Karst in granitic rocks, South Cameroon: cave genesis and silica and taranakite speleothems

[en] A cave in granitic rocks was studied in Mezesse, South Cameroon. Coralloid speleothems, draperies and dissolution traces on the cave walls attest to its truly karstic nature. The speleothems consist of microlayers of opal and taranakite (K,NH4)Al-3(PO4)(3)(OH).9H(2)O. They indicate a significant mobilization of silica, Al and K from granite during the formation of the cave. Identification of silicified bacteria in the speleothems layers suggests a possible role of these micro-organisms in silica deposition. The presence of taranakite and of silicified organic remains within the speleothems lead to a better understanding of the genesis of the cave.

Disciplines :

Physical, chemical, mathematical & earth Sciences: Multidisciplinary, general & others
Earth sciences & physical geography

Author, co-author :

Willems, Luc ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Pétrologie sédimentaire

Compère, Philippe ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département des sciences et gestion de l'environnement > Département des sciences et gestion de l'environnement

Hatert, Frédéric ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département de géologie > Minéralogie et cristallochimie

Pouclet, André

Vicat, Jean-Paul

Ek, Camille ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Services généraux (Faculté des sciences) > Relations académiques et scientifiques (Sciences)

Boulvain, Frédéric ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département de géologie > Pétrologie sédimentaire

Language :

English

Title :

Karst in granitic rocks, South Cameroon: cave genesis and silica and taranakite speleothems

Publication date :

October 2002

Journal title :

Terra Nova

ISSN :

0954-4879

eISSN :

1365-3121

Publisher :

Blackwell Publishing Ltd, Oxford, United Kingdom

Volume :

Issue :

Pages :

355-362

Peer reviewed :

Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi

Available on ORBi :

since 08 May 2011

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