A Note on Biogenic Effects of Coralloid Speleothems in Round Mountain Lava Cave, Oregon, U.S.A.

Corralloid speleothems from Round Mountain lave cave are are studied by scanning microscope and electron microprobe analyses. Scanning microscopy observation indicates that the diatom Melosira seems to contribute significantly to siliceous coralloid speleothems Electron microprobe confirms the presence of diatom and fragmental minerals(plagioclase and orthopyroxene) in coralloid speleothems. Chemical analysis of 3 diatom cells gives SiO2(74.8%), Al2O3(0.12%), FeO(0.11%), CaO(0.47%) and MgO(0.81%).