Variability and sampling strategy of cave wall concretion: Case study of the moonmilk found in Leye Cave (Dordogne)

A study of moonmilk deposits in Leye Cave, part of the UNESCO-listed Prehistoric Sites and Decorated Caves of the Vézère Valley, reveals that despite significant macroscopic diversity, these calcite formations exhibit low variability at a microscopic scale. This insight is crucial for optimizing sampling strategies in ornate caves where moonmilk poses a threat to cave art conservation. The research used scanning electron microscopy (SEM) on 24 samples from a single moonmilk strip, providing the first detailed investigation of its chemical composition and morphological structures over a few meters. The findings suggest that targeted micro-sampling can effectively characterize moonmilk without extensive macroscopic variability affecting results.

Mauran, G., Bassel, L., Ferrier, C., Lacanette, D., Bousquet, B., & Chapoulie, R. (2018). Variability and sampling strategy of cave wall concretion: Case study of the moonmilk found in Leye Cave (Dordogne). Archaeometry, 61(2), 327–341. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1111/arcm.12434