Abstract
The present study describes the preliminary findings of a research project aiming at creating a knowledge-base for the protection of caves heritage at Rio Vermelho preservation area in the central Brazilian highlands. A GIS-based relief compartment mapping was conducted using readily available data (e.g., satellite images, geological, and cave location maps). Four resultant geomorphological domains were identified, including (i) lowlands (282 km2) with a baselevel in silicates and carbonates, (ii) the karst terrains (994 km2) which were developed in carbonates trapped by siltstone lenses, (iii) the talus (1483 km2) having colluvial and alluvial units deposited by the escarpment retreat (Urucuia Formation) and (iv) the highlands (1143.7 km2) developed over the sandstone of the Urucuia Group. The intersection of landform and geological maps resulted in delineating two abrupt contacts, the first between lowland and karst terrains and the second between the talus and highlands that formed canyon escarpment. For sustainability perspective, this study proposed two types of cave systems in the region as superior/vadose (top-bottom) that collect floods from hillslopes and deep Epigene fluvial-karst (bottom-up).
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