Phreatic Conditions Research Articles

Carbonate microfacies reveal how Asturian shell middens formed in the Mesolithic

The littoral platform of eastern Asturias (northern Spain) is a coastal karst modeled by the sea. During the Early Holocene, this landscape was exploited by successfully coastal-adapted hunter-gatherers. Intense coastal foraging resulted in accumulation of large amounts of shellfish in numerous karstic rockshelters. A century ago, the Count of Vega del Sella established the post-Paleolithic age of the Asturian shell middens, carbonate-cemented deposits hanging from the walls of karstic cavities. He argued that these were remnants from past shell accumulations filling up completely the rockshelters, as result of direct waste disposal, while the occupations occurred outside. Our geoarchaeological approach tested this long-lasting site-formation model with micromorphology and carbonate microfacies analysis of two sites: El Alloru and El Mazo. Novel outcomes are: 1) the carbonate cements correspond to calcareous tufa resulting from spring activity; 2) the deposits show a stratigraphic framework related to successive phases of debris accumulations and stasis; 3) tufa formation and accumulation of anthropogenic debris are syn-depositional; 4) biogenic and diagenetic cements reveal phreatic conditions. All these contradict a priori expectations from Vega del Sella's widely accepted model of anthropogenic mound constructions preserved in the currently cemented deposits. Microcontextual evidence suggest that shells were likely processed and produced also inside the rockshelters, which might have been used as occupation spaces as well instead of just for waste disposal, while the analyses exterior deposits at El Alloru also present occupational signs. This study also supports further evidence for higher water-table levels in the early Holocene at regional level, despite most caves show no signs of spring activity today.

Paleokarst coastal caves at Torricelle Hills (Lessini Mountains, Venetian Prealps, Italy)

This paper describes a set of paleokarst caves at Torricelle Hills near Verona (Southern Alps, Italy.) At this locality, erosional surfaces and paleokarst cavities show that sedimentation of late Paleogene neritic limestones was interrupted by subaerial exposure. Karst features developed during a phase of marine regression that started after the early Oligocene and ended in the mid Miocene. These caves were originally completely filled by iron oxides- and hydrated oxides-rich paleosol sediments (ochre) that, for centuries, have been mined for pigments. Mining activity emptied the caves, leaving the voids and related shapes mostly intact; as a result, the original morphologies have been exhumed, making these caves a rare example of explorable paleokarst. These “ochre caves” were mapped in a series of surveys over a few years. The exploration of overall 4.5 km of accessible passages in four caves yielded a wealth of information on speleological features, stratigraphy, paleontology, and paleogeography, and here we exploit this information to infer the genesis of these unusual caves. Their evolution started in phreatic conditions, characterized by very slowly moving or still waters that led to the formation of solution facets. A vadose phase of development ensued, followed by infilling by reworked soil-derived sediment and associated paragenetic modifications. Sediment accumulation ended with the complete fossilization of the caves under epiphreatic conditions. Siliciclastic and carbonate sediments containing littoral fossils indicate that the caves developed in the vicinity of a coast, and that they were subject to marine ingression. Overall, these paleokarst coastal caves seem to be a fossilized example, well preserved and explorable, of the Carbonate Island Karst Model on larger islands. We interpret these caves as conduits that drained the freshwater lens in a spatially limited carbonate peninsula that existed in this part of the Lessini paleocoastline between the Oligocene and the Miocene.

Saint Anthony Cave: Morphology, genesis, and age of one of the oldest religious shrines, Southern Galala Plateau, Eastern Desert, Egypt

Saint Anthony Cave is an important cultural, religious, and historic site; it was home of Saint Anthony, one of the earliest Christian monks (ca. 251–356 AD). The cave is located in a tectonically-complex karst area developed in partially dolomitic, sandy limestones of latest Paleocene age. Saint Anthony Cave had been described as a phreatic cave in previous research, but the cave lacked a detailed map and its speleogenesis was unclear. New data show the cave is a multi-phased uplifted cave formed primarily under phreatic conditions, with later modification by rising water levels. Deep sources of dissolutionally aggressive solutions likely have been involved. Speleogenesis likely began in Oligocene time associated with the Gulf of Suez Rift evolution and has been erosionally dissected. New, detailed mapping using ArcGIS shows the cave has an area of 22.13 m2 with a length and depth of 17.10 m and 5.33 m, respectively. The cave consists of a northwest–southeast oriented, steeply inclined, fracture controlled, upper-level entrance passage connected to an east–west oriented, fracture controlled, lower-level room with a vertical drop of 2.46 m. Dissolution pockets, cupola-like features, ceiling bell holes, notches, and corrosion tables are present in the cave. Subaerial and subaqueous speleothems moderately decorated the cave with likely Egyptian calcite alabaster. Based on field investigation, regional volcanic and tectonic history, paleoclimates, and other background information, we identify four distinct speleogenetic phases: First, during the late Oligocene, volcanic and extensional tectonic activities fractured the rocks, generated deep-seated acids, and enhanced the rising deep thermal water. Dissolution by other mechanisms such as carbonic/sulfuric acid and mixing dissolution were prevalent. In the early Miocene (Burdigalian), the cave was uplifted. Second, in the late Miocene (about 7.5 Ma), subaerial speleothems were being deposited in the cave under humid climate conditions. Third, post-Miocene, the cave enlarged and modified at and above the water level by likely warm, sulfuric water. Fourth, water levels dropped and speleothems were deposited again during later humid climate conditions.

Morphology, flow dynamics and evolution of englacial conduits in cold ice

AbstractMeltwater routing through ice masses exerts a fundamental control over glacier dynamics and mass balance, and proglacial hydrology. However, despite recent advances in mapping drainage systems in cold, Arctic glaciers, direct observations of englacial channels and their flow conditions remain sparse. Here, using terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) surveys of the main englacial channel of cold‐based Austre Brøggerbreen (Svalbard), we map and compare an entrance moulin reach (122 m long) and exit portal reach (273 m long). Analysis of channel planforms, longitudinal profiles, cross‐sections and morphological features reveals evidence of spatial variations in water flow conditions and channel incision mechanisms, and the presence of vadose, epiphreatic and phreatic conditions. The entrance reach, located at the base of a perennial moulin, was characterized by vadose, uniform, channel lowering at annual timescales, evidenced by longitudinal grooves, whereas the exit portal reach showed both epiphreatic and vadose conditions, along with upstream knickpoint migration at intra‐annual timescales. Fine‐scale features, including grooves and scallops, were readily quantified from the TLS point cloud, highlighting the capacity of the technique to inform palaeoflow conditions, and reveal how pulses of meltwater from rainfall events may adjust englacial conduit behaviour. With forecasts of increasing Arctic precipitation in the coming decades, and a progressively greater proportion of glaciers comprising cold ice, augmenting the current knowledge of englacial channel morphology is essential to constrain future glacier hydrological system change.

Beachrock as a Paleoshoreline Indicator: Example from Wadi Al-Hamd, South Al-Wajh, Saudi Arabia

The present study concerns the Holocene inland beachrocks that are exposed in the Red Sea coastal plain at the mouth of Wadi Al-Hamd, South Al-Wajh City, Saudi Arabia, and their utility as an indicator for Holocene climate and sea level changes. In addition, the framework composition, and carbon and oxygen isotopic data, are employed to interpret the origin of their cement. The beachrock consists mainly of gravel and coarse-grained terrigenous sediments dominated by lithic fragments of volcanic rocks, cherts and rare limestones along with quartz, feldspars and traces of amphiboles and heavy minerals. In addition, rare skeletal remains dominated by coralline algae, benthic foraminifera and mollusca remains are recognized. The allochems are cemented by high Mg-calcite (HMC) formed mainly in the intertidal zone under active marine phreatic conditions. The cement takes the form of isopachous to anisopachous rinds of bladed crystals, micritic rim non-selectively surrounding siliciclastic and skeletal remains, and pore-filling micrite. Pore-filling micrite cement occasionally displays a meniscus fabric, suggesting a vadose environment. The δ18O and δ13C values of carbonate cement range from −0.35‰ to 1‰ (mean 0.25‰) and −0.09‰ to 3.03‰ (mean 1.85‰), respectively, which are compatible with precipitation from marine waters. The slight depletion in δ18O and δ13C values in the proximal sample may suggest a slight meteoric contribution.

Paleohydrogeology of the Karstic System of Fuentetoba Spring (Soria, Spain): An Interdisciplinary Approach

As a preliminary phase in the conservation and sustainable management of a karst system in Fuentetoba, Soria, Spain, an interdisciplinary study was carried out to determine its hydrogeological evolution. The hydrogeological history of this aquifer system began during the late Miocene, where discharges were driven by paleo-emergences in the moor, and associated conduits were developed under phreatic (or vadose) conditions—for example, the upper syngenetic galleries in the main known karst cave (Majada del Cura cave). Later on, the nearby karstic massifs, a general flattening of the relief, occurred during the Quaternary Period, during which the karstic base level had been in decline. The aquifer flow was then derived and modified towards the Fuentetoba spring from the earliest stages through the galleries of the aforementioned cave. The observations made in this cave indicate the existence of a unique type of hydrogeological organization. The hypogean network is the result of the excavation of the same water flow that has been entrenching and abandoning the vadose regimen toward the free regimen. The dating of the tuffaceous buildings, associated with the emergences, indicates that since almost the Middle Pleistocene, flow lines have converged in the Fuentetoba spring, inducing a high grade of karstification in the saturated zone of the syncline basin. Moreover, a major drainage conduit was developed by dissolution. During the late Upper Pleistocene, an essential component of the groundwater flow had been derived towards the source of the Mazos River spring. Tufa and paleogour datings in caves indicate that the aquifer has undergone different climatic stages during the latest Quaternary and, therefore, different feeding and recharge processes. These tufas and paleogours are interrelated as well, as they are associated with the warm stages during the most recent Quaternary, according to the regional context, when there was less natural recharge. The simulation of the springs’ flow enabled an approximate quantification of the variation in the aquifer’s hydraulic balance during the different climatic stages. For example, during the last glaciation, the natural recharge was impacted by snowmelt and increased by 160%.

Changing depocentre environments of Palaeolake Olduvai and carbonates as marker horizons for hiatuses and lake-level extremes

Primary carbonate and marl layers and limestone nodular horizons were intersected in OGCP Boreholes 1A, 2A, 3A, 3B, drilled into the depocentre of Palaeolake Olduvai. The various carbonate types were analysed, employing petrographic (including cathodo-luminescence), stable isotope, and sequence stratigraphic techniques, and recorded important information concerning lake evolution.Primary carbonate and marl layers are preserved at the top of lake deepening cycles (lake-parasequences), marking maximum flooding, followed by lake withdrawal, and then fluvial erosion, leading to the next depositional cycle. Presence of pelagites and a meromict lake favouring anoxic conditions, show it to be not a playa lake, but a deeper fault-bound lake, akin to present day Lake Eyasi. Carbonate and marl layers were exclusively deposited when claystone facies show a geochemical magnesium anomaly associated with a phase of basaltic volcanism affecting the basin, marked by mafic tuffs and basaltic lava flows. Calcium was partitioned into evaporites, such as gypsum/anhydrite, together with the nodular horizons and carbonate soil profiles in the sequence. The resulting high Mg2+/Ca2+ ratio in the lake waters promoted dolomite deposition and replacement, and the formation of aragonite.The nodular horizons yield rainfall isotope values and mark times when the lake was empty and the lake-bed fell under meteoric conditions, precipitating limestone nodules just below the sediment surface under pedogenic vadose, groundwater interface, and groundwater phreatic conditions. The nodular limestone horizons sit below erosional/hiatal surfaces and show vadose micritic and fibrous types to phreatic sparry and other accretionary type textures. Enterolithic to chickenwire textured nodules indicate the pseudomorphing of anhydrite nodules that form beneath salt marshes.Thus, the two carbonate types, primary layers and nodular horizons, provided depth gauges, respectively for the extremes of lake expansion and emptying/drying out. In the case of nodular horizons, the maturity of the carbonate profile gives an indication of the magnitude of the hiatal time gap represented, ~ 1 kyr to 2 kyr for a single horizon to ~ 3 kyr to 9 kyr for more mature soil profiles. Emptying/drying out episodes of Palaeolake Olduvai were not uncommon, and often short-lived. A spectrum of hiatal disconformities in the Olduvai Basin vary from multimillennial hiatuses to mega-disconformities of ~ 40 kyr and ~ 75 kyr.

Speleogenesis of the world's longest cave in hybrid arenites (Krem Puri, Meghalaya, India)

Meghalaya (NW India) is one of the regions in the world with highest recorded rainfalls. Because of these peculiar climatic conditions and intense solutional weathering, karstic caves are widely reported in the numerous limestone areas of this part of India. Likewise, the extremely high rainfall and the tropical monsoon climate have fostered the formation of several caves in silicate-rich lithologies. The most important of these caves is Krem Puri, over 25.5 km long, characterized by a fracture-controlled labyrinth forming a bi-dimensional maze with mostly phreatic morphologies and some recent, still active, vadose entrenchments. A detailed petrographic study of the host rocks has shown this cave to be formed along a set of quartzarenite, hybrid arenite and calcarenite layers in a mostly siliciclastic sedimentary succession. XRF elemental analysis of the different rock strata guiding the speleogenesis confirms that the early stage of cave development is confined mainly in the calcium carbonate-rich layers. Geochemical analyses carried out on water flowing in the cave (drips, streams) have shown that carbonate dissolution is the dominant chemical weathering process contributing to Krem Puri water solutes, whereas the dissolution of quartz, feldspars and clays play only a secondary role in rock weathering.The morphology of the cave points to a lithology-guided dissolution of the carbonate-rich layers and piping of the residual quartz sand in phreatic conditions, when the surface river network was not yet evolved and the water table was at the level of or higher than the cave. This phreatic speleogenetic phase predates the start of river network entrenchment (that started not earlier 5 Ma ago, and probably accelerated around 3.5 Ma), which deactivated the karst maze. With a low denudation rate of 0.15 mm/yr, this active phreatic cave level, which currently lies beneath a more or less 120 m overburden, was originally covered by a sedimentary sequence at least 1–2 km thick. After its decoupling from the underground drainage system, denudation slowly brought the surface close to the maze system gradually introducing infiltration of vadose waters into the conduits. This caused the formation of the vadose entrenchments probably <100 ka ago, and carbonate speleothem deposition in the cave.

300,000 yr history of water-table fluctuations at Wind Cave, South Dakota, USA—Scale, timing, and groundwater mixing in the Madison Aquifer

Abstract Deposits of calcite coating the lower passages of Wind Cave in the southern Black Hills of South Dakota were precipitated under phreatic conditions. Data from samples associated with a new cave survey and hydrologic studies indicate that past water tables within Wind Cave reached a maximum height of 45 m above modern levels but were mostly confined to 25 m or less. Uranium-series ages for basal layers deposited on weathered wall rock indicate subaerial conditions in this part of the cave persisted between 1000 and 300 ka. Ages and elevations of wall coatings and cave rafts establish a 300,000 yr paleohydrograph indicating that water-table highstands occurred during interglacial or interstadial-to-early glacial periods and lowstands occurred during full-glacial and stadial episodes. Isotopes of Sr, U, C, and O from dated calcite samples were obtained to evaluate potential shifts in paleo-groundwater composition. For comparison, Sr and U isotopic compositions were determined for modern groundwater from 18 sites previously classified into five hydrogeologic domains. Isotope data for different domains tend to cluster in separate fields, although several fields overlap. Compositions of Calcite Lake (informal name) water reflect modern recharge to shallow aquifers. In contrast, speleothem data indicate that paleo-groundwater highstands were not supported by increased infiltration associated with local recharge, or by upwelling from deeper Proterozoic sources. Instead, cave water was similar to deeper, warmer groundwater from the Madison Aquifer discharging at modern artesian springs flanking the southern Black Hills. Highstands were likely influenced by large-scale hydraulic processes associated with recharge to the Madison Aquifer under the Laurentide ice sheet on the northeast side of the Williston Basin, causing increased hydrostatic pressures in confined aquifers on the south side of the basin.

Relict periglacial soils on Quaternary terraces in the Central Ebro Basin (NE Spain)

AbstractPedofeatures associated with ancient cold climatic conditions have been recognized in soils on terraces in the Monegros area (central Ebro Basin, Spain), at a latitude of 41°49′N and an altitude of 300 m a.s.l. Eleven soil profiles were described on fluvial deposits corresponding to the most extensive terrace (T5) of the Alcanadre River, Middle Pleistocene in age (MIS8–MIS7). Each soil horizon was sampled for physical, chemical, mineralogical and micromorphological analyses. Macromorphological features related to pedocryogenic processes were described: involutions, jacked stones, shattered stones, detached and vertically oriented carbonatic pendents, fragmented carbonatic crusts, laminar microstructures, succitic fabric, silt cappings on rock fragments and aggregates, and irregular, broken, discontinuous and deformed gravel and sandy pockets. Accumulations of Fe–Mn oxides, dissolution features on the surface of carbonatic stones, and calcitic accumulations were identified related to vadose–phreatic conditions. The observed periglacial features developed under cold environmental conditions in exceptional geomorphic and hydrological conditions. This soil information may have potential implications in studies of paleoclimate in the Ebro Valley as well as in other Mediterranean areas.

The development of cave passage in Donomulyo, Malang-Indonesia

The cave passages formed in Donomulyo sub–district are formed in epigenic and hypogenic conditions in coastal areas. The dominant factors form the morphological condition of the cave passage that is the existence of structural factors, underground water flow, and tectonism that affect the condition of the passage. Structural factors form the existence of linement that affect the cave passage. Underground water flow forms a passage due to the change of vadose, epipreatic, and phreatic conditions. The existence of tectonism leads to the removal of limestone into several levels of cave passage development, in addition, there is the collapse of blocks, plates, talus, and sheets. The development of the cave passage level is also related to surface physiographic, which is connected to 5 levels with marine terrace, including 244–325 masl (level 1), 182–244 masl (level 2), 111–181 masl (level 3), 30–110 masl (level 4), and 0–29 masl (level 5). The development of fifth level shows that the level limit is located in the Sengik Cave, the fourth level is located in the Jebrot Cave, and the second level is located in the Banyu Cave, these three caves are the output of the underground rivers.

Crescentiella-microbial-cement microframeworks in the Upper Jurassic reefs of the Crimean Peninsula

In the Upper Jurassic reef successions of the Crimean Peninsula (Sudak and Jalta areas), the microencruster Crescentiella morronensis (Crescenti), microbialites, and multiple generations of cements, form microframeworks. They were observed in two stages of the carbonate platform evolution, in the Middle–Upper Oxfordian, and in the Upper Kimmeridgian–Tithonian. Generally, in both stages, the features of the microframeworks are similar and consist of densely packed Crescentiella associated with microbialites and branched colonies of the sclerosponge Neuropora lusitanica Termier. The difference between the occurrences of the two stages is the variable amount of nubecularid foraminifera and enigmatic tube-shaped structures forming the central cavities of Crescentiella. The Crescentiella-microbial-cement microframeworks formed under phreatic conditions in the upper slope and seaward marginal depositional settings where intensive synsedimentary cementation took place. They formed in the initial stages of long cycles of restoration and blooming of the reefs. The late Jurassic examples resemble the Permian algae-microbial-cement reefs as well as the Triassic Tubiphytes and cement crust-dominated reefs. Concurrently, all these examples formed a transitional facies zone between typical slope facies to shallow subtidal platform margin facies characterized by high taxonomic diversity of calcified sponges, corals, and microencrusters forming the principal part of the reefs.

Influence of Geo-environmental and Chemical Factors on Thermotolerant Coliforms and E. coli in the Groundwater of Central Kerala

ABSTRACT Geo-environmental studies in parts of Ernakulam district (Kerala, India) were carried out. The study area comprises of sedimentary (Limestone, sandstone, Clay and Lignite) and crystalline (Charnockite and gneisses) rocks. The sedimentary terrain is characterized by confined and unconfined aquifers. In hard crystalline formations groundwater occurs under phreatic conditions in the shallow weathered portions and under semi confined to confined conditions in the deep-seated fractures. The study area is demarcated into five areas based on soil types. Climate is hot humid to hot summer with heavily raining monsoon. Two major rivers Periyar and Muvattupuzha drain through the area. Agricultural and industrial activities are prevalent in Ernakulam district. The major cause of pollution in the study area is due to the presence of coliforms. Detailed investigations carried out to identify the coliforms indicated spatial and seasonal changes in the distribution pattern. Monsoon and post monsoon showed significantly high total coliforms compared to pre-monsoon. Thermo-tolerant coliforms is high during monsoon season. This seasonal change could be due to the effect of rainfall, overland flow, nutrient load and temperature change. Wide variations in the coliform counts are observed in wells situated near rivers, canals, paddy fields and in water bodies lying close to pilgrimage center, fertilizer industry, and public places. It is noticed that the chemical characteristics of the groundwater influence the coliform survival. pH, nitrite, bicarbonate, hardness, and alkalinity play a significant role in controlling coliform count. At the outset, the study highlighted the impact of anthropogenic activities on ground water in a coastal district of Kerala state.

Relating petrophysical parameters to petrographic interpretations in carbonates of the Chorgali Formation, Potwar Plateau, Pakistan

An integrated approach was deployed to relate the petrographical and petrophysical parameters of the Chorgali Formation to assess its reservoir potential. The petrographical study of the Chorgali Formation, exposed in Khair-e-Murat Range, disclosed that the original texture and composition are affected by diagenetic events (i.e. micritization, dolomitization, microfractures, stylolitization, compaction, dissolution, neomorphism and cementation). Of these, dissolution, dolomitization and microfractures enhanced reservoir quality, while micritization, compaction, neomorphism and cementation reduced reservoir suitability. Micritization occurred in marine phreatic conditions; dolomitization existed in the marine-meteoric mixing environment; dissolution, neomorphism and cementation took place in meteoric conditions. The mechanical and chemical compaction occurred in a burial diagenetic environment. In addition, the relationship among formation resistivity factor (F), compressional wave velocity (Vp) and porosity (ɸ) was also validated for the Eocene Chorgali Formation of Meyal Oil Field, Potwar Plateau, Pakistan. There is an inverse relationship between ɸ and F, Vp, however, the relation between F and Vp is directly proportional. Such inter-relationships assist in determining and interpreting the geological processes based on petrophysical parameters (ɸ, F and Vp). F and Vp may be high due to cementation, compaction, sealed fractures and lack of deformation in carbonates. On the other hand, F and Vp may be low due to dissolution, dolomitization, vacant fractures, lack of compaction and cementation. Similarly, ɸ is enhanced by processes lowering F and Vp and reduced by processes increasing F and Vp. Hence the diagenetic processes enhancing and reducing the porosity influence the electric and elastic properties of the carbonate rocks.

Laboratory modeling of karst phenomena and their rock relief on plaster: subsoil karren, rain flutes karren and caves

The study of the formation and development of karst phenomena and their rock relief using laboratory plaster modeling has again proven useful and informative. We continued the study of subsoil karren that forms under tight, poorly permeable contact with soil and of rain flutes formed by water at various temperatures. We determined the pattern of the reshaping of plaster tubes that are wider at the flow inlet than at the outlet end. The results are a significant contribution to explaining the formation of high ceiling niches and pockets in karst caves. The third experiment was carried out in phreatic conditions where water in a flume was forced to flow between layers of different composition. During the experiment, we observed the typical development of channels between pure plaster layers (uniform limestone beds), between plaster layers with added Portland cement reinforced fragments (breccia beds), siporex (slowly dissolving beds) and between three different layer types.Key words: laboratory modeling, karst, rock relief, subsoil karren, rain flutes, caves.

Chabazite and dolomite formation in a dolocrete profile: An example of a complex alkaline paragenesis in Lanzarote, Canary Islands

This paper studies the weathering and soil formation processes operating on detrital sediments containing alkaline volcanic rock fragments of the Mirador del Río dolocrete profile. The profile consists of a lower horizon of removilised weathered basalts, an intermediate red sandy mudstones horizon with irregular carbonate layers and a topmost horizon of amalgamated carbonate layers with root traces. Formation occurred in arid to semiarid climates, giving place to a complex mineralogical association, including Mg-carbonates and chabazite, rarely described in cal/dolocretes profiles. Initial vadose weathering processes occurred in the basalts and in directly overlying detrital sediments, producing (Stage 1) red-smectites and dolomicrite. Dominant phreatic (Stage 2) conditions allowed precipitation of coarse-zoned dolomite and chabazite filling porosities. In Stages 3 and 4, mostly pedogenic, biogenic processes played an important role in dolomite and calcite accumulation in the profile. Overall evolution of the profile and its mineralogical association involved initial processes dominated by alteration of host rock, to provide silica and Mg-rich alkaline waters, suitable for chabazite and dolomite formation, without a previous carbonate phase. Dolomite formed both abiogenically and biogenically, but without a previous carbonate precursor and in the absence of evaporites. Dominance of calcite towards the profile top is the result of Mg/Ca decrease in the interstitial meteoric waters due to decreased supply of Mg from weathering, and increased supply of Ca in aeolian dust. Meteoric origin of the water is confirmed by C and O isotope values, which also indicate lack of deep sourced CO2. The dolocrete studied and its complex mineral association reveal the complex interactions that occur at surface during weathering and pedogenesis of basalt-sourced rocks.

Spongy-like porosity in peritidal carbonates: An interaction of cyclic sea-level oscillations, fresh water supply and sediment texture

This paper focuses upon the analysis of a complex paleokarstic system recorded within uppermost Triassic peritidal cycles in northwestern Sicily. Besides documenting spectacular karstification at the Triassic/Jurassic boundary, it provides an example of stratabound ‘spongy’ or ‘swiss-cheese’ dissolution. On the base of field observations, microfacies analysis, transmitted-light and cathodoluminescence petrography and stable-isotope analyses we put forward an original model for the formation of this peculiar stratabound dissolution. It implies a complex interaction of several controlling factors at the interface between the marine and meteoric diagenetic realms during the relative cyclic oscillations of sea-level.The presence of a fresh water supply from an adjacent emerged area is the key for the periodic formation of a mixing water lens during the relative sea level lowstand that brought about the subaerial exposure of the platform. The resulting dissolution pattern in the subtidal unit of a specific cycle is strongly controlled by the textural features of the sediments. In the case of bioturbated wackestones the ‘spongy’ or ‘swiss-cheese’ pattern develops, while in mollusk-rich beds biomoldic porosity occurs. In well-sorted subtidal members, such as algal grainstones, the dissolution originates as randomly distributed vuggy porosity. During periodic flooding of the platform, a new subtidal unit is formed and the dissolution stops as fully marine phreatic conditions are re-established.

Speleogenesis of the Hermannshöhle cave system (Austria): Constraints from 230Th/U-dating and palaeomagnetic analysis

Hermannshöhle is a show cave located near Kirchberg/Wechsel in Lower Austria. Together with three nearby and genetically connected caves, it forms the Hermannshöhlen cave system (HHS). With a length of 5 km, the HHS is the longest cave in the Lower Austroalpine unit. It is arranged as an extreme three-dimensional maze on a ground area of 200 x 200 x 82 m. Speleothems are abundant in this cave and represent the focus of this study. Low carbon isotope values indicate the presence of a soil-covered catchment above the HHS during times of speleothem deposition. 28 samples were dated by the 230Th/U-method and, in combination with palaeomagnetic data from a 5 m-high sediment profile, indicate multiple phases of sediment infill and erosion in the HHS. Although parts of the cave system are nowadays located at or below the level of the nearby Rams brook, they fell dry already at least 125 ka ago. The presence of 540 ka-old speleothems in the middle level demonstrate that this level of the HHS is at least about half a million years old, and the upper level is probably considerably older. A direct correlation between the cave and the modern surface morphology is therefore not possible. The observation that the palaeo-drainage direction in the HHS is perpendicular to the modern surface runoff also demonstrates the occurrence of a major reorganisation of the hydrological regime since the formation of the HHS. The new chronological data allow to constrain the evolution of the HHS as well as its catchment. An average valley incision rate of roughly 100 m/Ma was obtained, which is consistent with studies of other regions in the Alps unaffected by the Pleistocene glaciations. The spatial and temporal distribution of the dated speleothems as well as the lack of corroded flowstone indicate a single major speleogenetic period under phreatic conditions and support a continuous lowering of the groundwater table.

Epigenetic silicification of the Upper Oxfordian limestones in the Sokole Hills (Kraków-Częstochowa Upland): relationship to facies development and tectonics

AbstractA spectacular epigenetic silicification was encountered in the Oxfordian bedded limestones exposed in the Sokole Hills situated in the Krakow-Częstochowa Upland. The main epigenetic mineral is microcrystalline quartz accompanied by minor goethite, hematite, barite, galena and sphalerite. Locally, the mineralized limestones reveal Pb and Cu contents exceeding over 150 times the background values of these metals in unmineralized limestones.The epigenetic mineralization of the bedded limestones was probably a two-stage process. During the first, Early Cretaceous stage, silicified limestones formed at the erosional surface of a denuded carbonate complex. Such silicification greatly limited the progress of the first karstification phase of the Upper Jurassic carbonates initiated in the Hauterivian. The sources of silica accumulated in the limestones were descending solutions enriched in silica derived from the weathering zone. This silicification affected the topmost part of the Upper Jurassic massive limestones and the deeper portions of the bedded limestones along the fracture systems and stylolites.Early Cretaceous tectonic activity generated new dislocations and re-opened the existing faults, which were subsequently filled with permeable Albian quartz sands. These openings became the migration pathways for ascending, warm, relict, sulphide-carrying hydrothermal solutions at the second formation stage of the epigenetic mineralization. The newly supplied silica from the Albian sands precipitated on the silicified limestones and, as concentric rims, on brecciated, early diagenetic cherts. The second-stage mineralization proceeded under phreatic conditions, presumably close to a fluctuating mixing zone of ascending, warm hydrothermal solutions and descending cold groundwaters. The brecciated cherts acting as silica crystallization nuclei indicate that the last mineralization stage probably followed the final phase of Cenozoic faulting

Hypogene Sulfuric Acid Speleogenesis and rare sulfate minerals in Baume Galinière Cave (Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, France). Record of uplift, correlative cover retreat and valley dissection

The oxidation of hydrocarbons and sulfide sources (H2S, pyrite) produces sulfuric acid that strongly reacts with bedrock, causing limestone dissolution and complex interactions with other minerals from the bedrock or from cave fillings, mainly clays. This type of cave development, known as Sulfuric Acid Speleogenesis (SAS), is a subcategory of hypogene speleogenesis, where aggressive water rises from depth. It also produces uncommon minerals, mainly sulfates, the typical byproducts of SAS. Baume Galinière is located in Southern France, in the Vaucluse spring watershed. This small maze cave displays characteristic SAS features such as corrosion notches, calcite geodes, iron crusts, and various sulfate minerals. Sulfur isotopes of SAS byproducts (jarosite and gypsum) clearly show they derive from pyrite oxidation. Using XRD and micro-Raman spectroscopy, thirteen minerals were identified, including elemental sulfur, calcite, quartz, pyrite, goethite, gypsum, and fibroferrite, plus all of the six members of the jarosite subgroup (jarosite, argentojarosite, ammoniojarosite, hydroniumjarosite, natrojarosite, plumbojarosite). The Baume Galinière deposits are the first documented cave occurrence of argentojarosite and the second known occurrence of plumbojarosite, hydronium jarosite, ammoniojarosite, and fibroferrite. In the Vaucluse watershed, there were numerous upwellings of deep water along major faults, located at the contact of the karstic aquifer and the overlying impervious covers. The mixing of deep and meteoric waters at shallow depths caused pyrite depositions in numerous caves, including Baume Galinière. Sulfuric Acid Speleogenesis occurred later after base-level drop, when the cave was under shallow phreatic conditions then in the vadose zone, with oxidation of pyrites generating sulfuric acid. Attenuated oxidation is still occurring through condensation of moisture from incoming air. Baume Galinière Cave records the position of the semi-impervious paleo-cover and documents its retreat in relationship to valley incision caused by uplift and tilting of the Vaucluse block during the Neogene.