DOCSLIB.ORG

The Role of Microorganisms on the Formation of a Stalactite

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
The Role of Microorganisms on the Formation of a Stalactite EGU Journal Logos (RGB) Open Access Open Access Open Access Advances in Annales Nonlinear Processes Geosciences Geophysicae in Geophysics Open Access Open Access Natural Hazards Natural Hazards and Earth System and Earth System Sciences Sciences Discussions Open Access Open Access Atmospheric Atmospheric Chemistry Chemistry and Physics and Physics Discussions Open Access Open Access Atmospheric Atmospheric Measurement Measurement Techniques Techniques Discussions Discussion Paper | Discussion Paper | Discussion Paper | Discussion Paper | Open Access Biogeosciences Discuss., 10, 6563–6603, 2013 Open Access www.biogeosciences-discuss.net/10/6563/2013/ Biogeosciences Biogeosciences BGD doi:10.5194/bgd-10-6563-2013 Discussions © Author(s) 2013. CC Attribution 3.0 License. 10, 6563–6603, 2013 Open Access Open Access This discussion paper is/has been under review for the journal BiogeosciencesClimate (BG). Climate The role of Please refer to the correspondingof finalthe Past paper in BG if available. of the Past Discussions microorganisms on the formation of a Open Access The role of microorganisms on the Open Access stalactite Earth System Earth System formation of aDynamics stalactite in BotovskayaDynamics M. Pacton et al. Discussions Open Access Cave, Siberia – palaeoenvironmental Open Access Geoscientific Geoscientific Title Page implicationsInstrumentation Instrumentation Methods and Methods and Abstract Introduction Data Systems Data Systems 1 1 1 2 3 M. Pacton , S. F. M. Breitenbach , F. A. Lechleitner , A. Vaks , C. Rollion-BardDiscussions , Conclusions References Open Access 4 5 Open Access 1 O. S. Gutareva , A. V. Osinzev , and C. Vasconcelos Geoscientific Geoscientific Tables Figures 1 Model Development Geological Institute,Model ETH-Z urich,Development¨ Sonneggstrasse 5, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland 2 Discussions Department of Earth Sciences, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3AN, UK J I 3 Open Access Centre de Recherches Petrographiques´ etGeochimiques,Open Access UMR 7358, Universite´ de Lorraine, 54500 Vandoeuvre-lHydrologyes-Nancy,` and France Hydrology and J I 4Institute of Earth’s Crust, RussianEarth System Academy of Sciences, Siberian Branch,Earth System 128 Lermontova Back Close Street, Irkutsk 664033, Russia Sciences Sciences 5 Arabica Speleological Club, Mamin-Sibiryak Street, Irkutsk 554082, Box 350,Discussions Russia Full Screen / Esc Open Access Open Access Received: 20 March 2013 – Accepted: 29 March 2013 – Published:Ocean 8 April 2013Science Ocean Science Printer-friendly Version Correspondence to: M. Pacton ([email protected]) Discussions Published by Copernicus Publications on behalf of the European Geosciences Union. Interactive Discussion Open Access Open Access 6563 Solid Earth Solid Earth Discussions Open Access Open Access The Cryosphere The Cryosphere Discussions Discussion Paper | Discussion Paper | Discussion Paper | Discussion Paper | Abstract BGD Calcitic speleothems in caves can form through abiogenic, biogenic, or a combination of both processes. Many issues conspire to make the assessment of biogenicity diffi- 10, 6563–6603, 2013 cult, especially when focusing on old speleothem deposits. This study reports a multi- 5 proxy analysis of a Siberian stalactite, combining high-resolution microscopy, isotope The role of geochemistry and microbially enhanced mineral precipitation laboratory experiments. microorganisms on The contact between growth layers in a stalactite exhibits a biogenic isotopic sig- the formation of a nature; coupled with morphological evidence this supports a microbial origin of calcite stalactite crystals. SIMS δ13C data suggest that microbially mediated speleothem formation oc- 10 curred repeatedly for short intervals before abiotic precipitation took over. The studied M. Pacton et al. stalactite also contains iron and manganese oxides that have been mediated by micro- bial activity through extracellular polymeric substances (EPS)-influenced organomin- eralization processes. The latter reflect palaeoenvironmental changes that occurred Title Page more than 500 000 yr ago, possibly related to the presence of a peat bog above the Abstract Introduction 15 cave at that time. Microbial activity can initiate calcite deposition in the aphotic zone of caves before Conclusions References inorganic precipitation of speleothem carbonates. This study highlights the importance Tables Figures of microbially induced fractionation that can result in large negative δ13C excursions. The micro-scale biogeochemical processes imply that microbial activity has only negli- 13 J I 20 gible effects on the bulk δ C signature in speleothems, which is more strongly affected by CO2 degassing and the hostrock signature. J I Back Close 1 Introduction Full Screen / Esc The growth of speleothems, such as stalactites and stalagmites, through the precipita- tion of calcite has commonly been viewed as an abiogenic process (e.g. Kendall and Printer-friendly Version 25 Broughton, 1978; Broughton, 1983a, b, c). However, there is a growing body of re- search suggesting that microbes may play an important role in carbonate precipitation Interactive Discussion 6564 Discussion Paper | Discussion Paper | Discussion Paper | Discussion Paper | during speleothem growth (e.g. Jones and Motyka, 1987; Northup and Lavoie, 2001; Mulec et al., 2007; Jones, 2010; Baskar et al., 2005, 2006). In caves, a variety of precip- BGD itation and dissolution processes results in the deposition of carbonate speleothems, 10, 6563–6603, 2013 silicates, iron and manganese oxides, sulfur compounds, and nitrates, but also the 5 breakdown of limestone host rock. Cave microbes mediate a wide range of destructive and constructive processes that collectively can influence the growth of speleothems The role of and their internal crystal fabric (Jones, 2010). Constructive processes include microbe microorganisms on calcification, trapping and binding by filamentous microbes, and/or mineral precipita- the formation of a tion (Canaveras˜ et al., 2001; Jones, 2001). Destructive processes include microbially stalactite 10 influenced corrosion or dissolution of mineral surfaces that can occur through mechan- ical attack, secretion of exoenzymes, organic and mineral acids (e.g. sulfuric acid), and M. Pacton et al. a variety of other mechanisms (for a summary please refer to Sand, 1997). Of par- ticular interest in cave dissolution processes are reactions involving iron-, sulfur-, and Title Page manganese oxidizing bacteria (Northup and Lavoie, 2001). Iron oxides and hydroxides 15 are most often observed as coatings or crusts and as powder on clastic cave walls, Abstract Introduction but they also exist as typical speleothems such as stalactites (e.g. Caldwell and Cald- well, 1980; Jones and Motyka, 1987). Several descriptive studies have established the Conclusions References association of bacteria with iron deposits in caves, but experimental evidence for an Tables Figures active microbial role in the formation of iron deposits in caves is still lacking (Northup 20 and Lavoie, 2001). J I With regard to flora and fauna, caves are usually divided into two segments: (i) a twi- light zone and (ii) an aphotic zone, characterized by no light and few microbes (Jones, J I 2010). In this study we focus on a stalactite found in the aphotic zone. The sample Back Close contains mainly calcite and ferromanganese oxides which is unusual in this continental 25 setting as they are widely encountered in warm environments (e.g. Spilde et al., 2005). Full Screen / Esc The presence of microbes does not automatically imply that they played a role in the formation of the surrounding minerals because they may simply have been buried dur- Printer-friendly Version ing mineral precipitation (Polyak and Cokendolpher, 1992; Forti, 2001). Assessment of the exact role that the microbes played in the mineral precipitation is usually considered Interactive Discussion 6565 Discussion Paper | Discussion Paper | Discussion Paper | Discussion Paper | impossible to determine (Jones, 2010). However, by combining microscopical and geo- chemical evidence at a high spatial resolution, we aim to precisely constrain the role of BGD microbes in stalactite formation in this cave. 10, 6563–6603, 2013 Calcite δ13C has been interpreted to reflect surface vegetation changes (C3 vs. C4: 5 Brook et al., 1990; Dorale et al., 1992; Bar-Matthews et al., 1997; Hou et al., 2003; Den- niston et al., 2007), although more recent studies point to cave air ventilation as a major The role of influence (Tremaine et al., 2011). It has been demonstrated that degassing of CO2 from microorganisms on the dripwater controls the rate of calcite precipitation (Mickler et al., 2004, 2006; Spotl¨ the formation of a et al., 2005; Bourges et al., 2006; Baldini et al., 2008; Kowalczk and Froelich, 2010), stalactite 10 as well as the isotopic composition of dripwater and subsequent calcite (Mattey et al., 2008; Muhlinghaus¨ et al., 2007, 2009; Oster et al., 2010; Frisia et al., 2011; Lambert M. Pacton et al. and Aharon, 2011). These studies show that – if carefully evaluated – δ13C can be used as paleoclimatic indicator. However, the potential impact of microbial activity on Title Page carbon isotope fractionation is usually overlooked in paleoclimate studies. We aim to 15 investigate this impact in detail in the current work. Abstract Introduction Conclusions References 2 Study site Tables Figures Botovskaya cave is located in Siberia (55◦ 170 5900 N, 105◦ 190 4600 E, 750 m a.s.l.) (Fig. 1 and Fig. S3 in Vaks
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Caves Are In- Herently Dangerous Environments, with Many Hazards We May Not Be Used to Dealing with from Our Above Ground Experience
    KNOW Before You Go! Cave Safety Cave exploration can be fun and exciting, but it can also be quite dangerous. Caves are in- herently dangerous environments, with many hazards we may not be used to dealing with from our above ground experience. USDA Forest ServiceImagine you are deep in a cave. You are look- ing at a beautiful stalactite, you take a step back... you step on a loose rock...... you stum- ble...... you drop your flashlight..... it hits a rock...... it breaks.... TOTAL DARKNESS! It would be im- possible to crawl out to safety. It's cold.... it's dark.... your foot hurts.... you are beginning to get hungry. What are you going to do? The best way to get out of this situation is not to get into it in the first place. The following safety rules will keep you safe. They are the ones followed by the National Speleological Society, a group of professional cave explorers. Checklist Kids should never explore caves without an adult. Each person should have at least four reliable lights. Never, ever, go in a cave alone. The minimum is four people. If someone gets hurt, one person can stay with the hurt person while two go for help. One person should wait at the entrance to the cave while the fourth person notifies the Sheriff or Park Rangers. This makes it easier to find the cave again when the rescuers arrive. ALWAYS tell a responsible adult exactly where you are going and when you'll be back. Just because you don't come home for dinner doesn't mean anybody will think to look in a cave.
    [Show full text]
  • Grade 11 Informational Mini-Assessment Stalagmite Trio This Grade 11 Mini-Assessment Is Based on Two Texts and an Accompanying Video About Cave Formations
    Grade 11 Informational Mini-Assessment Stalagmite Trio This grade 11 mini-assessment is based on two texts and an accompanying video about cave formations. The subject matter, as well as the stimuli, allow for the testing of the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) for Literacy in Science and Technical Subjects and the Reading Standards for Informational Texts. The texts are worthy of students’ time to read, and the video adds a multimedia component to make the task a more complete and authentic representation of research. The texts meet the expectations for text complexity at grade 11. Assessments aligned to the CCSS will employ quality, complex texts such as these, and some assessments will include multimedia stimuli as demonstrated by this mini-assessment. Questions aligned to the CCSS should be worthy of students’ time to answer and therefore do not focus on minor points of the texts. Several standards may be addressed within the same question because complex texts tend to yield rich assessment questions that call for deep analysis. In this mini-assessment there are twelve questions that address the Reading Standards below. There is also one constructed response item that addresses Reading, Writing, and Language standards. We encourage educators to give students the time that they need to read closely and write to sources. Please note that this mini- assessment is likely to take at least two class periods. Note for teachers of English Language Learners (ELLs): This assessment is designed to measure students’ ability to read and write in English. Therefore, educators will not see the level of scaffolding typically used in instructional materials to support ELLs—these would interfere with the ability to understand their mastery of these skills.
    [Show full text]
  • Underwater Speleology Journal of the Cave Diving Section of the National Speleological Society
    Underwater Speleology Journal of the Cave Diving Section of the National Speleological Society INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Possible Explanations For The Lack Of Formations In Underwater Caves In FLA The Challenge At Challenge Cave Diving Science Visit with A Cave: Cannonball Cow Springs Clean Up Volume 41 Number 1 January/February/March 2014 Underwater Speleology NSS-CDS Volume 41 Number 1 BOARD OF DIRECTORS January/February/March 2014 CHAIRMAN contents Joe Citelli (954) 646-5446 [email protected] Featured Articles VICE CHAIRMAN Tony Flaris (904) 210-4550 Possible Explanations For The Lack Of Formations In Underwater Caves In FLA [email protected] By Dr. Jason Gulley and Dr. Jason Polk............................................................................6 TREASURER The Challenge At Challenge Terri Simpson By Jim Wyatt.................................................................................................................8 (954) 275-9787 [email protected] Cave Diving Science SECRETARY By Peter Buzzacott..........................................................................................................10 TJ Muller Visit With A Cave: Cannonball [email protected] By Doug Rorex.................................................................................................................16 PROGRAM DIRECTORS Book Review: Classic Darksite Diving: Cave Diving Sites of Britain and Europe David Jones By Bill Mixon..............................................................................................................24
    [Show full text]
  • Speleothem Evidence from Oman for Continental Pluvial Events During Interglacial Periods
    Speleothem evidence from Oman for continental pluvial events during interglacial periods Stephen J. Burns Dominik Fleitmann Albert Matter Institute of Geology, University of Bern, CH-3012 Bern, Switzerland Ulrich Neff Augusto Mangini Heidelberg Academy of Sciences, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany ABSTRACT Growth periods and stable isotope analyses of speleothems from Hoti Cave in northern Oman provide a record of continental pluvial periods extending back over the past four of Earth's glacial-interglacial cycles. Rapid speleothem growth occurred during the early to middle Holocene (6±10.5 ka B.P.), 78±82 ka B.P., 120±135 ka B.P., 180±200 ka B.P., and 300±325 ka B.P. The speleothem calcite deposited during each of these episodes is highly depleted in 18O compared to modern speleothems. The d18O values for calcite deposited within pluvial periods generally fall in the range of 24½ to 28½ relative to the Vienna Peedee belemnite standard, whereas modern speleothems range from 21½ to 23½. The growth and isotopic records indicate that during peak interglacial periods, the limit of the monsoon rainfall was shifted far north of its present location and each pluvial period was coincident with an interglacial stage of the marine oxygen isotope record. The association of continental pluvial periods with peak interglacial conditions suggests that glacial boundary conditions, and not changes in solar radiation, are the primary control on continental wetness on glacial-interglacial time scales. Keywords: speleothems, stable isotopes, Oman, monsoon, uranium-series method. INTRODUCTION rine and continental records show that its in- such as the extent of glaciation on the Hima- How climate in Earth's tropical regions var- tensity has varied considerably in the recent layan plateau or sea-surface temperatures? ied over the course of Earth's glacial-intergla- past.
    [Show full text]
  • Novel Bacterial Diversity in an Anchialine Blue Hole On
    NOVEL BACTERIAL DIVERSITY IN AN ANCHIALINE BLUE HOLE ON ABACO ISLAND, BAHAMAS A Thesis by BRETT CHRISTOPHER GONZALEZ Submitted to the Office of Graduate Studies of Texas A&M University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE December 2010 Major Subject: Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences NOVEL BACTERIAL DIVERSITY IN AN ANCHIALINE BLUE HOLE ON ABACO ISLAND, BAHAMAS A Thesis by BRETT CHRISTOPHER GONZALEZ Submitted to the Office of Graduate Studies of Texas A&M University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE Approved by: Chair of Committee, Thomas Iliffe Committee Members, Robin Brinkmeyer Daniel Thornton Head of Department, Thomas Lacher, Jr. December 2010 Major Subject: Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences iii ABSTRACT Novel Bacterial Diversity in an Anchialine Blue Hole on Abaco Island, Bahamas. (December 2010) Brett Christopher Gonzalez, B.S., Texas A&M University at Galveston Chair of Advisory Committee: Dr. Thomas Iliffe Anchialine blue holes found in the interior of the Bahama Islands have distinct fresh and salt water layers, with vertical mixing, and dysoxic to anoxic conditions below the halocline. Scientific cave diving exploration and microbiological investigations of Cherokee Road Extension Blue Hole on Abaco Island have provided detailed information about the water chemistry of the vertically stratified water column. Hydrologic parameters measured suggest that circulation of seawater is occurring deep within the platform. Dense microbial assemblages which occurred as mats on the cave walls below the halocline were investigated through construction of 16S rRNA clone libraries, finding representatives across several bacterial lineages including Chlorobium and OP8.
    [Show full text]
  • Speleothem Paleoclimatology for the Caribbean, Central America, and North America
    quaternary Review Speleothem Paleoclimatology for the Caribbean, Central America, and North America Jessica L. Oster 1,* , Sophie F. Warken 2,3 , Natasha Sekhon 4, Monica M. Arienzo 5 and Matthew Lachniet 6 1 Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37240, USA 2 Department of Geosciences, University of Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; [email protected] 3 Institute of Environmental Physics, University of Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany 4 Department of Geological Sciences, Jackson School of Geosciences, University of Texas, Austin, TX 78712, USA; [email protected] 5 Desert Research Institute, Reno, NV 89512, USA; [email protected] 6 Department of Geoscience, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV 89154, USA; [email protected] * Correspondence: [email protected] Received: 27 December 2018; Accepted: 21 January 2019; Published: 28 January 2019 Abstract: Speleothem oxygen isotope records from the Caribbean, Central, and North America reveal climatic controls that include orbital variation, deglacial forcing related to ocean circulation and ice sheet retreat, and the influence of local and remote sea surface temperature variations. Here, we review these records and the global climate teleconnections they suggest following the recent publication of the Speleothem Isotopes Synthesis and Analysis (SISAL) database. We find that low-latitude records generally reflect changes in precipitation, whereas higher latitude records are sensitive to temperature and moisture source variability. Tropical records suggest precipitation variability is forced by orbital precession and North Atlantic Ocean circulation driven changes in atmospheric convection on long timescales, and tropical sea surface temperature variations on short timescales. On millennial timescales, precipitation seasonality in southwestern North America is related to North Atlantic climate variability.
    [Show full text]
  • Caverns Measureless to Man: Interdisciplinary Planetary Science & Technology Analog Research Underwater Laser Scanner Survey (Quintana Roo, Mexico)
    Caverns Measureless to Man: Interdisciplinary Planetary Science & Technology Analog Research Underwater Laser Scanner Survey (Quintana Roo, Mexico) by Stephen Alexander Daire A Thesis Presented to the Faculty of the USC Graduate School University of Southern California In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Science (Geographic Information Science and Technology) May 2019 Copyright © 2019 by Stephen Daire “History is just a 25,000-year dash from the trees to the starship; and while it’s going on its wild and woolly but it’s only like that, and then you’re in the starship.” – Terence McKenna. Table of Contents List of Figures ................................................................................................................................ iv List of Tables ................................................................................................................................. xi Acknowledgements ....................................................................................................................... xii List of Abbreviations ................................................................................................................... xiii Abstract ........................................................................................................................................ xvi Chapter 1 Planetary Sciences, Cave Survey, & Human Evolution................................................. 1 1.1. Topic & Area of Interest: Exploration & Survey ....................................................................12
    [Show full text]
  • Podgrad, Sw Slovenia Speleogeneza in Sedimentaci
    COBISS: 1.01 SPELEOGENESIS AND DEPOSITIONAL HISTORY OF PALEOKARST PHREATIC CAVES/CAVITIES; PODGRAD, SW SLOVENIA SPELEOGENEZA IN SEDIMENTACIJSKA ZGODOVINA PALEOKRAŠKIH JAM/VOTLIN PREŽETE CONE; PODGRAD, JZ SLOVENIJA Bojan OTONIČAR1,* Abstract UDC 551.44:551.35(497.434) Izvleček UDK 551.44:551.35(497.434) Bojan Otoničar: Speleogenesis and depositional history of Bojan Otoničar: Speleogeneza in sedimentacijska zgodovina paleokarst phreatic caves/cavities; Podgrad, SW Slovenia paleokraških jam/votlin prežete cone; Podgrad, JZ Slovenija The studied paleokarst corresponds to an uplifted peripheral Raziskovani paleokras se je oblikoval na dvignjeni periferni foreland bulge when Upper Cretaceous diagenetically imma- izboklini, ko so bili diagenetsko nezreli zgornje kredni kar- ture eogenetic carbonates were subaerially exposed, karstified bonati dvignjeni nad morsko gladino in zakraseli. Kasneje je and subsequently overlain by upper Paleocene/lower Eocene bil ta zakraseli del periferne izbokline ponovno potopljen pod palustrine limestone. morsko gladino, paleokraško površje pa prekrito z zgornje pale- Among the subsurface paleokarstic features, both vadose and ocenskimi do spodnje eocenskimi palustrinimi apnenci. phreatic forms occur. The phreatic caves/cavities include fea- Na raziskovanem območju se pojavljajo podpovršinske tures characteristic of the mixing zone speleogenesis at the paleokraške oblike značilne tako za prežeto kot neprežeto interface between freshwater (brackish water) lenses and the hidrogeološko cono. Kraške jame in manjše votlinice prežete underlying seawater. They were found in various positions cone kažejo značilnosti speleogeneze v območju mešanja with respect to the paleokarstic surface, the deepest being meteorne in morske vode. Pojavljajo se v različnih nivo- about 75 m below the surface. Three indistinct horizons of jih glede na paleokraško površje, najgloblje približno 75 cavities/caves and intermediate vugs were recognized.
    [Show full text]
  • B Volume Xi Number 8 August, 1966
    ~~ 1966 VCl.Xl ~. B VOLUME XI NUMBER 8 AUGUST, 1966 COVER: •••• " STAT I ON 1 " ToM MEADOR AT ONE oF THE MANY ENTRANCES TO THE SERIES OF SHELTERS KNOWN AS THE "PAINTED CAVES 11 NEAR DEL RIO. AT ONE TIME THESE SHELTERS CONTAINED MANY PICTOGRAPHS, BUT NOW ARE COMPLETELY VANDALIZED. PERSONS WITH INFORMATION ON INDIAN SHELTERS SHOULD GET IN TOUCH WITH TOM PRONTO SINCE HE IS COMPILING INFOR­ MATION ON INDIAN SHELTERS FOR A FOURTHCOMING ARTICLE- PERHAPS TO APPEAR IN THE NSS BULLETIN. PHoTo BY CARL KuNATH. (NtKON F, ADox KB-17 FILM IN D-76.) CONTENTS: PAGE 95 LAVA CAVES PART 2 BY NAN LINDSLEY 99 ABILENE G~OTTO CHECKS THE HILLS BY JIM ESTES 101 P~OJECT UNDE~ THE HILL BY CARL KUNATH ' 102 GROTTO NEWS THE TEXAS CAVER IS A MONTHLY PUBLICATION OF THE TEXAS SPELEOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION AND IS PUBLISHED IN DALLAS, TEXAS. MATERIAL FOR PUBLICAT I ON SHOULD BE TYPED DOUBLE-SPACED AND SENT TO THE EDITO~ NO LATER THAN THE 1sT OF THE MONTH OF ISSUE. THIS PUBLICATION IS EXCHANGED WI TH OTHER SIM~LAR PUBLICATIONS 0~ SUBSCRIPTION IS $3.00 PER YEA~ FOR 12 1ssuEs.{9) 1966 BY THE TEXAS CAVER. ED I TOR ••••••• • •••••••• PETE LINDSLEY GRoTTO NEws EDITOR •••• BE~T OLSEN AsstsTAND EDITOR •••••• CHUCK LARSEN PHHTO TIPS EDITO~ ••••• CARL KuNATH TYPIST •••••••••••••••• JACKLYN ROBINSON CuR~ENT EvENTS EDITOR •• JIM EsTES ARTWORK • ••••••••••••••NORMAN ROBINSON LITHOG~APHER •••••• B~YANT LILLY AssEMBLY ••• JACK & GLORIA BuRcH NOTE8 ALL MONEY AND QUESTIONS FOR SUBSCRIPTIONS OR RENEWALS SHOULD BE SENT TO THE ASSISTANT EDITOR: CHUCK LARSEN, 12719 HIGHMEAOOW, DALLAS, TEXAS 75234.
    [Show full text]
  • Late Quaternary Speleogenesis and Landscape Evolution in the Northern Apennine Evaporite Areas
    EARTH SURFACE PROCESSES AND LANDFORMS Earth Surf. Process. Landforms (2017) Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Published online in Wiley Online Library (wileyonlinelibrary.com) DOI: 10.1002/esp.4099 Late quaternary speleogenesis and landscape evolution in the northern Apennine evaporite areas Andrea Columbu,1 * Veronica Chiarini,2,3 Jo De Waele,2 Russell Drysdale,1,3 Jon Woodhead,4 John Hellstrom4 and Paolo Forti2 1 School of Geography, University of Melbourne, 221 Bouverie Street, 3010 Melbourne, Australia 2 Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Bologna, Via Zamboni 67, 40127 Bologna, Italy 3 Laboratoire EDYTEM, University of Savoie, bd de la Mer Caspienne, Le Bourget du Lac cedex F-73376, France 4 School of Earth Sciences, University of Melbourne, Corner Swanston & Elgin Streets, 3010 Melbourne, Australia Received 9 June 2016; Revised 7 December 2016; Accepted 8 December 2016 *Correspondence to: Andrea Columbu, School of Geography, University of Melbourne, 221 Bouverie Street, 3010, Melbourne, Australia. E-mail: acolumbu@student. unimelb.edu.au ABSTRACT: Gypsum beds host the majority of the caves in the north-eastern flank of the Apennines, in the Emilia Romagna region (Italy). More than six hundred of these caves have been surveyed, including the longest known epigenic gypsum cave systems in the world (Spipola-Acquafredda, ~11 km). Although this area has been intensively studied from a geological point of view, the age of the caves has never been investigated in detail. The rapid dissolution of gypsum and uplift history of the area have led to the long-held view that speleogenesis commenced only during the last 130 000 years.
    [Show full text]
  • Dolomitization
    2/25/2009 Dolomitization A Short Course VU March, 2009 Peter Swart University of Miami www.aoqz76.dsl.pipex.com/ Landscapes.htm Dieudonné Sylvain Guy Tancrede de Gratet de Dolomieu usually known as Déodat de Dolomieu (Dolomieu June 23, 1750 - Chateuneuf November 28, 1801) a French geologist; the rock Dolomite was named after him. During one of his field trips to the Alps of South Tyrol (today part of northeastern Italy) he discovered a calcareous rock which, unlike limestone, did not effervesce in weak acid. He published these observations in 1791 in the Journal de Physique. The following year, in the same journal, the rock was named dolomie (or dolomite, in English) by Nicolas-Théodore de Saussure. Today both the rock and its major mineral constituent bear the name of Dolomieu, as do the Dolomites, the mountain range in northwestern Italy, where he first identified the rock. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dolomieu 1 2/25/2009 1980 1994 "Dolomite is a complicated mineral. It exhibits a wide range in the concentration of major elements and is as complex as Feldspar" (Land, 1980) 2 2/25/2009 CaMg(CO3)2 Dolomites appear to be OXYGEN between 3 to 4 per mille heavier (more O-18) than co-occuring carbonates. +3 Dolomite CARBON Calcite +1 Dolomites are about 1 per mille heavier in carbon Stable Isotopes Natural Variations UNDA 18 Oo/oo - - - - 6 2 4 0 4 8 2 12345 6 200 Bulk Dolomites 400 o 3 /oo 600 (fbmp) Depth 800 1000 1200 1400 3 2/25/2009 Experimental CaMgCO3+H3PO4=CO2+H2O+CaMgHPO4 1/2 1/4 = [CO2] [H2O][CaMgHPO4] /[CaMgCO3][H3PO4] 4 2/25/2009
    [Show full text]
  • Speleogenesis and Delineation of Megaporosity and Karst
    Stephen F. Austin State University SFA ScholarWorks Electronic Theses and Dissertations 12-2016 Speleogenesis and Delineation of Megaporosity and Karst Geohazards Through Geologic Cave Mapping and LiDAR Analyses Associated with Infrastructure in Culberson County, Texas Jon T. Ehrhart Stephen F. Austin State University, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.sfasu.edu/etds Part of the Geology Commons, Hydrology Commons, and the Speleology Commons Tell us how this article helped you. Repository Citation Ehrhart, Jon T., "Speleogenesis and Delineation of Megaporosity and Karst Geohazards Through Geologic Cave Mapping and LiDAR Analyses Associated with Infrastructure in Culberson County, Texas" (2016). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 66. https://scholarworks.sfasu.edu/etds/66 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by SFA ScholarWorks. It has been accepted for inclusion in Electronic Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of SFA ScholarWorks. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Speleogenesis and Delineation of Megaporosity and Karst Geohazards Through Geologic Cave Mapping and LiDAR Analyses Associated with Infrastructure in Culberson County, Texas Creative Commons License This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License. This thesis is available at SFA ScholarWorks: https://scholarworks.sfasu.edu/etds/66 Speleogenesis and Delineation of Megaporosity and Karst Geohazards Through Geologic Cave Mapping and LiDAR Analyses Associated with Infrastructure in Culberson County, Texas By Jon Ehrhart, B.S. Presented to the Faculty of the Graduate School of Stephen F. Austin State University In Partial Fulfillment Of the requirements For the Degree of Master of Science STEPHEN F.
    [Show full text]