Caves Studies Series

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Sediments in Caves
by Trevor FORD

FORD, Trevor (2001). Sediments in Caves [Cave Studies Series 9]. Buxton: British Cave Research Association. £2.50 plus postage. ISBN-0-900265-23-X. 32pp, A5, with diagrams and photos.

An outline guide to the sediments found in caves and what can be learnt from them

Whilst sediments are common features of many caves, they are all too often overlooked as objects of study in their own right. At best they are recorded on surveys in a simple graphic way. In fact, sediments are an essential part of the evolutionary history of cave systems and worthy of proper investigation. This brief review attempts to draw attention to what can be learnt from sediments in the hope that others will take up the task of looking at what they can tell us.
This review covers the essential features of classification of sedimentary materials and the techniques which can be applied. The mechanisms by which sediments arrive in caves range from simple roof collapse to many surface processes. Rock materials are transported into and within caves mainly by water, varying from streams to rivers and freak floods, but wind-borne sediments and those transported by ice also play their part. Once in place, mineralogical changes may take place, including cementation and secondary mineral growth. A selection of examples of caves with complex histories from both Britain and overseas is included to illustrate what can be deduced from detailed studies. Assigning a date to a cave sediment is fraught with difficulties, but their place within a regional chronology is an essential part of any cave's history. Methods of dating are summarized and a selected bibliography is included