RT Journal Article
T1 Dolomite in caves: Recent dolomite formation in oxic, non-sulfate environments. Castañar Cave, Spain
A1 Alonso Zarza, Ana María
A1 Martín Pérez, Andrea
AB Dolomite is a common mineral in the rock record but rare in recent superficial environments. Where it doesoccur, it is related to anoxic, sulfate-rich environments and microbial activity. The occurrence of somedolomite deposits in caves, however, indicates that dolomite formation is also possible in oxic, non-sulfatesettings. Dolomite is forming at 17 °C and in oxic-vadose conditions on the host rocks and aragonitespeleothems of the Castañar Cave, Cáceres, Spain. It appears as spheroids and dumbbells 50–300 μm indiameter that internally consist of micron-sized rhombic to rounded crystals. Initially this dolomite is Carich,non-stoichiometric and poorly ordered. Mg-rich solutions allow the precipitation of metastable Mg-richcarbonates, such as huntite. This soon transforms into this Ca-rich dolomite, which later “ages” to form amore stoichiometric dolomite. These dolomites show similarities to those grown under anoxic, sulfate-richconditions and their presence in caves provides a different setting that may contribute to the understandingof the “dolomite problem”, including their initial formation and later recrystallization processes.
PB Elsevier
SN 0037-0738
YR 2008
FD 2008
LK https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/49296
UL https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/49296
LA eng
DS Docta Complutense
RD 21 abr 2025