Desert varnish and petroglyphs on sandstone – Geochemical composition and climate changes from Pleistocene to Holocene (Libya)

Desert varnish of pristine sandstone and petroglyph surfaces from Takabart Kabort (Naturalistic Bubaline Art School) and Alamas (Tanzina Art School) can be well classified by their (SiO2+Al2O3):MnO2, Al2O3:SiO2, and P2O5:CaO ratios. Specific ratios are due to the occurrence of clay minerals like illite, kaolinite, smectite, and feldspar, quartz, carbonates like calcite and dolomite, manganese oxyhydroxides, and apatite. Their occurrence corresponds to the local origin and composition of the primary aeolian material.In general, the analyzed desert varnish shows lamination patterns characterized by alternating MnO2-rich and -poor layers (⩽25 wt% MnO2) at rather constant iron oxyhydroxide content (6 wt% Fe2O3). Varnish on non-engraved surfaces exhibits three MnO2-rich layers, whereas varnish-coated petroglyphs reveal minor lamination patterns corresponding to the dating of petroglyphs by rock art. The older Naturalistic Bubaline Art School petroglyphs (about 6–4 ka BP) and the younger Tazina Art School petroglyphs (about 3.8–3 ka BP) contain only two and one MnO2-rich layer, respectively. It is assumed that the occurrence of such microlaminations is caused by climate changes in North Africa. Three humid periods are discerned from the Terminal Pleistocene to Holocene in the literature. Such periods are suitable to induce manganese accumulation by biotic and abiotic processes. Accordingly, the distinct lamination patterns gained from this study verify the dating of petroglyphs by rock art. From another point of view, classification of the above petroglyphs may be provided by analyses of microlaminations independently on cultural historical aspects.