Lechuguilla Cave

SEM image of rock sample from red-colored rock wall in an area of heavy corrosion residue in the EA survey. Note the "starfish" shaped objects and see the two subsequent images for closer views. The bright object that slightly resembles a sickle in this and the next image, show calcium and iron peaks on EDS analysis. Photo by Spilde, Northup, and Boston.

SEM image (10,000x) of rock sample from red-colored rock wall in an area of heavy corrosion residue in the EA survey. The numerous "starfish" shaped objects resemble putative bacteria (Figure 26a, 26b) in a paper by Feldmann, et al. 1997. Fungal quartz weathering and iron crystallite formation in an Alpine environment, Piz Alv, Switzerland. Eclogae Geol. Helv. 90: 541-556. Photo by Spilde, Northup, and Boston.

SEM image (45,000x) close-up of the starfish-shaped objects in the preceding image. These objects resemble putative bacteria (Figure 26a, 26b) in a paper by Feldmann, et al. 1997. Fungal quartz weathering and iron crystallite formation in an Alpine environment, Piz Alv, Switzerland. Eclogae Geol. Helv. 90: 541-556. Photo by Spilde, Northup, and Boston.

EDS spectrum of the "starfish" objects. Analysis by Spilde, Northup, and Boston.

SEM image of a pit filled with iron oxide nodules in a rock sample from red-colored rock wall in an area of heavy corrosion residue in the EA survey. Photo by Spilde, Northup, and Boston.

SEM image (smaller image than the preceding one) of a pit filled with iron oxide nodules in a rock sample from red-colored rock wall in an area of heavy corrosion residue in the EA survey. Photo by Spilde, Northup, and Boston.

SEM closeup image (27,000x) of the iron oxide nodules located in the pit in the preceding image from a rock sample of the red-colored rock wall in an area of heavy corrosion residue in the EA survey. Photo by Spilde, Northup, and Boston.

SEM image of crystals in the red wall rock near corrosion residues in EA Survey. Some pits apparent. Photo by Spilde, Northup, and Boston.

SEM image of closer view of crystals in the red wall rock near corrosion residues in EA Survey. Photo by Spilde, Northup, and Boston.

SEM image (95x) of red wall rock near corrosion residues in the EA Survey. Notice corrosion features. Photo by Spilde, Northup, and Boston.

SEM image (270x) of striations seen in previous image of red wall rock near corrosion residues in the EA Survey. Photo by Spilde, Northup, and Boston.

SEM image of closer view of pits seen in previous image of red wall rock near corrosion residues in the EA Survey. Photo by Spilde, Northup, and Boston.

SEM image of close-up of putative iron oxide formations. EDS analysis noted the presence of Fe, O, Ca, and Al. Photo by Spilde, Northup, and Boston.

SEM image of an accumulation of iron oxide crystals. EDS analysis shows Fe and O, with a little Ca and Al. Photo by Spilde, Northup, and Boston.