Guano minerals from Murra-el-elevyn Cave Western Australia

Abstract

Summary Biphosphammite, ammonian KH 2 PO 4 , syngenite, aphthitalite, monetite, hannayite, whitloekite, apatite and minor gypsum, taylorite, brushite, mirabilite, guanine, and unidentified compounds form crystalline crusts on the walls and floors of a chamber of Murra-el-elevyn Cave, Cocklebiddy, Nullarbor Plain, Western Australia. The minerals are derived from the interaction of bat urine, droppings, and limestone. Analyses for CaO, MgO, Na 2 O, K 2 O, SO 3 , P 2 O 5 , CO 2 , NH 3 , H 2 O - , total N, and ignition loss are given. High K 2 O and low total N figures are characteristic of the analyses.