Pub Date : 2022-10-01DOI: 10.5038/1827-806x.51.3.2433
Lukas Plan, Gottfried Buchegger, E. Kaminsky, G. Koltai, Tanguy Racine, J. Szczygieł
The 116 km-long and 1560 m-deep Hirlatzhöhle is one of the major cave systems in the Northern Calcareous Alps (NCA; Austria). It is located in the NW part of the Dachstein, an extensive karst massif encompassing 576 km² with its highest point at 2995 m a.s.l. In contrast to most other caves in the NCA, Hirlatzhöhle comprises old (epi)phreatic passages located up to 1 km above the base level as well as two modern major drainage systems. The aim of this study is to define the palaeo- and the active flow conditions in combination with speleogenesis, and the age of the cave levels of Hirlatzhöhle. We use morphological as well as sedimentological studies and correlations with other caves. Another difference from cave systems in the NCA is that the majority of passages in Hirlatzhöhle are not developed within the so-called Giant Cave Level between 1200 and 1800 m a.s.l., but deeper between 800 and 1300 m. Most parts of Hirlatzhöhle developed under epiphreatic conditions as indicated by rills and condensation corrosion cupolas, which is the case for much other cave systems in the NCA. In contrast, paragenetic features like canyons and ceiling channels are relatively rare as are insoluble sediments. Elongated scallops indicate that flow velocities were high and abrasive sediments were abundant. Opposite to the nearby Dachstein-Mammuthöhle and other caves east of it that show a west-directed palaeo-flow, scallops in Hirlatzhöhle indicate a NE-directed palaeo-flow and an autogenic recharge. Modern drainage is autogenic and N- to NE-directed as well. Even though burial age dating did not give reasonable results for Hirlatzhöhle yet, the correlation with other adjacent caves suggests a Late Pliocene to Early Pleistocene age of the main palaeo-phreatic level. This is supported by an infinite U-Th age (>0.6 Ma) of a flowstone.
{"title":"Flow regime evolution of a major cave system in the Eastern Alps (Hirlatzhöhle, Dachstein)","authors":"Lukas Plan, Gottfried Buchegger, E. Kaminsky, G. Koltai, Tanguy Racine, J. Szczygieł","doi":"10.5038/1827-806x.51.3.2433","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5038/1827-806x.51.3.2433","url":null,"abstract":"The 116 km-long and 1560 m-deep Hirlatzhöhle is one of the major cave systems in the Northern Calcareous Alps (NCA; Austria). It is located in the NW part of the Dachstein, an extensive karst massif encompassing 576 km² with its highest point at 2995 m a.s.l. In contrast to most other caves in the NCA, Hirlatzhöhle comprises old (epi)phreatic passages located up to 1 km above the base level as well as two modern major drainage systems. The aim of this study is to define the palaeo- and the active flow conditions in combination with speleogenesis, and the age of the cave levels of Hirlatzhöhle. We use morphological as well as sedimentological studies and correlations with other caves. Another difference from cave systems in the NCA is that the majority of passages in Hirlatzhöhle are not developed within the so-called Giant Cave Level between 1200 and 1800 m a.s.l., but deeper between 800 and 1300 m. Most parts of Hirlatzhöhle developed under epiphreatic conditions as indicated by rills and condensation corrosion cupolas, which is the case for much other cave systems in the NCA. In contrast, paragenetic features like canyons and ceiling channels are relatively rare as are insoluble sediments. Elongated scallops indicate that flow velocities were high and abrasive sediments were abundant. Opposite to the nearby Dachstein-Mammuthöhle and other caves east of it that show a west-directed palaeo-flow, scallops in Hirlatzhöhle indicate a NE-directed palaeo-flow and an autogenic recharge. Modern drainage is autogenic and N- to NE-directed as well. Even though burial age dating did not give reasonable results for Hirlatzhöhle yet, the correlation with other adjacent caves suggests a Late Pliocene to Early Pleistocene age of the main palaeo-phreatic level. This is supported by an infinite U-Th age (>0.6 Ma) of a flowstone.","PeriodicalId":56286,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Speleology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2022-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"43781634","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-09-01DOI: 10.5038/1827-806x.51.2.2427
J. Adamovič, Jaroslav Kukla, M. Filippi, R. Skála, N. Mészárosová
A variety of speleothems are present in crevice and boulder caves developed in Cretaceous sandstones of the Elbe River Canyon in northern Czech Republic. A set of complementary instrumental mineralogical methods was applied to characterize the speleothems and cave dripwaters, including X-ray powder diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and microanalysis, Raman spectroscopy and optical emission spectrometry. Four morphological types were distinguished and characterized in terms of their mineral and chemical composition: 1, rusty brown mud-dominated coatings with micro-gours, composed of a mixture of clay minerals; 2, white “chalky” coatings (moonmilk) composed of calcite with minor gypsum; 3, cauliflower-shaped coralloids composed of calcite and silica in a layered structure, with gypsum layers in apical parts; 4, knob coralloids, dark gray-brown with smooth surfaces and distinctly layered structures, composed of silica (quartz, opal-A) and Si–Al phases (kaolinite) and including phosphate-rich laminae (sasaite, vashegyite, taranakite). Only modest microbial mediation of silica precipitation was observed in cauliflower-shaped coralloids while no clear signs are present in knob coralloids despite organic enrichment in the topmost layer. White “chalky” coatings and cauliflower-shaped coralloids precipitated from weakly acidic Ca-, Mg- and sulphate-rich deeper sandstone percolates. These forms are probably still active, much like the micro-gours, produced by particulate clay deposition. Formation of knob coralloids combined clay deposition and the dominant silica precipitation from pore waters similar to the present shallow acidic percolates under changing climatic conditions, probably in the Pleistocene. It was favored by specific rock lithology (quartzose sandstone with kaolinite admixture), which explains the scarcity of similar forms in sandstone caves. Concentration of knob coralloids along protruding vertical edges and the presence of wind-guided forms suggests that silica precipitation was driven by evaporation under a constant air flow.
{"title":"Speleothems in sandstone crevice and boulder caves of the Elbe River Canyon, Czech Republic","authors":"J. Adamovič, Jaroslav Kukla, M. Filippi, R. Skála, N. Mészárosová","doi":"10.5038/1827-806x.51.2.2427","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5038/1827-806x.51.2.2427","url":null,"abstract":"A variety of speleothems are present in crevice and boulder caves developed in Cretaceous sandstones of the Elbe River Canyon in northern Czech Republic. A set of complementary instrumental mineralogical methods was applied to characterize the speleothems and cave dripwaters, including X-ray powder diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and microanalysis, Raman spectroscopy and optical emission spectrometry. Four morphological types were distinguished and characterized in terms of their mineral and chemical composition: 1, rusty brown mud-dominated coatings with micro-gours, composed of a mixture of clay minerals; 2, white “chalky” coatings (moonmilk) composed of calcite with minor gypsum; 3, cauliflower-shaped coralloids composed of calcite and silica in a layered structure, with gypsum layers in apical parts; 4, knob coralloids, dark gray-brown with smooth surfaces and distinctly layered structures, composed of silica (quartz, opal-A) and Si–Al phases (kaolinite) and including phosphate-rich laminae (sasaite, vashegyite, taranakite). Only modest microbial mediation of silica precipitation was observed in cauliflower-shaped coralloids while no clear signs are present in knob coralloids despite organic enrichment in the topmost layer. White “chalky” coatings and cauliflower-shaped coralloids precipitated from weakly acidic Ca-, Mg- and sulphate-rich deeper sandstone percolates. These forms are probably still active, much like the micro-gours, produced by particulate clay deposition. Formation of knob coralloids combined clay deposition and the dominant silica precipitation from pore waters similar to the present shallow acidic percolates under changing climatic conditions, probably in the Pleistocene. It was favored by specific rock lithology (quartzose sandstone with kaolinite admixture), which explains the scarcity of similar forms in sandstone caves. Concentration of knob coralloids along protruding vertical edges and the presence of wind-guided forms suggests that silica precipitation was driven by evaporation under a constant air flow.","PeriodicalId":56286,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Speleology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2022-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"48958102","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-08-01DOI: 10.5038/1827-806x.51.2.2435
D. Merritt, C. Hendy, Shannon Corkill
Waitomo Glowworm Cave is a highly visited cave where the highlight is viewing the bioluminescence display of a large colony of glowworms. Anthropogenic carbon dioxide build-up in the cave is prevented by management of chimney-effect ventilation aided by a network of microclimate sensors. A cave door prevents ventilationunder drying conditions and promotes it when necessary to clear CO2 and when inflowing air has high relative humidity. A COVID-19-related nationwide “lockdown” in New Zealand from March 2020 resulted in neither staff nor visitors being present in the cave for 60 days, and provided an opportunity to assess the natural microclimate of the cave, especially the natural variation in partial pressure of carbon dioxide (pCO2). In addition, comparison to the previous year showed that the presence of people in the cave increased the cave temperatures but the effect was short-lived due to cave ventilation. During the period of lockdown, the daily increase of carbon dioxide partial pressure (pCO2) due to visitors was absent. When the cave door remained sealed, pCO2 varied and tended to lie at levels above that of the external atmosphere (410 ppm). Notably, rain events raised pCO2 by up to 200 ppm (v/v), which appeared to be sourced from both stream water and drip water. These natural CO2 sources rarely reached the levels associated with cave visitation. The results support current management practices that use door control to enhance cave ventilation when people are in the cave or when natural conditions (high stream levels and high drip-water levels) promote CO2 outgassing into the cave. Suppressing ventilation outside of those times reduces the risk of introducing dry air that could desiccate the glowworms.
{"title":"Absence of visitors during lockdown reveals natural variation in carbon dioxide level in the Glowworm Cave, Waitomo, New Zealand","authors":"D. Merritt, C. Hendy, Shannon Corkill","doi":"10.5038/1827-806x.51.2.2435","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5038/1827-806x.51.2.2435","url":null,"abstract":"Waitomo Glowworm Cave is a highly visited cave where the highlight is viewing the bioluminescence display of a large colony of glowworms. Anthropogenic carbon dioxide build-up in the cave is prevented by management of chimney-effect ventilation aided by a network of microclimate sensors. A cave door prevents ventilationunder drying conditions and promotes it when necessary to clear CO2 and when inflowing air has high relative humidity. A COVID-19-related nationwide “lockdown” in New Zealand from March 2020 resulted in neither staff nor visitors being present in the cave for 60 days, and provided an opportunity to assess the natural microclimate of the cave, especially the natural variation in partial pressure of carbon dioxide (pCO2). In addition, comparison to the previous year showed that the presence of people in the cave increased the cave temperatures but the effect was short-lived due to cave ventilation. During the period of lockdown, the daily increase of carbon dioxide partial pressure (pCO2) due to visitors was absent. When the cave door remained sealed, pCO2 varied and tended to lie at levels above that of the external atmosphere (410 ppm). Notably, rain events raised pCO2 by up to 200 ppm (v/v), which appeared to be sourced from both stream water and drip water. These natural CO2 sources rarely reached the levels associated with cave visitation. The results support current management practices that use door control to enhance cave ventilation when people are in the cave or when natural conditions (high stream levels and high drip-water levels) promote CO2 outgassing into the cave. Suppressing ventilation outside of those times reduces the risk of introducing dry air that could desiccate the glowworms.","PeriodicalId":56286,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Speleology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2022-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"46854700","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-08-01DOI: 10.5038/1827-806x.51.2.2436
Lydia T. Albright, Gregory S. Springer
Open conduit modeling of cave stream floods can yield useful information about water velocities and shear stresses, which can in turn be used to estimate sediment transport capabilities. All such calculations require roughness coefficients for estimating energy losses and a priori knowledge of either discharge or flow depths to set model boundary conditions. However, the difficulties associated with observing in-cave floods generally preclude measuring discharge; roughness coefficients must be assumed based on channel properties. To overcome these challenges, we monitored stream flow depths in Fullers Cave, Greenbrier County, West Virginia using pressure transducers, and simultaneously measured stage and discharge in a karst window immediately upstream of the cave. Five pressure transducers were deployed opportunistically along a 93-meter-long reach in a 10+ meter high canyon averaging 1.5 to 3 meters wide. Stage-discharge relationships were determined for the karst window using an electromagnetic flow meter for floods with peak discharges of 1.66 m3 s-1 or less. The collected data was used to obtain the empirical Manning’s n roughness values, head losses, and energy gradients. Calculated floodwater velocities are comparable to values obtained from scallops on passage walls. Major energy losses were observed where breakdown partially occludes the passage. At peak flow, Manning n values average 0.053 for reaches typified as cobble-floored canyons, but n was 0.069 in the breakdown reach. Roughness values declined exponentially with increasing discharge, but friction slopes calculated using head losses show more complex relationships with discharge. Notably, n values back calculated using bed gradients differ from those calculated using measured head losses by as little as 12%, so the use of bed gradients in roughness estimations will generally yield reasonable approximations of flow conditions. Fullers Cave experiences significantly larger open conduit floods than we observed, so additional work is needed to estimate roughness coefficients for higher discharges. Our empirical roughness coefficients can be applied to similar cave passages in other caves and contexts, including modeling slot canyon-like channels, and our methods demonstrate a technique for measuring hard to obtain data. The addition of data for open conduit conduits significantly expands the range of environments that can be modeled using empirical data beyond pipe-full caves. Applications include studying flooding, sediment transport, and bedrock erosion process. All of these topics will be addressed in Fullers in the future.
{"title":"Empirical roughness coefficients for moderate floods in an open conduit cave: Fullers stream canyon, Culverson Creek Cave System, West Virginia","authors":"Lydia T. Albright, Gregory S. Springer","doi":"10.5038/1827-806x.51.2.2436","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5038/1827-806x.51.2.2436","url":null,"abstract":"Open conduit modeling of cave stream floods can yield useful information about water velocities and shear stresses, which can in turn be used to estimate sediment transport capabilities. All such calculations require roughness coefficients for estimating energy losses and a priori knowledge of either discharge or flow depths to set model boundary conditions. However, the difficulties associated with observing in-cave floods generally preclude measuring discharge; roughness coefficients must be assumed based on channel properties. To overcome these challenges, we monitored stream flow depths in Fullers Cave, Greenbrier County, West Virginia using pressure transducers, and simultaneously measured stage and discharge in a karst window immediately upstream of the cave. Five pressure transducers were deployed opportunistically along a 93-meter-long reach in a 10+ meter high canyon averaging 1.5 to 3 meters wide. Stage-discharge relationships were determined for the karst window using an electromagnetic flow meter for floods with peak discharges of 1.66 m3 s-1 or less. The collected data was used to obtain the empirical Manning’s n roughness values, head losses, and energy gradients. Calculated floodwater velocities are comparable to values obtained from scallops on passage walls. Major energy losses were observed where breakdown partially occludes the passage. At peak flow, Manning n values average 0.053 for reaches typified as cobble-floored canyons, but n was 0.069 in the breakdown reach. Roughness values declined exponentially with increasing discharge, but friction slopes calculated using head losses show more complex relationships with discharge. Notably, n values back calculated using bed gradients differ from those calculated using measured head losses by as little as 12%, so the use of bed gradients in roughness estimations will generally yield reasonable approximations of flow conditions. Fullers Cave experiences significantly larger open conduit floods than we observed, so additional work is needed to estimate roughness coefficients for higher discharges. Our empirical roughness coefficients can be applied to similar cave passages in other caves and contexts, including modeling slot canyon-like channels, and our methods demonstrate a technique for measuring hard to obtain data. The addition of data for open conduit conduits significantly expands the range of environments that can be modeled using empirical data beyond pipe-full caves. Applications include studying flooding, sediment transport, and bedrock erosion process. All of these topics will be addressed in Fullers in the future.","PeriodicalId":56286,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Speleology","volume":"1 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2022-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"42473742","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-07-01DOI: 10.5038/1827-806x.51.2.2418
Lais Furtado Oliveira, R. Ferreira, J. Fernández, M. Souza Silva
The cave’s physical environment can be affected by tourism activities but only a few studies evaluated how recreational use may affect the cave fauna, mainly in caves with a low number of visitors per year. To test the hypothesis that recreational use led to changes in habitat structure and invertebrate diversity, distinct scales along a cave were analyzed. Distinct areas with and without human visitation were analyzed and transects (10 x 3 m) and quadrats (1 x 1 m) were used to access the invertebrate communities and environmental traits. Thirty-two invertebrate species were recorded, among which six are troglobitic. The similarity of non- troglobitic species differed between the visited and non-visited areas. Substrate composition inside transects differed between the two areas and the differences were higher in the percentage of matrix rock and fine sediments. The distance from the entrance influenced the similarity of non-troglobitic species while troglobitic fauna responded to the proportion of sandy sediment. Inside quadrats, both matrix rock and fine sediments influenced the similarity of non-troglobitic species. Similarity of non-troglobitic species in the visited area was explained by the proportion of matrix rock in transects and quadrats. The proportion of cobbles influenced the similarity of non-troglobitic species in quadrats in the non-visited area. The non-troglobitic species richness inside quadrants was positively related to the amount of guano, wood, fine sediment, boulders, cobbles, matrix rock, sand sediment, and plant debris. Differentiation in habitat structure and faunal composition between the two areas seems to be an effect of distance from the entrance and spatial heterogeneity, but not recreational activities.
洞穴的自然环境可能会受到旅游活动的影响，但只有少数研究评估了娱乐利用如何影响洞穴动物，主要是在每年游客数量较少的洞穴中。为了验证休闲利用导致栖息地结构和无脊椎动物多样性变化的假设，研究人员分析了沿洞穴的不同尺度。分析了有和没有人类访问的不同区域，并使用样带(10 x 3 m)和样方(1 x 1 m)来获取无脊椎动物群落和环境特征。记录到32种无脊椎动物，其中6种为穴居动物。非穴居物种的相似性在参观区和非参观区之间存在差异。两区样带内的基质组成存在差异，其中基质岩和细粒沉积物的比例差异较大。与入口的距离影响非穴居动物的相似性，而穴居动物的动物群对砂质沉积物的比例有响应。在样方内，基质岩和细粒沉积物都影响非穴居物种的相似性。研究区非穴居物种的相似性可以用样带和样方中基质岩石的比例来解释。鹅卵石的比例影响了未到访区样方中非穴居物种的相似性。象限内非居地物种丰富度与鸟粪、木材、细沉积物、巨石、鹅卵石、基质岩、沙质沉积物和植物碎屑的数量呈正相关。两区生境结构和动物组成的差异主要受入口距离和空间异质性的影响，而非游憩活动的影响。
{"title":"Recreational caving impacts of visitors in a high-altitude cave in Bolivian Andes: main effects on microhabitat structure and faunal distribution","authors":"Lais Furtado Oliveira, R. Ferreira, J. Fernández, M. Souza Silva","doi":"10.5038/1827-806x.51.2.2418","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5038/1827-806x.51.2.2418","url":null,"abstract":"The cave’s physical environment can be affected by tourism activities but only a few studies evaluated how recreational use may affect the cave fauna, mainly in caves with a low number of visitors per year. To test the hypothesis that recreational use led to changes in habitat structure and invertebrate diversity, distinct scales along a cave were analyzed. Distinct areas with and without human visitation were analyzed and transects (10 x 3 m) and quadrats (1 x 1 m) were used to access the invertebrate communities and environmental traits. Thirty-two invertebrate species were recorded, among which six are troglobitic. The similarity of non- troglobitic species differed between the visited and non-visited areas. Substrate composition inside transects differed between the two areas and the differences were higher in the percentage of matrix rock and fine sediments. The distance from the entrance influenced the similarity of non-troglobitic species while troglobitic fauna responded to the proportion of sandy sediment. Inside quadrats, both matrix rock and fine sediments influenced the similarity of non-troglobitic species. Similarity of non-troglobitic species in the visited area was explained by the proportion of matrix rock in transects and quadrats. The proportion of cobbles influenced the similarity of non-troglobitic species in quadrats in the non-visited area. The non-troglobitic species richness inside quadrants was positively related to the amount of guano, wood, fine sediment, boulders, cobbles, matrix rock, sand sediment, and plant debris. Differentiation in habitat structure and faunal composition between the two areas seems to be an effect of distance from the entrance and spatial heterogeneity, but not recreational activities.","PeriodicalId":56286,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Speleology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2022-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"45841890","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-07-01DOI: 10.5038/1827-806x.51.2.2420
P. Bella, H. Hercman, Šimon Kdýr, P. Mikysek, P. Pruner, Juraj Littva, J. Minár, Michał Gradziński, Wojciech Wróblewski, Marek Velšmid, P. Bosák
Hypogene caves in the Plavecký hradný vrch Hill (Western Slovakia, Central Europe) were formed by waters ascending along faults in fractured Triassic carbonates related to the horst-graben structure at the contact of the Malé Karpaty Mountains and the NE part of the Vienna Basin. The Plavecká jaskyňa and Pec caves mostly contain horizontal passages and chambers with flat corrosion bedrock floors, fissure discharge feeders, wall water-table notches, replacement pockets, as well as a few other speleogens associated with sulfuric acid speleogenesis. The low-temperature sulfuric acid development phases of the Plavecká Jaskyňa are also indicated by the presence of sulfate minerals (i.e., gypsum and jarosite).Subaerial calcite popcorn rims were precipitated from water condensation at the edges of feeding fissures that were still active as thermal vents when the water table dropped. Hydrogen sulfide involved in the sulfuric acid speleogenesis was likely derived from anhydrites and/or hydrocarbon reservoirs with sulfate-saline connate waters in the fill of the adjacent Vienna Basin. It ascended to the surface along deep-rooted sub-vertical fault zones at the contact of the Vienna Basin with neighboring mountains. Three cave levels at 295 to 283 m asl in the Pec Cave, and five levels at 225 to 214 m asl in the Plavecká jaskyňa corresponded to phases of stable local erosional base levels in the bordering part of the Vienna Basin, most likely during periods of strongly decelerated and/or interrupted subsidence. Cave levels separated by vertical differences of only a few meters may also be related to the Pleistocene climatic cycles. The subhorizontal parts of the Pec Cave are probably of late Early Pleistocene age (˃0.99–1.07 Ma?). The two highest levels of the Plavecká jaskyňa developed during the early Middle Pleistocene (˃600 ka). Fine-grained sediments in the passage at 225 m asl with normal magnetic polarity contain jarosite. The middle level of the Plavecká jaskyňa at 220 m asl was formed in the mid-Middle Pleistocene, while the lower and lowermost levels formed in the late Middle Pleistocene (˃270 ka). The water table in the lowermost cave level probably dropped after the tectonic reactivation of the Podmalokarpatská zníženina Depression just in the front of a marginal horst structure of the Malé Karpaty Mountains.
{"title":"Sulfuric acid speleogenesis and surface landform evolution along the Vienna Basin Transfer Fault: Plavecký Karst, Slovakia","authors":"P. Bella, H. Hercman, Šimon Kdýr, P. Mikysek, P. Pruner, Juraj Littva, J. Minár, Michał Gradziński, Wojciech Wróblewski, Marek Velšmid, P. Bosák","doi":"10.5038/1827-806x.51.2.2420","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5038/1827-806x.51.2.2420","url":null,"abstract":"Hypogene caves in the Plavecký hradný vrch Hill (Western Slovakia, Central Europe) were formed by waters ascending along faults in fractured Triassic carbonates related to the horst-graben structure at the contact of the Malé Karpaty Mountains and the NE part of the Vienna Basin. The Plavecká jaskyňa and Pec caves mostly contain horizontal passages and chambers with flat corrosion bedrock floors, fissure discharge feeders, wall water-table notches, replacement pockets, as well as a few other speleogens associated with sulfuric acid speleogenesis. The low-temperature sulfuric acid development phases of the Plavecká Jaskyňa are also indicated by the presence of sulfate minerals (i.e., gypsum and jarosite).Subaerial calcite popcorn rims were precipitated from water condensation at the edges of feeding fissures that were still active as thermal vents when the water table dropped. Hydrogen sulfide involved in the sulfuric acid speleogenesis was likely derived from anhydrites and/or hydrocarbon reservoirs with sulfate-saline connate waters in the fill of the adjacent Vienna Basin. It ascended to the surface along deep-rooted sub-vertical fault zones at the contact of the Vienna Basin with neighboring mountains. Three cave levels at 295 to 283 m asl in the Pec Cave, and five levels at 225 to 214 m asl in the Plavecká jaskyňa corresponded to phases of stable local erosional base levels in the bordering part of the Vienna Basin, most likely during periods of strongly decelerated and/or interrupted subsidence. Cave levels separated by vertical differences of only a few meters may also be related to the Pleistocene climatic cycles. The subhorizontal parts of the Pec Cave are probably of late Early Pleistocene age (˃0.99–1.07 Ma?). The two highest levels of the Plavecká jaskyňa developed during the early Middle Pleistocene (˃600 ka). Fine-grained sediments in the passage at 225 m asl with normal magnetic polarity contain jarosite. The middle level of the Plavecká jaskyňa at 220 m asl was formed in the mid-Middle Pleistocene, while the lower and lowermost levels formed in the late Middle Pleistocene (˃270 ka). The water table in the lowermost cave level probably dropped after the tectonic reactivation of the Podmalokarpatská zníženina Depression just in the front of a marginal horst structure of the Malé Karpaty Mountains.","PeriodicalId":56286,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Speleology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2022-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"43707473","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-05-01DOI: 10.5038/1827-806x.51.2.2413
P. Audra, Jean-Yves Bigot, D. Laurent, Nathalie Vanara, Didier Cailhol, Gérard Cazenave
The Camou springs (Arbailles Massif, French Western Pyrenees) display an unusual close association of a typically cold karstic spring that drains the Urgonian western limb of the Arbailles, and a thermo-mineral spring (33.5°C; salinity 17.7 g/L). The latter gains its mineralization at the contact of Triassic evaporites mainly through a deep loop in the Apanicé syncline. The fast upflow of this deep water occurs at the cross of large active lines (the North-Pyrenean thrust located at depth, and the Saison transverse fault). Cave diving in the nearby Maddalen Cave allowed reaching the phreatic passage at the origin of the cold spring, which however also crosses the thermal body in the third sump (S3). Both water bodies are separated by a sharp thermocline. 6 pressure-temperature dataloggers were placed in both water bodies along the thermocline for 6 months. The dataloggers located downstream on either side of the thermocline show at the beginning of flood first a rise of the thermal body, then an invasion of the whole phreatic passage by the cold floodwater, controlled by head pressure changes in the karst aquifer. From observation of these mechanisms, we deduce a hydrodynamic model with a warm plume rising into the cold aquifer, without significant mixing. Such independence of water bodies is explained by the decrease of turbulent rate at the interface, due to the sharp density gradient. The relative absence of mixing does not actually require independent “watertight” routes, both water bodies can thus coexist even in the same conduit. This model locally implies the existence of unknown secondary passages close to the spring, which allow an independent draining of each water body toward separate outlets during low stage. Such type of stratified aquifer linked to density differences is common in coastal karst (Florida, French Calanques…), in the continental evaporite karst (Schlotten of the Harz in Germany, Kungur karst in Ural…), but remains poorly identified in continental carbonate karst areas, mainly because of the difficulty of access. Together with the Mescla spring in French Alpes-Maritimes, the Camou twin springs discharging in the same porch are an outstanding example, allowing a direct study of the stratification and the dynamic of highly contrasted water bodies.
{"title":"Hydrodynamic model for independent cold and thermo-mineral twin springs in a stratified continental karst aquifer, Camou, Arbailles Massif, Pyrénées, France","authors":"P. Audra, Jean-Yves Bigot, D. Laurent, Nathalie Vanara, Didier Cailhol, Gérard Cazenave","doi":"10.5038/1827-806x.51.2.2413","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5038/1827-806x.51.2.2413","url":null,"abstract":"The Camou springs (Arbailles Massif, French Western Pyrenees) display an unusual close association of a typically cold karstic spring that drains the Urgonian western limb of the Arbailles, and a thermo-mineral spring (33.5°C; salinity 17.7 g/L). The latter gains its mineralization at the contact of Triassic evaporites mainly through a deep loop in the Apanicé syncline. The fast upflow of this deep water occurs at the cross of large active lines (the North-Pyrenean thrust located at depth, and the Saison transverse fault). Cave diving in the nearby Maddalen Cave allowed reaching the phreatic passage at the origin of the cold spring, which however also crosses the thermal body in the third sump (S3). Both water bodies are separated by a sharp thermocline. 6 pressure-temperature dataloggers were placed in both water bodies along the thermocline for 6 months. The dataloggers located downstream on either side of the thermocline show at the beginning of flood first a rise of the thermal body, then an invasion of the whole phreatic passage by the cold floodwater, controlled by head pressure changes in the karst aquifer. From observation of these mechanisms, we deduce a hydrodynamic model with a warm plume rising into the cold aquifer, without significant mixing. Such independence of water bodies is explained by the decrease of turbulent rate at the interface, due to the sharp density gradient. The relative absence of mixing does not actually require independent “watertight” routes, both water bodies can thus coexist even in the same conduit. This model locally implies the existence of unknown secondary passages close to the spring, which allow an independent draining of each water body toward separate outlets during low stage. Such type of stratified aquifer linked to density differences is common in coastal karst (Florida, French Calanques…), in the continental evaporite karst (Schlotten of the Harz in Germany, Kungur karst in Ural…), but remains poorly identified in continental carbonate karst areas, mainly because of the difficulty of access. Together with the Mescla spring in French Alpes-Maritimes, the Camou twin springs discharging in the same porch are an outstanding example, allowing a direct study of the stratification and the dynamic of highly contrasted water bodies.","PeriodicalId":56286,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Speleology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2022-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"47272080","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-04-01DOI: 10.5038/1827-806x.51.1.2414
Annika Gomell, A. Pflitsch
Recent speleoclimatological research has shed new light on air pressure dynamics inside barometric caves by identifying pressure-modifying processes and resulting systematic differences between cave and surface air pressure. Based on these new findings, a multi- step quantitative model is developed and explored to predict air pressure inside Wind Cave and Jewel Cave – two major barometric cave systems in the Black Hills of South Dakota, USA – from external surface measurements. Therefore, each identified speleoclimatological pressure process is translated into a mathematical operation. Model evaluation based on Pearson correlation and mean (absolute) deviation between model outputs and control measurements yields good to excellent results: Depending on the location, the presented model predicts 99.2% to 99.7% of measured air pressure inside Wind Cave compared to 90.3% and 99.4% inside Jewel Cave, thus proving that the previously identified and now modeled processes adequately and comprehensively describe the speleoclimatological pressure dynamics inside barometric caves. Slightly weaker model performance is observed at the lower elevator level inside Wind Cave and at Deep Camp inside Jewel Cave due to irregular pressure disturbances caused by elevator operation and unique morphological features in the deeper parts of Jewel Cave, respectively. Comparative spatial analyses of model constants and model accuracies at all investigated locations reveal significant differences in pressure patterns between the caves, thus demonstrating the effect of morphological characteristics on air pressure propagation and resulting modifications. The findings also support earlier research in Wind Cave and Jewel Cave as they provide speleoclimatological background for previously observed differences in airflow dynamics between both caves. Therefore, this study presents an important contribution to understanding the complex speleoclimatology of barometric caves.
{"title":"Modeling air pressure propagation through Wind Cave and Jewel Cave: How can air pressure signals inside barometric caves be predicted from surface pressure measurements?","authors":"Annika Gomell, A. Pflitsch","doi":"10.5038/1827-806x.51.1.2414","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5038/1827-806x.51.1.2414","url":null,"abstract":"Recent speleoclimatological research has shed new light on air pressure dynamics inside barometric caves by identifying pressure-modifying processes and resulting systematic differences between cave and surface air pressure. Based on these new findings, a multi- step quantitative model is developed and explored to predict air pressure inside Wind Cave and Jewel Cave – two major barometric cave systems in the Black Hills of South Dakota, USA – from external surface measurements. Therefore, each identified speleoclimatological pressure process is translated into a mathematical operation. Model evaluation based on Pearson correlation and mean (absolute) deviation between model outputs and control measurements yields good to excellent results: Depending on the location, the presented model predicts 99.2% to 99.7% of measured air pressure inside Wind Cave compared to 90.3% and 99.4% inside Jewel Cave, thus proving that the previously identified and now modeled processes adequately and comprehensively describe the speleoclimatological pressure dynamics inside barometric caves. Slightly weaker model performance is observed at the lower elevator level inside Wind Cave and at Deep Camp inside Jewel Cave due to irregular pressure disturbances caused by elevator operation and unique morphological features in the deeper parts of Jewel Cave, respectively. Comparative spatial analyses of model constants and model accuracies at all investigated locations reveal significant differences in pressure patterns between the caves, thus demonstrating the effect of morphological characteristics on air pressure propagation and resulting modifications. The findings also support earlier research in Wind Cave and Jewel Cave as they provide speleoclimatological background for previously observed differences in airflow dynamics between both caves. Therefore, this study presents an important contribution to understanding the complex speleoclimatology of barometric caves.","PeriodicalId":56286,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Speleology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2022-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"43431111","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-02-01DOI: 10.5038/1827-806x.51.1.2411
C. Hendy, D. Merritt, Shannon Corkill
Waitomo Glowworm Cave is a highly visited cave where the highlight is viewing the bioluminescence display of a large colony of glowworms. The visitation levels result in the build-up of anthropogenic CO2, to the extent that it could cause corrosion of speleothems. The cave experiences chimney-effect ventilation with air flowing either upward or downward through the main cave chambers depending on air density differences between the cave and the outside environment. Lack of airflow leads to CO2 build-up; however, unrestricted airflow can draw in cool, dry air which is harmful to the glowworms. Consequently, airflow is managed by controlling the opening and closing of a door that seals the upper-most entrance, preventing ventilation under drying conditions and promoting ventilation when it is necessary to clear CO2 and when inflowing air has high relative humidity. A network of microclimate sensors in the cave allows prediction and management of the ventilation pattern. Management leads to asymmetric airflow through the year, which has a flow-on effect on cave temperature. Microclimate monitoring supports the current management practices that use door control to enhance cave ventilation when people are in the cave. Suppressing airflow, especially in winter, reduces the introduction of dry air.
{"title":"Anthropogenic impacts on the Glowworm Cave, Waitomo, New Zealand: a microclimate management approach","authors":"C. Hendy, D. Merritt, Shannon Corkill","doi":"10.5038/1827-806x.51.1.2411","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5038/1827-806x.51.1.2411","url":null,"abstract":"Waitomo Glowworm Cave is a highly visited cave where the highlight is viewing the bioluminescence display of a large colony of glowworms. The visitation levels result in the build-up of anthropogenic CO2, to the extent that it could cause corrosion of speleothems. The cave experiences chimney-effect ventilation with air flowing either upward or downward through the main cave chambers depending on air density differences between the cave and the outside environment. Lack of airflow leads to CO2 build-up; however, unrestricted airflow can draw in cool, dry air which is harmful to the glowworms. Consequently, airflow is managed by controlling the opening and closing of a door that seals the upper-most entrance, preventing ventilation under drying conditions and promoting ventilation when it is necessary to clear CO2 and when inflowing air has high relative humidity. A network of microclimate sensors in the cave allows prediction and management of the ventilation pattern. Management leads to asymmetric airflow through the year, which has a flow-on effect on cave temperature. Microclimate monitoring supports the current management practices that use door control to enhance cave ventilation when people are in the cave. Suppressing airflow, especially in winter, reduces the introduction of dry air.","PeriodicalId":56286,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Speleology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2022-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"46147582","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-01-01DOI: 10.5038/1827-806x.51.1.2410
Antonio Merino Juncadella, J. Fornós, A. Mulet, J. Ginés
Cova de sa Guitarreta is located in the southern part of Mallorca Island (western Mediterranean). It was formed presumably by hypogenic processes in Upper Miocene reefal calcarenites. The cave hosts an important breeding colony of bats during the end of spring and early summer. Its microclimate is influenced by the presence of a thermal phreatic water table (27.7ºC) as well as by bat populations remaining in the cave along the reproductive season. The morphological bat-related features include bat claws and thumb marks scratches, together with several morphologies linked to bat excreta and aggressive leachates from guano. From the mineralogical point of view, this cave outstands regarding the presence of cave minerals linked to guano: nine phosphates have been identified, comprising three of them that are reported for the first time in Mallorcan caves (newberyite, struvite and whitlockite). Particularly interesting is the dichotomy between struvite and newberyite: the first one occurs when the cave is occupied by bat colonies (spring-summer), whereas in the colder seasons would occur the transformation of metastable struvite into a more stable newberyite. Caves with seasonal cyclical occupation of bat colonies could provide a new arena for the study of the guano-related mineral assemblages.
Cova de sa Guitarreta位于马略卡岛南部（地中海西部）。它可能是由上中新世reefal钙质砂屑岩的深成岩过程形成的。在春末夏初，洞穴里有一个重要的蝙蝠繁殖地。它的小气候受到热潜水水位（27.7ºC）的影响，也受到繁殖季节留在洞穴中的蝙蝠种群的影响。蝙蝠的形态特征包括蝙蝠爪和拇指痕迹抓痕，以及与蝙蝠排泄物和鸟粪中的侵蚀性浸出物有关的几种形态。从矿物学的角度来看，这个洞穴突出了与鸟粪有关的洞穴矿物的存在：已经鉴定出九种磷酸盐，其中三种是首次在马略卡岛洞穴中报道的（纽贝岩、鸟粪石和白榴石）。特别有趣的是鸟粪石和菜鸟石之间的二分法：第一种发生在洞穴被蝙蝠群落占据时（春夏），而在寒冷的季节，亚稳鸟粪石会转变为更稳定的菜鸟石。蝙蝠群落季节性周期性占据的洞穴可能为研究鸟粪相关矿物组合提供一个新的舞台。
{"title":"Guano-derived morphologies and associated minerals found in Cova de sa Guitarreta, Llucmajor, Balearics","authors":"Antonio Merino Juncadella, J. Fornós, A. Mulet, J. Ginés","doi":"10.5038/1827-806x.51.1.2410","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5038/1827-806x.51.1.2410","url":null,"abstract":"Cova de sa Guitarreta is located in the southern part of Mallorca Island (western Mediterranean). It was formed presumably by hypogenic processes in Upper Miocene reefal calcarenites. The cave hosts an important breeding colony of bats during the end of spring and early summer. Its microclimate is influenced by the presence of a thermal phreatic water table (27.7ºC) as well as by bat populations remaining in the cave along the reproductive season. The morphological bat-related features include bat claws and thumb marks scratches, together with several morphologies linked to bat excreta and aggressive leachates from guano. From the mineralogical point of view, this cave outstands regarding the presence of cave minerals linked to guano: nine phosphates have been identified, comprising three of them that are reported for the first time in Mallorcan caves (newberyite, struvite and whitlockite). Particularly interesting is the dichotomy between struvite and newberyite: the first one occurs when the cave is occupied by bat colonies (spring-summer), whereas in the colder seasons would occur the transformation of metastable struvite into a more stable newberyite. Caves with seasonal cyclical occupation of bat colonies could provide a new arena for the study of the guano-related mineral assemblages.","PeriodicalId":56286,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Speleology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2022-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"43581737","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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