Quaternary regional evolution based on karst cave geomorphology in Picos de Europa (Atlantic Margin of the Iberian Peninsula)

Ballesteros, Daniel; Giralt, Santiago; Garcı́a-Sansegundo, Joaquı́n; Jiménez-Sánchez, Montserrat

doi:10.1016/j.geomorph.2019.04.002

Cited by 29 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 76 publications

(97 reference statements)

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…The cave surveys were used to classify the plan pattern of each cave into branchwork and maze types following the scheme outlined by Palmer (1991). The palaeo-hydrology of each cave system was deduced from flow direction indicators including scallops, passage geometry and gradient, and, where present, sedimentary structures such as cross bedding and ripple marks recognised in the cave infill (Ballesteros et al, 2019;Pennos et al, 2019).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Stratigraphical influence on chalk cave development in Upper Normandy, France: implications for chalk hydrogeology

Ballesteros¹,

Farrant²,

Nehmé³

et al. 2020

IJS

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Classically, the Upper Cretaceous Chalk Group aquifer of northwest Europe is conceptualized as a homogenous dual-porosity aquifer, with high porosity related to its fine-grained porous matrix, and intermediate hydraulic conductivity associated with fractures. However, an increasing number of hydrological studies visualize the Chalk as a heterogeneous karst aquifer due to the localised presence of dissolutionally enlarged conduits. Field investigation suggests that cave development is guided by distinct stratigraphical and tectonic discontinuities within the rock mass. Identifying which potential inception horizons within the Chalk aquifer are favoured, and why, is important for developing future robust conceptual models of groundwater behaviour. This study focusses on the Chalk of the Upper Normandy region in France where karstic conduits are common and are linked to major sources of groundwater for public water supply. We analyse the geometry and geomorphology of six chalk caves exposed in the Seine Valley with an aggregated length of over 5.7 km, along with other caves in southern England, and identify the key inception horizons associated with their development. The data shows that prominent Turonian, Coniacian and Santonian hardgrounds have influenced the development of 68% of the studied caves length, with sheet-flints and marl seams also playing a prominent role. Caves developed on or between hardgrounds typically display a complex interlinked anastomotic passage network, whereas passages subjected to paragenetic conditions caused by a high sediment flux tend to be concentrated into fewer, larger conduits. The new evidence from Normandy and Southern England demonstrates the role of lithostratigraphy, and in particular stratigraphical discontinuities on conduit development. The data reinforces the idea that the Chalk aquifer should be viewed as a heterogeneous triple porosity karstic aquifer, in which conduit development is influenced by key stratigraphical discontinuities. This improved conceptual model can be used to develop better groundwater flow models and improved catchment delineation.

show abstract

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Stratigraphical influence on chalk cave development in Upper Normandy, France: implications for chalk hydrogeology

Ballesteros¹,

Farrant²,

Nehmé³

et al. 2020

IJS

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Las cuevas son, por tanto, medios morfogenéticamente activos que muestran distintos episodios temporales, en los que se suceden etapas de acumulación de sedimentos finos, grandes hundimientos de bloques, deslizamiento de materiales desde los puntos de entrada, calmas con construcción de espeleotemas, flujos erosivos, etc. En este sentido, la dinámica interna está asociada en gran medida a lo que ocurre en superficie, tanto a los cambios climáticos como edafo-biológicos (formaciones vegetales, generación de suelos) y de la red hidrográfica (Ballesteros, 2016;Ballesteros, Giralt, García-Sansegundo y Jiménez-Sánchez, 2019). Los sedimentos detríticos cementados en las paredes de las galerías subterráneas son una buena expresión de lo manifestado anteriormente.…”

Section: Elaboración Propiaunclassified

Relieve estructural y karst en la Sierra del Aramo (Macizo Central Asturiano)

Bergua

Piedrabuena

Alfonso

2019

Ingeo

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Se analizan las formas estructurales y kársticas de la Sierra del Aramo, en especial, los factores litológicos y tectónicos que determinan la organización morfoestructural del relieve. La metodología empleada se ha basado en una exhaustiva revisión bibliográfica y cartográfica, en el trabajo de campo, la fotointerpretación y finalmente la elaboración de cartografía geomorfológica. Como resultado se identifican y explican los principales escarpes de falla y de cabalgamientos visibles en el conjunto, además de una nutrida variedad de tipos de lapiaz, dolinas, pozos nivales y valles secos. Tales formas constituyen un valioso patrimonio geomorfológico que ha de ser valorado en aras de un aprovechamiento sostenible.

show abstract

“…floods). Most floods can be linked with extreme precipitation, snow and ice melting (White 2007), the latter being related with the deglaciation pulses (Ballesteros et al 2019).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Last deglaciation flooding events in the Southern Carpathians as revealed by the study of cave deposits from Muierilor Cave, Romania

Mirea

Robu

Petculescu

et al. 2021

Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Caves often hold valuable palaeoclimate archives including speleothems, fossil remains, and clastic sediments that complement each other. This paper presents a multi-archive interdisciplinary study of an extensive deposit of fossil mammals from the scientific reserve in the Muierilor Cave, Southern Carpathians, Romania. We present two new palaeontological excavations that indicate a high abundance and diversity of MIS 3-2 fossil mammals (carnivores, omnivores and herbivores) synchronous with the early modern humans known from this cave. Using geochronological and sedimentological methods, we present a general reconstruction of the cave evolution between ~120 kyr B.P. and the Holocene. The study is based on a combination of geochronological tools including OSL dating of sediments, U/Th dating of speleothems, and radiocarbon dating of fossil remains, with a total of 54 ages. Based on U/Th dating of speleothems from stratigraphically-relevant positions, we show that the MIS 3 assemblage of fossil mammals were massively reworked and deposited during the post-LGM deglaciation, slightly earlier than previously known for the Southern Carpathians. On the other hand, several young radiocarbon ages of cave bear samples suggest that the Southern Carpathians might have been functioning as a glacial refuge for this species as late as ~22 kyr B.P.

show abstract

Quaternary regional evolution based on karst cave geomorphology in Picos de Europa (Atlantic Margin of the Iberian Peninsula)

Abstract: Quaternary regional evolution based on karst cave geomorphology in Picos de Europa (Atlantic Margin of the Iberian Peninsula) Daniel Ballesteros (1), Santiago Giralt (2), Joaquín García-Sansegundo (3), Montserrat Jiménez-Sánchez (3).

Cited by 29 publications

References 76 publications

Stratigraphical influence on chalk cave development in Upper Normandy, France: implications for chalk hydrogeology

Stratigraphical influence on chalk cave development in Upper Normandy, France: implications for chalk hydrogeology

Relieve estructural y karst en la Sierra del Aramo (Macizo Central Asturiano)

Last deglaciation flooding events in the Southern Carpathians as revealed by the study of cave deposits from Muierilor Cave, Romania

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About