Synonyms
Bergmilch; Lac lunae; Lac montanum; Mannmilch; Mondmilch; Montmilch; Mundmilch
Definition
Moonmilk is a carbonate deposit that occurs within various subterranean systems. Moonmilk has a white to gray color and, in contrast to rigid cave deposits ( speleothems ) such as stalactites and stalagmites, exhibits a soft, muddy texture of microcrystalline aggregates. These aggregates are mainly composed of calcite, and to a lesser extent of aragonite, monohydrocalcite, hydromagnesite, sulfates, and nitrates (Martínez-Arkarazo et al., 2007; Richter et al., 2008; Cañaveras et al., 2006; Borsato et al., 2000). The calcite shows an aragonite-like needle form (“lublinite”), which is normally associated with soil bacteria. The crystal needles have a diameter of about 0.1 µm and a length of ca. 8–10 µm. The name “moonmilk – Mondmilch” is derived from the name of a cave, “Mondmilchloch,” located at the Pilatus mountain (Emmental Alps, Switzerland) (Fischer, 1988).
Geobiological implications
Mo...
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Bibliography
Bögli, A., 1978. Karsthydrographie und physische Speläologie. Springer, Berlin/Heidelberg/New York.
Borsato, A., Frisia, S., Jones, B., and Van den Borg, K., 2000. Calcite moonmilk: crystal morphology and environment of formation in caves in Italian alps. Journal of Sedimentary Research, 70, 1179–1190.
Burford, E. P., Fomina, M., and Gadd, G., 2003. Fungal involvement in bioweathering and biotransformations of rocks and minerals. Mineralogical Magazine, 67(6), 1172–1155.
Cañaveras, J. C., Hoyos, M., Sanchez-Moral, S., Sanz-Rubio, E., Bedoya, J., Soler, V., Groth, I., Schumann, P., Laiz, L., Gonzalez, I., and Saiz-Jimenez, C., 1999. Microbial communities associated with hydromagnesite and needle-fiber aragonite deposits in a Karstic cave (Altamira, Northern Spain). Geomicrobiology Journal, 16, 9–25.
Cañaveras, J. C., Sanchez-Moral, S., Sloer, V., and Saiz-Jimenez, C., 2001. Microorganisms and microbially induced fabrics in cave walls. Geomicrobiology Journal, 18, 223–240.
Cañaveras, J. C., Cuezva, S., Sanchez-Moral, S., Lario, J., Laiz, L., Gonzalez, J. M., and Saiz-Jimenez, C., 2006. On the origin of fiber calcite crystals in moonmilk deposits. Naturwissenschaften, 93, 27–32.
Dubinia, G. A., and Grabovich, M. Y., 1984. Isolation, cultivation and characteristics of Macromonas bipunctata. Mikrobiologiya, 53, 748–755.
Fischer, H., 1988. Etymologie von Mondmilch bzw. Mondmilchloch. Zeitschrift der deutschen Geologischen Gesellschaft, 139, 155–159.
Gadd, G. M., 2004. Mycotransformation of organic and inorganic substrates. Mycologist, 18, 60–70.
Gicklhorn, J., 1920. Über neue farblose Schwefelbakterien.- Zentralblatt für Bakteriologie, Parasitenkunde, Infektionskrankheiten und Hygiene, Abt.2, 50, 415–427.
Martínez-Arkarazo, I., Angulo, M., Zuloaga, O., Usobiaga, A., and Madariaga, J. M., 2007. Spectroscopic characterisation of moonmilk deposits in Pozalagua tourist cave (Karrantza, Basque Country, North of Spain). Spectrochimica Acta Part A, 68, 1058–1064.
Moore, G. W., and Sullivan, N., 1997. Speleology: Caves and the Cave Environment. Huntsville: National Speleological Society, p. 176.
Richter, D., Immenhauser, A., and Neuser, R. D., 2008. Electron backscatter diffraction documents randomly orientated c-axes in moonmilk calcite fibers: evidence for biologically induced precipitation. Sedimentology, 55, 487–497.
Utermöhl, H., and Koppe, F., 1924. Genus Macromonas. In Koppe, F. (ed.), Die Schlammflora der ostholsteinischen Seen und des Bodensees; Archiv für Hydrobiologie, 14, 619–672.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2011 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.
About this entry
Cite this entry
Reitner, J. (2011). Moonmilk. In: Reitner, J., Thiel, V. (eds) Encyclopedia of Geobiology. Encyclopedia of Earth Sciences Series. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-9212-1_152
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-9212-1_152
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
Print ISBN: 978-1-4020-9211-4
Online ISBN: 978-1-4020-9212-1
eBook Packages: Earth and Environmental ScienceReference Module Physical and Materials ScienceReference Module Earth and Environmental Sciences