Inlaid natural stones in Makrana Marble Taj Mausoleum of India

<p>Taj Mahal, the iconic mausoleum, known for finest quality white Makrana Marble from Rajasthan, is inlaid with numerous natural stones which add to the beauty of this architectural wonder from India. Makrana marble has been recently designated as a Global Heritage Stone Resource (GHSR) by IUGS. Makrana marble is the first GHSR from India and in fact the first from the whole of Asia to join the list of 22 designated GHSR’s from around the globe.</p><p>The Taj mausoleum is part of the Taj Mahal complex which has numerous edifices built in marble and red sandstone. The white Makrana Marble mausoleum is placed in the center of the northern periphery of the Complex. The main mausoleum is a magnificent octagonal edifice with its arched doorways, walls, floor adorned with intricate inlaid work in semi-precious natural stones and rocks that add an aesthetic dimension to this otherwise white marble edifice. The natural stones adorning the various components of the marble edifice include Yellow Jaisalmer Limestone, black slate, carnelian, agate, Khatu Rainbow Sandstone, onyx, lapis lazuli, malachite, jade, mother pearl, etc. The inlaid natural stones of Taj Mausoleum were procured from far off places during the Mughal rule in India.</p>

Microbiomes in an acidic rock–water cave system

ABSTRACT Belowground ecosystems are accessible by mining, where a specific microbial community can be discovered. The biodiversity of a former alum mine rich in carbon, but with a low pH of 2.6–3.7, was evaluated by DNA- and cultivation-dependent methods using samples of the black slate rock material, secondary mineralization phases and seepage water. Pyrite oxidation within the low-grade metamorphic Silurian black slate established high concentrations of Fe and $\rm{SO}_4^{2-}$ forming the extreme conditions visible with acidophilic and Fe-oxidizing microorganisms. In addition, an unexpected predominance of fungi in this C-rich and acidic cave ecosystem, including high numbers of Mucoromycota and Mortierellomycota, was detected. Therefore, fungal cultures were obtained, mainly from the secondary mineral phases that are iron phosphates. Hence, the fungi might well have been involved in phosphate mobilization there. The rock material itself is rich in organic carbon that can be used by oxidase activity. The cultivation setup mimicked the cave conditions (low temperature, low pH, oxic conditions), with one oligotrophic and one medium rich in nutrients that allowed for isolation of different fungal (and eutrophic bacterial) groups. The acidic conditions prevented the occurrence of many basidiomycetes, while the isolated fungi could survive these adverse conditions.