Sedimentology
Hadi Amin-Rasouli; Nasim Haghighat jou; Mahdi Moradi
Abstract
Kraftu cave, 67 km northwest of Divandareh in Kurdistan province, includes four floors. The bottom of the second floor, in the bat hall, is covered by thick guano deposits. SEM–EDX analyses of the guano deposits showed secondary sulfate (gypsum, cesanite), phosphate (phosphammite, brushite, taranakite, ...
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Kraftu cave, 67 km northwest of Divandareh in Kurdistan province, includes four floors. The bottom of the second floor, in the bat hall, is covered by thick guano deposits. SEM–EDX analyses of the guano deposits showed secondary sulfate (gypsum, cesanite), phosphate (phosphammite, brushite, taranakite, francoanellite, whitlockite, leucophosphite, spheniscidite, pyrocoproite), and nitrate (urea, niter) minerals, along with microorganisms and chitin. Occurrence of these minerals is due to changes in the pH (from acidic to alkaline) and moisture (wet and dry conditions) in the presence of microorganisms. Bat guano has accumulated in Karaftu cave during three different paleoclimate conditions, from base to top, including dry, wet, and dry conditions. A comparison between distributions of secondary minerals and Ce-anomalies along the profile represents that taranakite only forms in wet conditions, but whitlockite, urea, and cesanite only occur in dry ones. Therefore, they are significant indicators of climate in the geologic record, but other minerals, because they can be in both conditions, don't be so.Various reactions between the solutions derived from guano with substrate have resulted in phosphatization and dolomitization of bedrock. The abundance of chitin in the Karaftu cave guano deposits indicates that they are feces of insectivorous bats.
Sedimentology
Hadi Amin-Rasouli; N. Haghighat jou; Mehdi Moradi
Abstract
Karaftu Cave is located in the 67 km northwest of Divandareh, Kurdistan province. It includes four floors, which the bottom of the second floor, in the bat’s hall, is covered by thick guano deposits. In this study, the distribution of trace elements plus rare earth elements, as well as age determination, ...
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Karaftu Cave is located in the 67 km northwest of Divandareh, Kurdistan province. It includes four floors, which the bottom of the second floor, in the bat’s hall, is covered by thick guano deposits. In this study, the distribution of trace elements plus rare earth elements, as well as age determination, based on 14C, of guano was investigated. Fresh guano decays through bacterial and fungal metabolism and can release organic and inorganic acids. Interactions between these acidic solutions with guano were caused by leaching and changing the distribution and ratios of elements. The rate of leaching is determined by changes in the patterns of distribution of elements and the ratios of Th/U and LREEs/HREEs. The Eu/Eu* and Ce/Ce* ratios are applied to obtain information about the paleoredox conditions of guano deposition. Based on this study, three different climatic conditions, including dry, wet, and dry terms, have been recognized. Geochemical data of guano samples on the La/Th-Hf and Th-Sc diagrams represent intermediate-mafic source rocks. Plot the samples on the Th-Sc-Zr/10 and La/Th-Sc/Ni diagrams, suggesting that their source rocks evolved in a continental island arc tectonic setting. Based on 14C dating, the onset of guano production is about 14260 ± 50 BP after the Last Glacial Maximum recorded worldwide and close to the study area in Zaribar Lake, Zagros Mountains, and Alpine Mountains. The average accumulation rate of guano deposits has been 3.7 mm/year in Karaftu Cave.