Diatom, contributors of coralloid speleothems, from Togawa-Sakaidani-Do Cave in Miyazaki Prefecture, Central Kyushu, Japan

Abstract

SUMMARYCoralloid speleothems are commonly distributed in Togawa-Sakaidani-do Cave in .• Miyazaki Prefecture, Central Kyushu, but their speleological study has not heretofore been achieved. Light and scanning microscopes analyses revealed that coralloid speleothems consist of alternating layers of diatom colonies, detrital minerals and clay. Electron microprobe analysis shows coralloid speleothems to be siliciferous.This paper assert that diatom (genus Melosira) is one of the important contributors to siliceous coralloid speleothems in the threshold zone at noncalcareous caves.

Epilithic and aerophilic diatoms in the artificial environment of Kungsträdgården metro station, Stockholm, Sweden

“…This cave has developed in deposits of Quaternary pyroclastic flows and both the bedrock and the speleothems are rich in silica. Kashima et al (1987) suggests that the growth of these speleothems is triggered by the activities of diatoms (Melosira spp.). Diatoms have also been shown to influence calcite…”

“…The formation of coralloid speleothems was studied in Togawa-Sakaidani-do Cave, Japan, by Kashima et al (1987). This cave has developed in deposits of Quaternary pyroclastic flows and both the bedrock and the speleothems are rich in silica.…”

“…Clair and Rushforth, 1976;Garbacki et al, 1999;Lauriol et al, 2006;Poulíčková and Hašler, 2007;Mulec et al, 2008), typically in karst caves. Kashima et al (1987), however, studied diatoms of the genus Melosira and their contribution in the production of The Kungsträdgården metro station is an artificial and urban subsurface environment illuminated with artificial light. Its ecosystem is almost completely unknown and as a first step to better understand the biology and rock wall habitats the diatom flora was investigated.…”

Microbial signatures from speleothems: A petrographic and scanning electron microscopy study of coralloids from the Koněprusy Caves (the Bohemian Karst, Czech Republic)

“…Almost all of these microbe-mediated silica-rich speleothems precipitated in tropical and/or humid, warm climates where silica solutions were derived from weathered silicate minerals in nearby volcanic or metamorphic rocks, or, less frequently, by decomposition of siliceous diatoms (e.g. Kashima et al, 1987). Carbonate speleothems containing primary laminae or secondary voids filled with amorphous opal, similar to those of the Kon eprusy coralloids, have, however, seldom been reported (e.g.…”

The distribution of diatom flora in ice caves of the northern Yukon Territory, Canada: relationship to air circulation and freezing

“…Many studies have discussed the presence of diatoms in caves (e.g. Hoeg, 1946;Kol, 1957;Claus, 1955Claus, , 1962aClaus, , 1962bClaus, , 1964Palik, 1960;van Landingham, 1965van Landingham, , 1966van Landingham, , 1967Fukuchi, 1967;Mason-Williams, 1967;Gounot, 1968;Dobat, 1970;Carter, 1971;St.Clair & Rushforth, 1978;Bahls 1981;St.Clair et al 1981;Camburn, 1982;Kashima et al,1987;Rushforth et al, 1984;Dayner & Johansen, 1991). However, these studies have focused mainly on compiling diatom taxa lists, only a few, (Roldan et al, 2004) explained their origin and distribution within the caves.…”