Mineralogical data on bat guano deposits from three Romanian caves

Giurgiu, Alexandra; Tămaș, Tudor

doi:10.5038/1937-8602.58.2.2

Cited by 19 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 11 publications

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“…4). At the upper part of the guano heap there are irregular patches, composed of brushite, a calcium phosphate, previously described by Giurgiu and T amaş (2013).…”

Section: Sedimentologymentioning

confidence: 76%

A Late Holocene environmental history of a bat guano deposit from Romania: an isotopic, pollen and microcharcoal study

Forray

Onac

Tanţău

et al. 2015

Quaternary Science Reviews

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“…4). At the upper part of the guano heap there are irregular patches, composed of brushite, a calcium phosphate, previously described by Giurgiu and T amaş (2013).…”

Section: Sedimentologymentioning

confidence: 76%

A Late Holocene environmental history of a bat guano deposit from Romania: an isotopic, pollen and microcharcoal study

Forray

Onac

Tanţău

et al. 2015

Quaternary Science Reviews

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“…These minerals form as a result of the interaction of guano derived solutions with the cave bedrock or with secondary (chemical or detrital) cave deposits (Giurgiu and Tamas 2013). Digestion, dissolution, double replacement and redox reactions are important processes in phosphate formation (Onac and Forti 2011).…”

Section: Mineral Formation In Guano Profilesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Digestion, dissolution, double replacement and redox reactions are important processes in phosphate formation (Onac and Forti 2011). Moisture, pH, and available nutrients are dominant controls over what phosphate species will form (Onac and Veres 2003;Giurgiu and Tamas 2013). In low pH environments with authigenic clay available, Al and Fe react with guano phosphate to form minerals such as taranakite, variscite, leucophosphite (Onac and Veres 2003;Giurgiu and Tamas 2013 Fig.…”

Section: Mineral Formation In Guano Profilesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Moisture, pH, and available nutrients are dominant controls over what phosphate species will form (Onac and Veres 2003;Giurgiu and Tamas 2013). In low pH environments with authigenic clay available, Al and Fe react with guano phosphate to form minerals such as taranakite, variscite, leucophosphite (Onac and Veres 2003;Giurgiu and Tamas 2013 Fig. 4 Cartoon contextualizing the major processes in the formation of 'rock guano' and its enrichment of metals using bats as the local cave inhabitant.…”

Section: Mineral Formation In Guano Profilesmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The biogeochemistry of insectivorous cave guano: a case study from insular Southeast Asia

et al. 2015

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Cave guano derived from insectivorous bats and birds contain unique geochemical and mineralogical signatures. We investigated the mineralogy, pH, C, N and metal abundance patterns of cave guano spatially and temporally (with depth) along a W-E transect in Malaysia and Palawan from five remote cave sites, each housing large populations of bats and Aerodramus spp.(cave swiftlets). Guano deposits were rich in phosphate and/or sulphate minerals (e.g., gypsum, bassanite) with leucophosphite, spheniscidite, and variscite present in most profiles. Metal abundances measured from modern and ancient bat guano revealed high concentrations of transition metals relative to the local environment. Highly enriched metals, however, were associated with phosphate rather than sulphate minerals. Copper and Zn were enriched in all profiles, whereas other metals were associated with specific caves consistent with known local mineral resources. For example, Sn, Pb, and Rb were particularly enriched in Batu Cave, located in the Peninsular Malaysian granitic tin belt, whereas Ni and Cr were high in regions associated with ultramafic ophiolites and Ni-laterites found on Palawan.

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“…In caves containing accumulations of bat guano, secondary phosphate minerals, resulting from the interaction of guano‐derived solutions with the cave bedrock, or with chemical or detrital cave deposits, are recognized as a relatively common characteristic (Hill and Forti ; Onac et al ; Onac and Forti ; Giurgiu and Tămaş ; Stephens et al ). The chemical compositional analysis of the brownish circular stains on the experimental flakes also shows concentrations of calcium, phosphorous and sulphur, particularly on the outer margins of the stains, and is suggestive of the authigenic phosphatic mineral ardealite [Ca 2 (HPO 4 )(SO 4 )·4(H 2 O)].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Chemical Alteration of Lithic Artefacts: an Experimental Case Study on the effect of Guano on Stone Flakes and Its Contextualization in the Archaeological Assemblage of Azokh Cave (Southern Caucasus)

et al. 2017

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Chemical weathering of archaeological material is well known; however, while there have been a number of experimental studies demonstrating different types and degrees of chemical alteration on faunal remains, little attention has been paid to stone tools, and the few studies that exist relate mainly to siliceous materials and water‐induced chemical alteration. Azokh Cave, located in the South Caucasus, contains a Middle Pleistocene to Holocene infill, and detailed macro‐ and microscopic examination of the lithic assemblages recovered there indicates potential chemical weathering of the stone artefacts. The cave is also currently home to one of the largest bat colonies in the region, and their guano forms a significant component of the infill of the inner galleries. Based on these two factors, an experimental pilot study was set up to artificially chemically alter a range of stone flakes produced specifically for the task, in order to determine the nature and likely cause of weathering. The experimental flakes, produced from different raw materials, were buried in fresh bat guano for up to two years. The results reported herein demonstrate that in a relatively short time, the highly acidic composition of bat guano strongly affects calcium‐bearing rocks (e.g., limestone, basalt) altering their entire surface. Similar comparisons may be made with chemical alteration evident on archaeological lithics from Azokh Cave, suggesting that bat guano has played a significant role in diagenetic alteration.

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Mineralogical data on bat guano deposits from three Romanian caves

Cited by 19 publications

References 11 publications

A Late Holocene environmental history of a bat guano deposit from Romania: an isotopic, pollen and microcharcoal study

A Late Holocene environmental history of a bat guano deposit from Romania: an isotopic, pollen and microcharcoal study

The biogeochemistry of insectivorous cave guano: a case study from insular Southeast Asia

Chemical Alteration of Lithic Artefacts: an Experimental Case Study on the effect of Guano on Stone Flakes and Its Contextualization in the Archaeological Assemblage of Azokh Cave (Southern Caucasus)

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