Endolithic pedogenesis and rock varnish on massive crystalline rocks in East Antarctica

Eurasian Soil Science volume 45, pages901–917(2012)Cite this article

Abstract

Desert varnish and endolithic organisms are two widespread phenomena that have been studied in detail separately; their interaction and their genetic relationships have virtually escaped the attention of researchers. Both phenomena are of indubitable interest for pedology: endolithic organisms as an agent of soil formation and rock varnish as a probable product of pedogenesis. It is argued that the system of endolithic organisms, their functioning products, and the rock has all the features inherent to soils: the rock layer subjected to the influence of external abiogenic factors and living organisms dwelling in the rock and synthesizing and decomposing organic substances. The action of biogenic and abiogenic agents leads to the in situ transformation of the rock with the accumulation and removal of the products of this transformation and with the development of vertical heterogeneity in the form of microhorizons composing the soil microprofile. Instrumental measurements indicate that the carbon content in the endolithic horizons developed by biota in granitoid rocks of the Larsemann Hills oasis varies from 0.2 to 3.3%, the nitrogen content in these horizons varies from 0.02 to 0.47%, and the radiocarbon age of their organic matter reaches 480 ± 25 yrs. The products of the pedogenesis are represented by fine earth materials and by abundant and often multilayered films and coatings on the rock surface and on the lower sides of the desquamation (spalling) plates. Scanning electron microscopy with X-ray microprobe analysis indicates that the major elements composing these films are O, C, Si, Al, Fe, Ca, Mg, and S. It is shown that the films of the rock varnish and the organomineral films in the fissured zone of the rock under the plate with endolithic communities have certain similarity in their morphology and composition: the films of the rock varnish also contain biota (dead cells or cells in the dormant state), and their botryoidal structure is similar to the structure of the biofilms inside the endolithic system. In both types of films, amorphous aluminum and silicon compounds are present, and the accumulation of Fe, Ca, Mg, S, Cl, and some other elements takes place. It is argued that some varieties of rock varnish are the products of endolithic pedogenesis; in essence, they represent the horizons of micropaleosols exposed to the surface in the course of spalling and then transformed by the external environmental agents.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Access options

Buy single article

Instant access to the full article PDF.

34,95 €

Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

References

  1. 1.

    E. V. Abakumov, “Particle-Size Distribution in Soils of West Antarctica,” Eur. Soil Sci. 43(3), 297–304 (2010).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. 2.

    E. V. Abakumov, “The Sources and Composition of Humus in Some Soils of West Antarctica,” Eur. Soil Sci. 43(5), 499–508 (2010).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. 3.

    E. V. Abakumov, Soils of West Antarctica (Izd. SPbGU, St. Petersburg, 2011) [in Russian].

    Google Scholar 

  4. 4.

    A. A. Abramov, R. S. Sletten, E. M. Rivkina, V. A. Mironov, and D. A. Gilichinskii, “Geocryological Conditions of Antarctica,” Kriosfera Zemli, No. 3, 3–19 (2011).

  5. 5.

    D. Yu. Vlasov, E. V. Abakumov, M. A. Nadporozhskaya, et al., “Lithosols of King George Island, Western Antarctica,” Eur. Soil Sci. 38(7), 681–687 (2005).

    Google Scholar 

  6. 6.

    M. A. Glazovskaya, “Biogeochemical Weathering of Volcanic Rocks of Andesitic Composition under Subantarctic Periglacial Conditions,” Izv. Akad. Nauk, Ser. Geogr., No. 3, 39–48 (2002).

  7. 7.

    M. A. Glazovskaya, “Weathering and Initial Soil Formation in Antarctica,” Nauch. Dokl. Vyssh. Shkoly, Geol.-Geogr. Nauki, No. 1, 63–76 (1958).

  8. 8.

    S. V. Goryachkin, D. A. Gilichinskii, E. V. Abakumov, E. P. Zazovskaya, N. S. Mergelov, and D. G. Fedorov-Davydov, “Soils of Antarctic: Diversity, Geography, Genesis (Case Study of Russian Antarctic Stations), in Diversity of Frost-Affected Soils and Their Role in Ecosystems, Materials of the 5th Int. Conf. on Cryopedology (Moscow-Ulan-Ude, 2009), p. 32.

  9. 9.

    S. V. Goryachkin, D. A. Gilichinskii, N. S. Mergelov, D. E. Konyushkov, A. V. Lupachev, A. A. Abramov, and E. P. Zazovskaya, “Soils of Antarctica: First Results, Problems, and Prospects of the Study,” in Geochemistry of Landscapes and Soil Geography (on the 100th Jubilee of M.A. Glazovskaya), (Moscow, 2012) [in Russian].

  10. 10.

    E. A. Dmitriev, “Soils and Soil-like Bodies,” Eur. Soil Sci. 29(3), 275–282 (1996).

    Google Scholar 

  11. 11.

    A. M. Ivlev and O. V. Nesterova, “On the Study of Aquasols,” Vestn. DVO RAN, No. 4, 47–52 (2004).

  12. 12.

    B. B. Polynov, “First Stages of Soil Formation on Massive Crystalline Rocks,” Pochvovedenie, No. 7, 327–339 (1945).

  13. 13.

    V. A. Roslikova, “Modern Notions on the Subaqual Pedogenesis,” Tikhookean. Geol. 25(4), 97–103 (2006).

    Google Scholar 

  14. 14.

    A. A. Semikolennykh and V. O. Targulian, “Soil-Like Bodies of Autochemolithotrophic Ecosystems in the Caves of the Kugitangtau Ridge, Eastern Turkmenistan,” Eur. Soi Sci. 43(6), 614–627 (2010).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. 15.

    I. A. Sokolov, “The Paradigm of Pedology from Dokuchaev to the Present Day,” Eur. Soil Sci. 29(3), 222–232 (1996).

    Google Scholar 

  16. 16.

    T. A. Sokolova, “The Role of Soil Biota in the Weathering of Minerals: A Review of Literature,” Eur. Soil Sci. 44(1), 56–72 (2011).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. 17.

    V. O. Targulian, “Exogenesis and Pedogenesis: Development of the Conceptual Basis of Pedology,” Vestn. Mosk. Univ., Ser. 17: Pochvoved., No. 1, 33–43 (1983).

  18. 18.

    V. O. Targulian and S. V. Goryachkin, “The 19th World Congress of Soil Science,” Eur. Soil Sci. 44(9), 1041–1047 (2011).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. 19.

    L. Beyer and M. Boelter (Eds.), Geoecology of Antarctic Ice-Free Coastal Landscapes (Springer-Verlag, Berlin Heidelberg, 2002).

    Google Scholar 

  20. 20.

    R. L. Blackhurst, M. J. Genge, A. T. Kearsley, and M. M. Grady, “Cryptoendolithic Alteration of Antarctic Sandstones: Pioneers or Opportunists?,” J. Geophys. Res. 110, 12–24 (2005).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. 21.

    J. G. Bockheim and M. Balks (Eds.), “Antarctic Soils and Soil Forming Processes in a Changing Environment,” Geoderma 144, 1–414 (2008).

  22. 22.

    I. B. Campbell and G. G. C. Claridge, Antarctica: Soils, Weathering Processes and Environment (Elsevier Sci. Publ., Amsterdam & New York, 1987).

    Google Scholar 

  23. 23.

    J. Chen, H.-P. Blume, and L. Beyer, “Weathering of Rocks Induced by Lichen Colonization-A Review,” Catena 39, 121–146 (2000).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. 24.

    B. Curtis, J. B. Adams, and M. S. Ghiorso, “Origin, Development and Chemistry of Silica-Alumina Rock Coatings from the Semi-Arid Regions of the Island of Hawaii,” Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 49, 49–56 (1985).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. 25.

    C. Darwin, “Bahaia-Brazil. Habits of a Diodon,” Journal of Researches into the Natural History and Geology of the Countries Visited during the Voyage of H.M.S. Beagle round the World, pp. 12–13 (1887).

  26. 26.

    A. De Los Rios, J. Wierzchos, L. G. Sancho, A. Green, and C. Ascaso, “Ecology of Endolithic Lichens Colonizing Granite in Continental Antarctica,” The Lichenologist 37(5), 383–395 (2005).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. 27.

    R. I. Dorn, “Formation of Silica Glaze Rock Coatings through Water Vapor Interactions,” Submitted to Physical Geography (2011) (published electronically).

  28. 28.

    R. I. Dorn, Rock Coatings (Elsevier, Amsterdam, 1998).

    Google Scholar 

  29. 29.

    R. I. Dorn, “Rock Varnish,” in Geochemical Sediments and Landscapes Ed. by D. J. Nash and S. J. McLaren (Blackwell, London, 2007), pp. 246–297.

    Google Scholar 

  30. 30.

    R. I. Dorn, D. H. Krinsley, T. Liu, S. Anderson, J. Clark, T. A. Cahill, T. E. Gill, “Manganese-Rich Rock Varnish Does Occur in Antarctica,” Chem. Geol. 99, 289–298 (1992).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. 31.

    R. I. Dorn and T. M. Oberlander, “Rock Varnish,” Progr. Phys. Geogr. 6, 317–367 (1982).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. 32.

    E. I. Friedmann, “Endolithic Microorganisms in the Antarctic Cold Desert,” Science 215, 1045–1053 (1982).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. 33.

    E. I. Friedmann and R. Ocampo, “Endolithic Blue-Green Algae in the Dry Valleys: Primary Producers in the Antarctic Desert Ecosystem,” Science 193, 1247–1249 (1976).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. 34.

    E. I. Friedmann and R. Weed, “Microbial Trace-Fossil Formation, Biogenous, and Abiotic Weathering in the Antarctic Cold Desert,” Science, 703–705 (1987).

  35. 35.

    I. Friedmann, Y. Lipkin, and R. Ocampo-Paus, “Desert Algae of the Negev (Israel),” Phycologia 6, 185–196 (1967).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. 36.

    D. Gilichinsky, E. Abakumov, A. Abramov, D. Fyodorov-Davydov, S. Goryachkin, A. Lupachev, N. Mergelov, and E. Zazovskaya, “Soils of Mid and Low Antarctic: Diversity, Geography, Temperature Regime,” Symp. WG 1.4 “Cold Soils in a Changing World,” Proc. 19th World Congr. Soil Sci. (DVD), (Brisbane, Australia, 2010), pp. 32–35.

    Google Scholar 

  37. 37.

    D. W. Hopkins, A. D. Sparrow, E. G. Gregorich, B. Elberling, P. Novis, F. Fraser, C. Scrimgeour, P. G. Dennis, W. Meier-Augenstein, and L. G. Greenfield, “Isotopic Evidence for the Provenance and Turnover of Organic Carbon by Soil Microorganisms in the Antarctic Dry Valleys,” Environ. Microbiol. 11, 597–608 (2009).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  38. 38.

    C. G. Johnson and J. R. Vestal, “Biogeochemistry of Oxalate in the Antarctic Cryptoendolithic Lichen-Dominated Community,” Microbial Ecol. 25, 305–319 (1993).

    Google Scholar 

  39. 39.

    C. G. Johnson and J. R. Vestal, “Photosynthetic Carbon Incorporation and Turnover in Antarctic Cryptoendolithic Microbial Communities: Are They the Slowest Growing Communities on Earth?” Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 57, 2308–2311 (1991).

    Google Scholar 

  40. 40.

    D. Krinsley, “Models of Rock Varnish Formation Constrained by High Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy,” Sedimentology 45, 711–725 (1998).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  41. 41.

    D. H. Krinsley, R. I. Dorn, and N. K. Tovey, “Nanometer-Scale Layering in Rock Varnish: Implications for Genesis and Paleoenvironmental Interpretation,” J. Geol. 103, 106–113 (1995).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  42. 42.

    T. Liu and W. S. Broecker, “How Fast Does Rock Varnish Grow?” Geology 28, 183–186 (2000).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  43. 43.

    T. Liu and W. S. Broecker, “Rock Varnish Microlamination Dating of Late Quaternary Geomorphic Features in the Drylands of the Western USA,” Geomophology 93, 501–523 (2008).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  44. 44.

    D. A. McKeown and J. E. Post, “Characterization of Manganese Oxide Mineralogy in Rock Varnish and Dendrites Using X-Ray Absorption Spectroscopy,” Am. Mineralogist 86, 701–713 (2001).

    Google Scholar 

  45. 45.

    R. S. Perry and V. M. Kolb, “Biological and Organic Constituents of Desert Varnish: Review and New Hypotheses,” in Instruments, Methods, and Missions for Astrobiology VII Ed. by R. Hoover and A. Rozanov, pp. 202–217.

  46. 46.

    R. S. Perry, B. Y. Lynne, M. Sephton, V. M. Kolb, C. C. Perry, J. T. Staley, “Baking Black Opal in the Desert Sun: The Importance of Silica in Desert Varnish,” Geology 34, 537–540 (2006).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  47. 47.

    R. M. Potter and G. R. Rossman, “Desert Varnish: The Importance of Clay Minerals,” Science 196, 1446–1448 (1977).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  48. 48.

    J. A. Raven, S. J. Douglas, and A. W. D. Larkum, Photosynthesis in Algae (Kluwer Academic, 2003).

  49. 49.

    J. T. Staley, F. Palmer, and J. B. Adams, “Microcolonial Fungi: Common Inhabitants on Desert Rocks?,” Science 215 (Iss. 4536), 1093–1095 (1982).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  50. 50.

    H. J. Sun and E. I. Friedmann, “Growth on Geological Time Scales in the Antarctic Cryptoendolithic Microbial Community,” Geomicrobiology J. 16(Iss. 2), 193–202 (1999).

    Google Scholar 

  51. 51.

    V. Targulian, N. Mergelov, D. Gilichinsky, S. Sedov, N. Demidov, S. Goryachkin, and A. Ivanov, “Dokuchaev’s Soil Paradigm and Extraterrestrial Soils,” Symp. 1.1, Proc. 19th World Soil Sci. Congr. (DVD) (Brisbane, Australia, 2010), pp. 1–4.

  52. 52.

    G. Zubay, Origins of Life on the Earth and in the Cosmos (Academic Press, San Diego, 2000).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Affiliations

  1. Institute of Geography, Russian Academy of Sciences, per. Staromonetnyi 29, Moscow, 119017, Russia

    N. S. Mergelov, S. V. Goryachkin, I. G. Shorkunov & E. P. Zazovskaya

  2. Center for Applied Isotope Studies, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA

    A. E. Cherkinsky

Authors
  1. N. S. Mergelov
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. S. V. Goryachkin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. I. G. Shorkunov
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. E. P. Zazovskaya
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. A. E. Cherkinsky
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to N. S. Mergelov.

Additional information

Original Russian Text © N.S. Mergelov, S.V. Goryachkin, I.G. Shorkunov, E.P. Zazovskaya, A.E. Cherkinsky, 2012, published in Pochvovedenie, 2012, No. 10, pp. 1027–1044.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Mergelov, N.S., Goryachkin, S.V., Shorkunov, I.G. et al. Endolithic pedogenesis and rock varnish on massive crystalline rocks in East Antarctica. Eurasian Soil Sc. 45, 901–917 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1134/S1064229312100067

Download citation

Keywords

  • EURASIAN Soil Science
  • Fine Earth
  • Rock Varnish
  • Desert Varnish
  • Endolithic Community