Abstract
Geochemical and mineralogical data suggest that bat guano has made a major contribution to the development of several separate sedimentary layers, in the predominantly clastic sand and coarse silt deposits of the Naracoorte Caves, South Australia. A 20 cm thick group of reddish fine silt sediments located in Robertson Cave contains the phosphate minerals whitlockite and apatite, significant concentrations of SO3, P2O5, and CaO, and organic matter with low C/N ratios and highly enriched δN values. These data suggest that accumulations of bat guano and weathered cave limestone contributed significantly to the red silts formation. Sedimentary deposits located in Wet and Blanche Caves also contain horizons that exhibit increased concentrations of SO3, P2O5 and CaO, relatively lower C/N ratios and enriched δN values, suggesting that bat guano may have also contributed to their formation. Physical attributes evident for both these horizons further support this interpretation. A milky-white material that appears...
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callMore From: Alcheringa: An Australasian Journal of Palaeontology
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
