Australian Examples of Coastal Caves

Abstract

AbstractRottnest Island and Kangaroo Island, eolianite-containing islands off Australia’s west and southern coasts, respectively, display extensive coastal caves and karst that contain valuable geologic information. On Rottnest Island, Late Quaternary eolianites contain flank margin caves formed during MIS 5e, and may contain flank margin caves developed during the mid-Holocene sea-level highstand. Pit cave development, with subsequent cementation of infilling deposits, results in inversion of topography following surficial denudation. Pseudokarst forms such as sea caves and tafoni, and surficial polygonal structures, complicate karst interpretations. On Kangaroo Island, flank margin caves in Quaternary eolianites are preferentially preserved in protected embayments. Flank margin caves at ∼30 m elevation indicate much greater uplift rates and magnitudes than previously believed. As with Rottnest Island, sea caves and tafoni complicate karst interpretations and provide a cautionary note to those working on coastal caves and karst.KeywordsReef FaciesFossil ReefWave ErosionAmino Acid RacemizationAustralian MainlandThese keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.