Formation of phreatic caves in an eogenetic karst aquifer by CO2 enrichment at lower water tables and subsequent flooding by sea level rise

Auteur(s) et Affiliation(s)

GULLEY, J.D.

Dept. of Geological and Mining Engineering and Sciences, Houghton, Etats-Unis

MARTIN, J.B.

Dept. of Geological Sciences, Univ. of Florida, Gainesville, Etats-Unis

MOORE, P.J.

Dept. of Geological Sciences, Univ. of Florida, Gainesville, Etats-Unis

MURPHY, J.

Dept. of Natural Sciences, Santa Fe College, Gainesville, Etats-Unis

Description :
Analyzing morphological data and water chemistry from caves in the Suwannee River Basin in north-central Florida and water chemistry from wells in the central Florida carbonate platform indicates that phreatic caves within the Suwannee River Basin most likely formed at lower water tables during lower sea levels. Consideration of the hydrological and geochemical constraints posed by the upper Floridan aquifer leads to the conclusion that cave formation was most likely driven by dissolution of vadose CO2 gas into the groundwater. Phreatic caves in the Suwannee River Basin are thus relict and have no causal relationship with modern surficial drainage systems. Dissolution at water tables, potentially driven by vadose CO2 gas, offers an underappreciated mechanism to form cavernous porosity in eogenetic carbonate rocks.

Type de document :
Article de périodique

Source :
Earth surface processes and landforms, issn : 0197-9337, 2013, vol. 38, n°. 11, p. 1210-1224, nombre de pages : 15, Références bibliographiques : 2 p.

Date :
2013

Editeur :
Pays édition : Royaume-Uni, Chichester, Wiley

Langue :
Anglais