Lechuguilla Cave

Quartz occurs in dolomite crusts in Carlsbad Cavern, Lechuguilla Cave, and probably other nearby caves, and within unusual iron oxide-rich stalactites (the Rusticles ) in Lechuguilla Cave. Most of the crystals of quartz were euhedral and 10-200 pm in diameter however some exceeded 200 pm in diameter (Fig. 3). In the Rusticles of Lechuguilla Cave, quartz crystals, along with dolomite and calcite, formed cement in the central canal of these stalactites. Within the quartz were filaments of iron-... 

Davis, D.G., Palmer, M.V., and Palmer, A.N., 1990, Extraordinary subaqueous speleothems in Lechuguilla Cave, New Mexico, Nat Speleol Soc Bull, 52 70-86. 

Provencio, P.P. and Polyak, V.J. 2001, Iron Oxide Rich Filaments Possible Fossil Bacteria in Lechuguilla Cave, New Mexico, GeomicrobiolJ, in press. 

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