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Detrital Origin of a Sedimentary Fill, Lechuguilla Cave, Guadalupe Mountains, New Mexico

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 February 2024

Annabelle M. Foos ,
Ira D. Sasowsky ,
Edward J. LaRock  and
Patricia N. Kambesis
Annabelle M. Foos*
Affiliation:
Department of Geology, University of Akron, Akron, Ohio 44325-4101, USA
Ira D. Sasowsky
Affiliation:
Department of Geology, University of Akron, Akron, Ohio 44325-4101, USA
Edward J. LaRock
Affiliation:
4148 E. 19th Ave., Denver, Colorado 80220, USA
Patricia N. Kambesis
Affiliation:
Cave Research Foundation, RR 1, Rutland, Illinois 61358-9801, USA
*
E-mail of corresponding author: AFOOS@uakron.edu
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Abstract

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Lechuguilla Cave is a hypogene cave formed by oxidation of ascending hydrogen sulfide from the Delaware Basin. A unique sediment deposit with characteristics suggesting derivation from the land surface, some 285 m above, was investigated. At this location, the observed stratigraphy (oldest to youngest) was: bedrock floor (limestone), cave clouds (secondary calcite), calcite-cemented silstone, finely laminated clay, and calcite rafts. Grain-size analysis indicates that the laminated clay deposits are composed of 59-82% clay-size minerals. The major minerals of the clay were determined by X-ray diffraction analysis and consist of interstratified illite-smectite, kaolinite, illite, goethite, and quartz. Scanning electron microscopy observations show that most of the clay deposit is composed of densely packed irregularshaped clay-size flakes. One sample from the top of the deposit was detrital, containing well-rounded, silt-size particles.

Surface soils are probably the source of the clay minerals. The small amount of sand- and silt-size particles suggests that detrital particles were transported in suspension. The lack of endellite and alunite is evidence that the clays were emplaced after the sulfuric-acid dissolution stage of cave formation. Fossil evidence also suggests a previously existing link to the surface.

Keywords

CavesCave SedimentsLechuguilla Cave
Type
Research Article
Information
Clays and Clay Minerals , Volume 48 , Issue 6 , December 2000 , pp. 693 - 698
Copyright
Copyright © 2000, The Clay Minerals Society

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