Assessment of tafoni distribution and environmental factors on a sandstone djinn block above Petra, Jordan

Abstract

Through the measurement of tafoni dimensions on an isolated, and unrecorded ‘djinn block’ in Petra's Ordovician Disi Sandstone, minimum surface recession were prevalent on eastern and western faces ranging from 10 to 127 mm/millennia. Moderate tafoni development was identified on northern aspects ranging from 105 to 110 mm/millennia. While on southern vertical faces, the greatest development ranged from 120 to 220 mm/millennia. Solar flux was correlated to the measured tafoni cell dimensions and revealed a minimal recession rate (and depth) of approximately 10–45 mm/millennia above which northern influences increased deterioration ‘moderately’ up to 110 mm/millennia, and southern influences had the greatest exacerbating effect with a maximum recessional rate of 220 mm/millennia – producing the greatest recession of nearly one inch (22 mm) each century. It is speculated that weathering accelerated on shaded (northern) faces through more frequent and longer spans of wetting and drying cycles, in addition to the effects of lichen and cyanobacteria overgrowth. While on regularly sunlit surfaces (southern), increased solar flux (up to ∼3000 MJ/m2/year) accelerated deterioration though more rapid, and extreme heating and cooling cycles. As rarely documented, tafoni on eastern faces were the smallest, and they were only slightly larger on western faces. Slightly increased heating from afternoon temperatures, in tandem with the incidence of frontal precipitation is attributed to the only slightly larger tafoni found on western faces (than on eastern aspects).