Karst and Karst TerranesWord is German form of the Yugoslavian term “Kras” means “bare stony ground”

Named after investigating a region near the Adriatic Sea in Yugoslavia

In modern Geomorphology the term refers to any landscape formed by dissolution of the underlying bedrock

Characterized by distinctive landforms which don’t typically

occur in any other circumstance

Pseudokarst is the term for karst-like development in non-carbonate lithology that exhibits characteristics similar to karst landscapes, but which lack dissolution as a primary means of landscape formation.

Karst and Karst TerranesWord is German form of the Yugoslavian term “Kras” means “bare stony ground”

Named after investigating a region near the Adriatic Sea in Yugoslavia

In modern Geomorphology the term refers to any landscape formed by dissolution of the underlying bedrock

Characterized by distinctive landforms which don’t typically

occur in any other circumstance

Pseudokarst is the term for karst-like development in non-carbonate lithology that exhibits characteristics similar to karst landscapes, but which lack dissolution as a primary means of landscape formation.

Major known Karst regions of the worldMajor known Karst regions of the world

Factors affecting KarstSolubility of Limestone

- percent calcite

Climate

- Temperature and Moisture

Structure of Limestone

- joints, fractures, porosity,

Mineralogy/lithological content

% clastics, % spar vs micrite vs skeletal

Vegetation/Non-carbonate Geology

- acidity (pH) of groundwater

Atmospheric CO2

- affects solubility of Carbonates

Factors affecting KarstSolubility of Limestone

- percent calcite

Climate

- Temperature and Moisture

Structure of Limestone

- joints, fractures, porosity,

Mineralogy/lithological content

% clastics, % spar vs micrite vs skeletal

Vegetation/Non-carbonate Geology

- acidity (pH) of groundwater

Atmospheric CO2

- affects solubility of Carbonates

Dissolution of Carbonates

CaCO3 dissociates into its constituent ionic components in water

CaCO3 Ca2+ + CO32-

(Limestone)

CaMg(CO3)2 Ca2+ + Mg2+ + 2CO32-

(Dolomite)

However, dissolution occurs more frequently as a result of a reaction with carbonic acid formed with carbon dioxide

CaCO3 + H2O + 2CO2 Ca2+ + 2HCO3-

CaMg(CO3)2 + 2H20 + 2CO2 Ca2+ + Mg2+ + 4HCO3

-

Karst Collapse LandformsSinkhole - a.k.a. Doline comes in a variety of shapes most often funnel shaped forms as material above a cavity becomes too thin to support the weight sometimes filled with colluvium from edges of feature

can form circular lakes often entrances to caves are found in sinkholes

related to formation of featureCompound sinks - a.k.a. Uvalas several sinkholes coalesce to form a larger structure these may be quite large (a kilometer)

Occasionally, uvalas are floored with alluvium derived from subterranean streams called a

karst gulf or a polje

Karst Collapse LandformsSinkhole - a.k.a. Doline comes in a variety of shapes most often funnel shaped forms as material above a cavity becomes too thin to support the weight sometimes filled with colluvium from edges of feature

can form circular lakes often entrances to caves are found in sinkholes

related to formation of featureCompound sinks - a.k.a. Uvalas several sinkholes coalesce to form a larger structure these may be quite large (a kilometer)

Occasionally, uvalas are floored with alluvium derived from subterranean streams called a

karst gulf or a polje

A Sinkhole (cockpit) in Central America

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Karst features in Florida

Karst features in Florida

Karst terrane in Australia - a karren plain with blind valleys and numerous sinkholes

Karst terrane in Australia - a karren plain with blind valleys and numerous sinkholes

A doline (sinkhole)in Winterpark, FL

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A 300 ft deep sinkhole in Guatemala

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“The Blue Hole” is an underwater sinkhole, 1000 ft across & 400 ft deep

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Karst Landforms- stream featureschaotic or deranged drainage patterns

few, if any, through flowing streams in karst regions

often exhibit what are called blind valleys

e.g., Lost river, tributaries and other surface streams in the Mitchell plain

streams disappear into a swallow hole called a ponor, a swallet, or a sink

-Tolliver Swallow; Stein Swallow

often reappear as a karst spring or a groundwater rise

-Orangeville rise;

-Wesley Chapel Gulf rise

Karst Landforms- stream featureschaotic or deranged drainage patterns

few, if any, through flowing streams in karst regions

often exhibit what are called blind valleys

e.g., Lost river, tributaries and other surface streams in the Mitchell plain

streams disappear into a swallow hole called a ponor, a swallet, or a sink

-Tolliver Swallow; Stein Swallow

often reappear as a karst spring or a groundwater rise

-Orangeville rise;

-Wesley Chapel Gulf rise

Drainage in a Karst region in Europe

-flooded and backed up into the overflow channels

- polje

Drainage in a Karst region in Europe

-flooded and backed up into the overflow channels

- polje

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A rise of a subterranean streamA rise of a subterranean stream

Solution pan on a karren in the southwestern USA

Solution pan on a karren in the southwestern USA

Karst landforms- denudation often large tracts of limestone karst terranes are devoid of unconsolidated material these areas are called Karrens

Often have solution enhanced vertical fracture and joints sets

they can be filled with debris from dissolution or devoid of residuum

known as grikes, kluftkarren or solution grooves

Karst landforms- denudation often large tracts of limestone karst terranes are devoid of unconsolidated material these areas are called Karrens

Often have solution enhanced vertical fracture and joints sets

they can be filled with debris from dissolution or devoid of residuum

known as grikes, kluftkarren or solution grooves

Grikes or Kluftkarren - a.k.a. solution enhanced vertical fractures.

the grikes divide the surface into distinct pieces referred to as Clints

Grikes or Kluftkarren - a.k.a. solution enhanced vertical fractures.

the grikes divide the surface into distinct pieces referred to as Clints

Closeup of a Karren with grikes

Soils developed in karst terranes commonly develop a thick red cap called terra rosa

origins are debated and may be site specific composed of clay rich in iron sesquioxide mineralsCommonly thought of as leftovers after intense leaching of surface rock May also have contribution by loess and other windtransported sediments

Less commonly develop another type of soil that is thin, very permeable and porous called rendzinasallow extreme infiltration

loamy with pieces of limestone residuum

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terra rosa soilterra rosa soil

loessloess

Karren with Grikes in Ireland

Karren with Grikes in Ireland

Grikes or cutters, filled with terra rosa, shown in cross-section in a roadcut

Grikes or cutters, filled with terra rosa, shown in cross-section in a roadcut

Karst terranes in high humidity regions

forms a variety of spectacular landforms

Towers, Mounds and Cockpits

-erosional remnants of thick sequences of

limestone that have been greatly degraded

Karst terranes in high humidity regions

forms a variety of spectacular landforms

Towers, Mounds and Cockpits

-erosional remnants of thick sequences of

limestone that have been greatly degraded

Cockpit karst region in JamaicaCockpit karst region in Jamaica

Tower karst in S.E. China

Tower karst in S.E. China

Tower Karst in S.E. ChinaTower Karst in S.E. China

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Eastern Illinois basin strata and karst development

Mitchell Plain and Chester Escarpment

Sinking stream in karst area of Kentucky

Sinkhole plain in the Kentucky equivalent of the Mitchell PlainSinkhole plain in the Kentucky equivalent of the Mitchell Plain