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Application of Scanning Electron Microscopy/Energy-Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy for Characterization of Detrital Minerals in Karst Cave Speleothems

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 February 2016

Nina Zupančič ,
Miloš Miler ,
Stanka Šebela  and
Simona Jarc
Nina Zupančič*
Affiliation:
Department of Geology, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Engineering, University of Ljubljana, Aškerčeva 12, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia Ivan Rakovec Institute of Palaeontology, ZRC SAZU, Novi trg 2, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
Miloš Miler
Affiliation:
Geological Survey of Slovenia, Dimičeva ulica 14, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
Stanka Šebela
Affiliation:
Karst Research Institute, ZRC SAZU, Titov trg 2, SI-6230 Postojna, Slovenia
Simona Jarc
Affiliation:
Department of Geology, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Engineering, University of Ljubljana, Aškerčeva 12, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
*
*Corresponding author. nina.zupancic@ntf.uni-lj.si
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Abstract

Micro-scale observations in karst caves help to identify different processes that shaped local morphology. Scanning electron microscopy/energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy inspection of speleothems from two karst caves in Slovenia, Predjama and Črna Jama, confirmed the presence of sub-angular to sub-rounded detrital fragments of clay minerals, feldspars, quartz, Fe-oxides/hydroxides, rutile and Nb-rutile, xenotime, kassite, allanite, fluorapatite, epidote, ilmenite, monazite, sphene, and zircon, between 2 and 50 μm across. These occur in porous layers separating calcite laminae in the clayey coating on the layer below the surface of the speleothems, and are also incorporated within actual crystals. It is likely that they are derived from the weathered rocks of the Eocene flysch. Probably they were first transported into the caves by floodwaters forming cave sediments. Later, depending upon the climate conditions, they were moved by air currents or by water to the surface of active speleothems. They might also be redeposited from overlying soils enriched with wind-transported minerals from the flysch, or from higher passages filled with weathered flysch sediment, by drip water percolating through the fissured limestone. As some of the identified minerals are carriers of rare earth elements, Ti and Zr, their presence could affect any palaeoclimatic interpretations that are based upon the geochemical composition of the speleothems.

Keywords

detrital mineralspalaeoenvironmentweathered flyschspeleothemsSEM/EDS
Type
Materials Applications
Information
Microscopy and Microanalysis , Volume 22 , Issue 1 , February 2016 , pp. 87 - 98
Copyright
© Microscopy Society of America 2016 

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