelated with Sr and Ba, and is probably due to the incongruent dissolution of Mg-calcite from the host rock.