VI. Solusional

S O LU T I O N AL LAN D F O R M
Karst1-1
Solutional landforms formed by dissolving rock.
Karst topography is comprehenssive term applied to
soluble area that posses a topography peculiar to &
dependent upon underground solution & the
diversion of surface waters to undergrounds water.
Karst1-2
THE KARST GEOMORPHIC CYCLE
The influence of climate
Heavy annual rainfall in equatorial
& monsoonal region, along with the
large amount of CO2 make for much
more rapid solution.
THE KARST GEOMORPHIC CYCLE
Two ways in which a karst cycle may be inagurated :
1. Throught uplift above base level of limestone terrain on
which fluvial erosion had been in progress;
2. Throught uplift of an area of clastic rock beneath
which are limestone above the new base level
4 Condition essential to full development of
karst
Soluble rock (limestone, dolomit) near the surface

Highly jointed structur & preferably thinly
bedded
Existence of entrenched valleys below uplands
underlain by soluble &jointed rock.
Must be one at least moderate rain fall
FEATURES CHARACTERISTIC OF KARST REGION
Humid, Temperature Climates
Blind Valley: A valley that end abruptly where

stream vanishes underground.
Sinking Stream: stream that vanishes underground,
usually at terminus of blind valley.
Resurgence: point where waters from sinking stream
reemerges from underground.
Dry Valley: Valley that no longer exhibits

channelized flow.
Cave: A natural underground room or series of rooms

large enough to be entered by a person.
Cockpit Karst: a conglomeration of closed depressions

surrounded by conical hills - similar to cone karst
where depression are star-shaped.
Tower karst: Type of karst characterized by isolated,

steep-walled hills separated by flat lying plain of
alluvium.
Blind Valley
A valley that terminates
abruptly at a point where its
stream sinks, or once sank,
underground. Blind valleys
are completely enclosed
valleys that water can not flow
out of on the surface.
Disappearing streams often
sink in blind valleys.
CAVERNS
& ASSOCIATED FEATURES
Cave is a feature generally formed by solution of

limestone containing a natural underground room
or series of rooms and passages large enough to be
entered by people
Cave Shapes (Reach Scale)
From Ritter et al. (1995)
CAVERNS
A speleothem (from the Greek for "cave deposit") is a

formal term for what is also known as a cave formation, or
amongst cavers, collectively known as pretties. They are
the result of the interactions among water, rock, and air
within caves.
CAVERNS
A stalagmite (from the Greek stalagma ("drop" or "drip") is

a type of speleothem that rises from the floor of a
limestone cave due to the dripping of mineralized
solutions and the deposition of calcium carbonate.
The Witch's Finger stalagmite in

Carlsbad Caverns
The Hall of Giants in the Carlsbad Caverns
CAVERNS
A stalactite (Greek stalaktos, ("dripping" or "dropped"), or

dripstone, is a type of speleothem that hangs from the ceiling or
wall of limestone caves.
Mineralized water drop forming at

bottom of stalactites.
Tower karst: Type of karst characterized by isolated,

steep-walled hills separated by flat lying plain of
alluvium.
TERRA ROSSA
Surface or near surface solution by descending ground

water usually leaves residue of a red, clayey soil
mantling the surface & extending down into opened
joint. It may vary in thickness from a few to many
feet & may completely mask the rock surface. The
name Terra rossa has been applied to it.
LAPIES
Locally, where relief in considerable, limestone surface are bare
of terra rossa and there is exposed an etched, pitted grooved,
fluted and otherwise rugged surface to which the name lapies is
most commonly applied
SINKHOLES
& ASSOCIATED LANDFORM

Further collapse of the soil cover
from below causes circular cracks to
develop at the surface.
Initially, a sinkhole forms as soil

collapses into a crevice and is carried
away through a conduit by water.
SINKHOLES

Erosion by water flowing into
this new drain hole smooths the
hole's sharp edges to form the
typical inverted cone- or bowl
Then the soil roof of the

developing sinkhole falls into the
hole to form a cylindrical cavity.
SINKHOLES

The sinkhole collapse
occurred when
carbonate bedrock had
dissolved to the point
that it could no longer
support the weight of
the overlying soil and
sediment.
SINKHOLES
Sinkholes, also
known as sinks,
cenote, shakeholes
or dolina
SINKHOLES

Karst lake
(Doberdo' del
Lago, Italy), from
underground
water springing
into a depression.
Karst lakes have
no affluent or
effluent
SINKHOLES

A special type of collapse
sinkhole ia a karst window is a
geologic feature where the
aquifer is exposed to the
surface. This karst window in
Florida is a forty foot shaft
that leads directly to the
crystal clear waters of the
Floridan Aquifer...
KARST SPRING
In karst areas, surface
streams are typically
absent. Surface water,
as it flows across karst
terrain, is quickly
channeled underground
through all the cracks,
fissures, and holes
(sinkholes) in the
ground...
KARST SPRING
Spring
Any natural discharge of
water from rock or
overlying soil onto the
surface of the land or into a
body of surface water. A
disappearing stream may
re-emerge at a spring.
KARST SPRING
Karst Spring
Karst springs are the discharge
points for underground streams.
They are the most productive springs
in the world and provide many
recreational opportunities...
NATURAL TUNNEL &
BRIDGES
Natural Tunnel, The bed

of stock creek shows to
the left of the southern
railway track
EROSION
REMNANTS
Pepino In advanced stages of
solutional destruction of
limestone terrain
Haystack In advanced stages

of solutional destruction of
limestone terrain
POLJE
Polje is the Slovenian word for field, which means

the flat and very fertile ground of the valleys in
Slovenia.
Karst Aquifer
Karst aquifers differ significantly from more common granular
aquifers. Water in karst aquifers moves through large conduits
(caves) much like a sewer system. Water moves very quickly
through these aquifers and receives very little filtration...

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VI. Solusional

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S O LU T I O N AL LAN D F O R M

Soluble rock (limestone, dolomit) near the surface

Blind Valley: A valley that end abruptly where

Dry Valley: Valley that no longer exhibits

Cave: A natural underground room or series of rooms

Cockpit Karst: a conglomeration of closed depressions

Tower karst: Type of karst characterized by isolated,

& ASSOCIATED FEATURES

Cave is a feature generally formed by solution of

Cave Shapes (Reach Scale)

From Ritter et al. (1995)

& ASSOCIATED FEATURES

A speleothem (from the Greek for "cave deposit") is a

& ASSOCIATED FEATURES

A stalagmite (from the Greek stalagma ("drop" or "drip") is

The Witch's Finger stalagmite in

The Hall of Giants in the Carlsbad Caverns

& ASSOCIATED FEATURES

A stalactite (Greek stalaktos, ("dripping" or "dropped"), or

Mineralized water drop forming at

Tower karst: Type of karst characterized by isolated,

Surface or near surface solution by descending ground

& ASSOCIATED LANDFORM

Initially, a sinkhole forms as soil

& ASSOCIATED LANDFORM

Then the soil roof of the

& ASSOCIATED LANDFORM

& ASSOCIATED LANDFORM

& ASSOCIATED LANDFORM

& ASSOCIATED LANDFORM

Natural Tunnel, The bed

Haystack In advanced stages

Polje is the Slovenian word for field, which means

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