Cave deposits are complex systems that have long been assumed to be controlled entirely by abiologic chemical conditions. Recent work has shown, in contrast, that microbes are ubiquitous and often significantly altered their local chemical environment. The problem, therefore, is to determine which features are truly abiologic versus those either precipitated or mediated by microbial activity. This requires a multi-disciplinary approach involving both geologists and biologists.

As a pilot study, we started by looking at pool fingers from Hidden Cave, New Mexico.  They are unusually large pool fingers and showed odd features suggestive of microbial involvement.  Careful petrography, Scanning Electron Microscopy, and a little stable isotope chemistry revealed clear evidence for microbial activity (Melim et al., 2001).  In effect, the Hidden Cave pool fingers are cave stromatolites with alternating microbial layers and (probably) abiologic cement layers. We plan to continue studying the Hidden Cave pool fingers, in particular looking for chemical biosignatures that may be applicable to other cave precipitates with less obvious microbial fabrics.

A wide variety of speleothems form in cave pools including common shelfstone, pool fingers and pool crust as well as rather rare webulites and U-loops.  While webulites and U-loops are commonly considered microbial, the other more common features are assumed to be abiologic. Our work has shown at least some pool fingers are also biologic. We plan to work on all pool precipitates to determine the degree of biologic involvement. Cave pool precipitates have been largely ignored in the literature, so this project will start with a systematic description of cave pools in the Guadalupe Mountains. This field area will allow close interaction with ongoing research by Drs. Boston and Northup on the biology of cave pools. Samples collected under permit will be throughly examined using a variety of techniques.

Dr. Leslie A. Melim, Western Illinois University.
Mr. Michael Spilde, University of New Mexico.
Dr. J. Michael Queen, Carlsbad, NM.

Dr. Laura Crossey, University of New Mexico.

Dr. Penelope (Penny) Boston, New Mexico Tech.
Dr. Diana Northup, University of New Mexico.

Dr. Kenneth Ingham, Albuquerque, NM

Undergraduate Research  Projects Related to Caves

2007-2008

Adam Rawe : “Cave pearls in the Quincy Limestone mine ”.  In progress.

2004-2005

Neil Shannon: “Cave pool spleothems: Pool Meringue and Snapflake ”.

2003-2004

Andy Brehm: “Controls on shelfstone distribution, Lower Cave, Carlsbad Cavern, New Mexico: Preliminary results”. Poster presented at North-Central GSA Meeting, April 2004.

Ginny Rust: “Pool meringue: A new spelethem found in Carlsbad Cavern, New Mexico”. Poster presented at North-Central GSA Meeting, April 2004.

Boston, P.J., Spilde, M.N., Northup, D.E., Melim, L.A., Soroka, D.S., Kleina, L. G., Lavoie, K.H., Hose, L.D., Mallory, L.M., Dahm, C.N., Crossey, L.J., and Schelble, R.T.  2001.  Cave biosignature suites:  Microbes, minerals and Mars.  Astrobiology Journal, v. 1, pp. 25-55.

Melim, L.A., Shinglman, K.M., Boston, P.J., Northup, D.E., Splide, M.N. and Queen, J.M., 2001. Evidence of microbial involvement in pool finger precipitation, Hidden Cave, New Mexico: Geomicrobiology Journal special issue on "Geomicrobiology of Caves",v. 18, pp. 311-330

Northup, D.E., Dahm, C.N., Melim, L.A., Spilde, M.N., Crossey, L.J., Lavoie, K.H., Mallory, L.M., Boston, P.J., Cunningham, K.I., and Barns, S.M., 2000, Evidence for geomicrobiological interactions in Guadalupe Caves: Journal of Cave and Karst Studies, v. 62, p. 149-160.

Brehm, A., Rust, G.L. and Melim, L.A., 2004, Controls on shelfstone distribution, Lower Cave, Carlsbad Caverns, New Mexico: Preliminary results: Geological Society of America Abstracts with programs, Vol. 36, No. 3, p. 9, North-Central Meeting, St. Louis, April 1-2, 2004.

Rust, G. L., Brehm, A. and Melim, L.A., 2004, Pool Meringue: A new Speleothem found in Carlsbad Cavern, New Mexico: Geological Society of America Abstracts with programs, Vol. 36, No. 3, p. 9, North-Central Meeting, St. Louis, April 1-2, 2004.

Melim, L.A., 2003, Dark-zone Cave Stromatolites: The Pool Fingers of Hidden Cave, New Mexico, U.S.A. Invited talk July 2, 2003, Institute of Palaeontology, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany.

Boston, P.J., Spilde, M.N., Northup, D.E., and Melim, L.A., 2001, Unique evaporites in caves: comparison to surface-derived deposits: Geological Society of America Abstracts with programs, v. 33, p. 451, Annual Meeting, Boston, November 4-8, 2001.

Melim, L.A., Spilde, M.N., Boston, P.J., Northup, D. E., and Queen, J.M., 2001, Origin of porous layers in pool fingers, Hidden Cave, new Mexico: Recrystallized moonmilk?: Geological Society of America Abstracts with programs, v. 33, p. 254, Annual Meeting, Boston, November 4-8, 2001

Boston, P.J., Spilde, M.N., Northup, D.E., Soroka, D.S., Kleina, L.G., Lavoie, K.H., Melim, L.A, and Hose, L. D., 2000, Pendulous Microbial/Mineral Formations in an Active Sulfide-dominated Cave and Possible Lithified Speleothem Analogs in an Ancient, Inactive Cave: Geological Society of America, Global Meeting, Earth System Processes, Edinburgh, United Kingdom, June 24-28, 2001.

Boston, P.J., Spilde, M.N., Northup, D.E., and Melim, L.A., 2000, Cave Biosignatures: Minerals, Microbes, and Mars: Geological Society of America, Rocky MountainóSouth-Central Sections, Joint Annual Meeting, April 29-May 2, 2001.

Shinglman, K.M., Melim, L.A., Boston, P.J., Northup, D.E. Spilde, M.N., and Queen, J.M., Evidence for Microbial Involvement in Pool Finger Precipitation, Hidden Cave, New Mexico. Geological Society of America Annual Meeting, Reno, Nevada, Nov. 9-18, 2000 .

Melim, L. A., Northup, D.E., Boston, P. J., Queen, J.M., and Allen, C.C, 1999, Evidence for bacterially-mediated precipitation of pool fingers, Hidden Cave, Guadalupe Mountains, NM: American Association of Petroleum Geologists Annual Convention, Official Program, v. 8, p. A92.

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