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Speleothem deposits developed in caves and tunnels of Deccan-Trap basalts, Maharashtra, India

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Abstract

Calcite speleothems composed of stalactites of about 1/2 cm to 1 1/2 cm in length and stalagmites of approximately 15 cm are found in the ancient caves and tunnels in the Deccan-Trap basalts. Thin-section analysis reveals that they dominantly consist of clay-rich micrite, microspar, or sparry calcite layers. These layers are either finely laminated and planar, or irregular and exhibit sutured contacts.

Percolating waters dissolve calcium carbonate along joints or fractures in the basalts. Speleothem precipitation, initiated on the roof of the caves as a result of the degassing of CO2, led to a decrease in the solubility of CaCO3 and hence to calcium-carbonate saturation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geology, Fergusson College, 411004, Pune, India

    P. K. Sarkar

  2. Department of Geology, Brooklyn College and Graduate School of the City University of New York, 11210, Brooklyn, NY

    G. M. Friedman

  3. Northeastern Science Foundation affiliated with Brooklyn College, Rensselaer Center of Applied Geology, 15 Third Street, P.O. Box 746, 12181-0746, Troy, NY, U.S.A.

    G. M. Friedman

  4. Department of Geology, University of Poona, 411007, Pune, India

    N. R. Karmalkar

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  1. P. K. Sarkar
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  2. G. M. Friedman
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  3. N. R. Karmalkar
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Sarkar, P.K., Friedman, G.M. & Karmalkar, N.R. Speleothem deposits developed in caves and tunnels of Deccan-Trap basalts, Maharashtra, India. Carbonates Evaporites 13, 132–135 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03176586

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