Desert Varnish

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desert varnish

or patina

Thin, dark red to black mineral coating (generally iron and manganese oxides and silica) deposited on pebbles and rocks on the surface of desert regions. As dew and soil moisture brought to the surface by capillary action evaporate, their dissolved minerals are deposited on the surface. Wind abrasion removes the softer salts and polishes the surface to a glossy finish. Both high evaporation rates and sufficient precipitation are necessary for desert varnish to form.

desert varnish [¦dez·ərt ′vär·nish]

(Geology)

rock varnish

Desert Varnish

a thin (0.5–5 mm) dark brown or black stain or crust on rock surfaces, including cliffs, boulders, and pebbles, in the desert. It consists of oxidized manganese and iron compounds precipitated from a solution that rises to the surface by capillarity as a result of the abrupt changes in rock temperature in the course of the 24-hour day.

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No references found			Reddish-orange material deposits, which resemble mineral mantles known as desert varnish, started appearing on the tumbled flasks. Mars turned red due to grinding rocks, not water by Asian News International The dark film, known as desert varnish, traps microbes and other life forms in its sticky surface. Varnish is key to life on Mars by The Mirror (London, England) The petroglyph group used brushes to make a desert varnish on their rocks. Rock art by Henn, Cynthia A. / School Arts			Descurainia Desdemona Dese deseaming Desecheo National Wildlife Refuge desegregation Desensitization desensitizer Deseret deserialize Desert desert climate Desert Crust desert devil Desert Fauna desert island desert lily Desert Locust Desert National Wildlife Range desert pavement desert peneplain desert plain desert polish desert soil desert trumpet Desert Varnish desert wind Desert Zone of the Temperate Belt Desert Zones Desert Zones of Subtropical Belts Desert Zones of Tropical Belts deserticolous desertification Desertion desexualization Desha County Desiatina Desiatinnaia Gosudareva Pashnia Desiatni Desiccant Desiccants Desiccation desiccation breccia desiccation crack desiccator Desiderio da Settignano Desiderius Desiderius Erasmus Design Design Aesthetics design class			Desert Storm Special Study Project Desert Storm, Operation Desert Stream Ministries desert sunflower Desert Sunset Waves Radio Desert Sunshine Exposure Testing Inc. Desert tea Desert tea Desert tea Desert Test Center Desert Tiger Stripe desert to desert tobacco desert tortoise desert tortoise Desert Tortoise Monitoring Committee Desert Tortoise Natural Area Desert Tortoise Preserve Committee, Inc. Desert Tortoise Recovery Office Desert Tortoise Recovery Plan Desert Tortoise Recovery Plan Assessment Committee Desert trumpet Desert trumpet Desert trumpet Desert trumpet Desert Valley Auto Parts Desert Valley Dachshund Club Desert Valley Medical Center Desert Valley Medical Group Desert Valleys Debate League Desert Varnish Desert Vets Desert Vets Desert Vets Desert View Animal Hospital Desert View Auto Auction Desert View Modified Community Correctional Facility Desert View Regional Medical Center Desert Vista High School Desert Waste Not Warehouse Desert Water Agency Desert Wildlife Management Area Desert Wildlife Unlimited, Inc. desert willow Desert Wind Desert Wind (Amtrak) Desert Wind (passenger train) Desert Wind Saxophone Quartet Desert Winds Freedom Band Desert Winds High School Desert Women's Golf Association Desert Youth Hockey Association Desert Z Association Desert Zinnia Desert Zone of the Temperate Belt Desert Zones Desert Zones of Subtropical Belts

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