Mineralogía de depósitos de tipo moonmilk en la Cueva de Nerja (Málaga, España)

Abstract

The mineralogical composition of moonmilk-type deposits located in Nerja Cave (southern Spain) has been studied. These deposits are composed only by carbonates, mainly huntite and dolomite. Magnesite and calcite are also present and occasionally aragonite. Depositional sequence proposed for the deposits in this cave is: calcite —> Mg-rich calcite —> aragonite —> dolomite —> huntite —> magnesite. Initial precipitation of calcium carbonates, progressive water evaporation and lost ofC02 give rise to the final precipitation of magnesium-rich terms