Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
4407279 | Chemie der Erde - Geochemistry | 2006 | 10 Pages |
Pedogenic needle-fiber calcite was studied regarding its morphology, texture and stable isotope composition from the paleosol of the Quaternary Várhegy travertine (Budapest, Hungary). The needle-fiber calcite is composed of 40–200 μm long monocrystals. Smooth rods as well as serrated-edged crystals with calcite overgrowths were identified by SEM. Needles have several textural varieties: randomly distributed crystals in vugs and pores with calcite hypocoatings, bundles of subparallel crystals forming coatings around grains and alveolar structure with bridging needles in vugs.The morphological study of needle-fiber calcite suggests that needles are calcified fungal sheaths and produced by fungal biomineralization, a common process in recent and fossil soils and calcretes. The stable isotope composition of needle-fiber calcite (average: δ18O=-7.1‰δ18O=-7.1‰ and δ13C=-7.3‰δ13C=-7.3‰ vs. V-PDB) indicates significant incorporation of organically derived CO2 and probably biological influence on needle genesis. Dissolved host rock travertine and/or atmospheric CO2 could also contribute some carbon to the acicular calcite.