Publication details
Příspěvek k výzkumu nickamínku ve vybraných jeskyních Moravského krasu
| Title in English | Contribution to research of moonmilk in selected caves in the Moravian Karst |
|---|---|
| Authors | |
| Year of publication | 2010 |
| Type | Article in Proceedings |
| Conference | Speleofórum |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| Field | Geology and mineralogy |
| Keywords | moonmilk; cave sediment; fibrous calcite; Moravian Karst; bacteria; mycobiota |
| Description | Moonmilk is a kind of cave deposit. It has got a microcrystalline structure and it contents a high proportion of water usually. Mostly it forms white plastic coatings on walls, ceilings or other speleothems in caves. Moonmilk occures near entrances of caves or places close the surface. Moonmilk sediments are common in wide range of climatic conditions all over the world. Genesis of moonmilk relates to some extent with inherence of microorganisms. There were collected samples of moonmilk from five carbonate caves in the northern part of the Moravian Karst. Moonmilk from these caves is composed of fibrous and microcrystalline calcite and small amount of some hydrated mineral. It has fibrous and microsparitic stucture. Moisture content in moonmilk varied from 34 to 85,8 wt. %. Content of molecular water reached to 3,1 wt. %. Microbiological analyses confirmed presence of psychrotrofic bacteria (Pseudomonas) and microscopic fungi in moonmilk. |