Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®
Articles 1 - 1 of 1
Full-Text Articles in Stratigraphy
Wonderstone And Its Connection To Liesegang, Microbes, And Beyond, Haden S. Mandery
Wonderstone And Its Connection To Liesegang, Microbes, And Beyond, Haden S. Mandery
Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research
In the western and southwestern United States, the term wonderstone is used to describe volcanic, volcaniclastic, and sedimentary rocks with variegated banding produced by iron oxide mineralization or staining. This iron oxide mineralization is typically described as Liesegang banding. In this paper I will (1) test if the banding in wonderstone follows the spacing and width laws characteristic of Liesegang, (2) identify the source of iron that ultimately precipitated in the bands, and (3) examine the role that microbes played in the formation of the mineralization in these rocks. I conclude that the iron oxide mineralization is not Liesegang banding. …