Patterns of limestone and dolomite weathering by lichens and blue-green algae and their palaeoclimatic significance

Danin, Avinoam; Gerson, Ran; Marton, Kela; Garty, Jacob

doi:10.1016/0031-0182(82)90039-6

Cited by 61 publications

(22 citation statements)

References 6 publications

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“…Yaalon and Ganor (1973) suggested that atmospheric Saharan dust settling with precipitation is the main parent material of Terra Rossa in the Near East. This theory was supported by Danin et al (1982), who found fossil marks of lichen on limestone under a Terra Rossa, indicating that the rock had been exposed to sunlight before it was covered by soil. Studies in Indiana, U.S.A. (Ruhe and Olson, 1980), Croatia (Durn et al, 1999), the West Indies (Muhs, 2001;Muhs et al, 2007;Prognon et al, 2011), Wisconsin, U.S.A. (Stiles and Stensvold, 2008), and Spain (Muhs et al, 2010) also found that the soils were derived from allochthonous material because the geochemical composition of the investigated Terrae Rossae differed significantly from the underlying limestones.…”

Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 58%

Red Mediterranean Soils in Jordan: New insights in their origin, genesis, and role as environmental archives

Lücke

Kemnitz

Bäumler

et al. 2014

CATENA

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It is disputed whether Terrae Rossae form mainly out of the bedrock residue, from allochthonous material like aerosols, or by isovolumetric replacement. Furthermore, whether they are mainly relic soils or are still forming is subject to debate. These questions were addressed by comparing the geochemistry of several limestone and basalt based Red Mediterranean Soils with Lithosols on sandstone and limestone in Jordan. The bedrock residue was included at all test sites. Paleosols and initial soils on the limestone Regolith of historic ruins delivered insights into the possible time frame of soil development. A major reduction of elements in the soils compared to bedrock could be observed for CaO in carbonaceous, SiO 2 in arenaceous, and Fe 2 O 3 and MgO in basaltic rocks. All Terrae Rossae, however, are characterised by a significant increase of SiO 2 , Al 2 O 3 , TiO 2 , Fe 2 O 3 , K 2 O, and a range of mainly metallic minor elements that cannot be derived from the bedrock. A reasonable explanation could be input via aeolian transfer of minerals, with clay minerals as the major carrier plus quartz. This input probably originates in Egypt and Sudan and has remained largely unchanged over long periods. Growing aridity during the Holocene has apparently increased the share of silt while clay deposition and soil development has been reduced. At some sites, metasomatic processes have contributed to soil development and might help to explain the depth of some profiles. However, formation of red soils during the Holocene seems very limited, and the Red Mediterranean Soils may represent remains of a paleolandscape.

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Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 58%

Red Mediterranean Soils in Jordan: New insights in their origin, genesis, and role as environmental archives

Lücke

Kemnitz

Bäumler

et al. 2014

CATENA

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“…We feel the biogeochemical processes adduced by Krumbein and Jens as being involved in the microbial weathering of limestones and dolomites (e.g. Krumbein and Jens, 1981;Danin et al, 1982) are not directly related to the formation of typical black desert varnish. We have observed lichen and lichenized epilithic cyanobacteria, involved in carbonate dissolution, that are also involved in the chemical dissolution of desert varnish.…”

Section: Recent Advances In Varnish Researchmentioning

confidence: 97%

Rock varnish

Dorn¹,

Oberlander²

1982

Progress in Physical Geography: Earth and Environment

221

166

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Because of its wide distribution, the dark stain known as desert varnish, which covers rock surfaces in arid regions, has intriguing potential as a research tool in diverse fields of investigation. Dark coatings on rock surfaces can be seen in nearly all environments, but are most conspicuous in arid regions where coarse rock debris and solid rock outcrops dominate the landscape. The mode of origin of the coating and the enormous enhancement of manganese in it as compared with ambient levels have been topics of controversy for more than 100 years. More recently, there has been concern regarding the influence of desert varnish on the remote sensing of arid lands (e.g. Warner and El-Baz, 1978;Perry, 1979;Elvidge and Collet, 1981).Desert varnish is the arid phase of a wider phenomenon that we have termed 'rock varnish' (Dom and Oberlander, 1980;Dom, 1980). Rock varnish is usually 10 to 30 microns thick, but we have observed varnish depths ranging from under two to over 500 microns. The constituents of all rock varnishes are derived from sources external to the underlying rock. Varnish is composed of clay minerals, oxides and hydroxides of manganese and/or iron, detrital particles such as Si02 and CaC03 , and trace elements, among which Mg, Ca, K, Na, Ti, and Cu are most notable. The classic rock varnish, frequently described in the literature on arid landscapes, is a manganese-rich black coating on rocks, but orange to dusky-brown varnishes are also widespread. Iron and manganese are the distinctive elements of rock varnish. Weathering rinds and encrustations of calcium carbonate, sulphate, and other salts are regarded as distinct from the phenomenon of rock varnish.The degree of development of rock varnish has long been used by archaeologists to estimate the relative ages of stone artifacts and prehistoric rock inscriptions. Similarly, the relative development of varnish in arid regions has been used by geomorphologists to differentiate and correlate surface deposits of alluvium, talus, and eolian sand, as well as erosional features such as cliff faces and relict lake shorelines of varying ages. It has long been hoped that some characteristic of varnish might be used to establish absolute chronologies that could be used in both geomorphological and archaeological research. Wide variations in its chemical composition suggest that rock varnish could also be used as a geochemical prospecting tool. Finally, changes in chemical composition and micromorphology through the

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“…The onset of aridity was probably very rapid (Neev & Emery 1967;Begin et al 1974;Danin et al 1982;Gerson 1982a). The lower terrace group contains mostly fluviatile sediments exhibiting features consistent with overall net incision, and rather infrequent large floods depositing coarse gravel.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Inferences of age are based on relative position within the series of terraces but evidence comes only from segments where surfaces are not converging downstream. Surface features such as bar and swale morphology; degree of desert pavement evolution (Bull 1974;Gerson 1981 ;Mayer et al 1984;Ponti 1985); degree of chemical weathering of surficial rocks; and Reg soil properties (Danin et al 1982;Amit & Gerson 1986) have been used as diagnostic parameters. The characteristics of the alluvial deposits are shown in Table 1.…”

Section: The Geomorphic Evolution Of the Regionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fluviatile deposits and morphology of alluvial surfaces as indicators of Quaternary environmental changes in the southern Negev, Israel

Grossman

Gerson

1987

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Fluviatile deposits and morphology of alluvial surfaces as indicators of Quaternary environmental changes in the southern Negev, Israel S. Grossman & R. GersonS U M M A R Y: Quaternary environmental changes in the southern Negev are recorded in the alluvial deposits and the geometry of depositional surfaces in the Timna Valley. There are some distinct differences between the alluvial deposits of the Holocene to modern flood plains and earlier (Pleistocene) ones. The Holocene to modern alluvium is characterized by sand, fine-to medium-sized gravel and very coarse gravel in large gravel bars. The sediments indicate environments ranging between extremely arid and semi-arid dominated by floods of low to moderate magnitude but with occasional short large floods. The Pleistocene sediments include: (1) debris-flow deposits indicating talus activity under a moderately arid to semi-arid climate; (2) alternating fine-grained and gravelly layers reflecting floods of low to moderate magnitudes. The nature of the soils supports these conclusions. Thick and argillic Reg soils are typical of the Pleistocene surfaces whereas shallow loamy ones are characteristic of the Holocene terraces. The alluvial surfaces usually converge downstream. The intersection points migrate upstream, following stages in the recession of a major escarpment. Broad pedimented surfaces and bajadas are characteristic of the Pleistocene period, whereas long narrow terraces of gentle declivity were formed during the Holocene. The latter suggest depletion of the available debris and in the effectiveness of large floods.

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Patterns of limestone and dolomite weathering by lichens and blue-green algae and their palaeoclimatic significance

Cited by 61 publications

References 6 publications

Red Mediterranean Soils in Jordan: New insights in their origin, genesis, and role as environmental archives

Red Mediterranean Soils in Jordan: New insights in their origin, genesis, and role as environmental archives

Rock varnish

Fluviatile deposits and morphology of alluvial surfaces as indicators of Quaternary environmental changes in the southern Negev, Israel

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