Volume 27(2), August 2000

BCRA > Publications > Cave & Karst Science> Contents

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Insoluble limestone residues and soils, North Wales, UK
Travertine flora: Juizhaigou and Munigou, China
Protected karst landscapes in Southeast Asia
Vein cavities, Castleton, UK
Bivalves in English caves
Subaqueous stalagmites

Cover Photo by David Gillieson of the spectacular southern (downstream) entrance to Deer Cave (Gua Payau), Mulu National Park, Sarawak. (The entrance is some 175m wide and 120m high and leads to one of the largest cave passages in the world, nowhere less than 90m high and wide. The passage goes right through the hill to an enclosed valley, the 'Garden of Eden'. This is one of several 'giant caves' in the Mulu National Park, Sarawak. See article by Day and Urich).

Editorial

(Gunn, J. & D. Lowe (eds))
Editorial
Vol 27 (1) pp 51 - 52

Some remarks are made about the need for potential authors to adhere to the established house style of Cave and Karst Science, particularly with regard to the formatting of lists of references, and the sizes and formats of illustrations for figures.

There is advance publicity for the very first encyclopedia concerning the scientific study of caves and karst landscapes, Enclyclopedia of Caves and Karst Science, to be edited by Professor J. Gunn and published by Fitzroy Dearborn, perhaps indicating a 'coming of age' of the discipline. Further details of the encyclopedia project, and an invitation to offer to write particular articles, is available on the project web site.

Papers

(Burek, C.V. & J.S. Conway)
The relationship between Carboniferous Limestone insoluble residues and soils on limestone pavements in North Wales
Vol 27 (2) pp 53 - 59

Abstract: Seven limestone pavements across North Wales were selected for geochemical analysis. The pavements represented a wide variety of locations and cover. At each location a limestone clint and soil from an adjacent grike were sampled for analysis. Limestone insoluble residue and grike infilling were analysed for seven elements, Cu, Zn, Pb, Mn, Ni, Sr and Mg, using atomic absorption spectroscopy. The absence of certain elements in the immediate limestone bedrock seems to confirm the claim by some authors that the majority of the insoluble residue in grikes is introduced from outside the area. Glaciation or periglacial aeolian transport/deposition is often cited as the mechanism. Whereas that cannot be ruled out in these areas, an additional source is postulated. Heavy metal smelting began in earnest in North Wales during the late 16th century, and airborne contaminants were released from this process. The levels of heavy metals in the soil samples suggests that this may have been an additional source.

(Day, M. & P. Urich)
An assessment of protected karst landscapes in Southeast Asia
Vol 27 (2) pp 61 - 70

Abstract: Southeast Asia constitutes one of the World's premier carbonate karst landscapes, with a total karst area, including southern China, of about 800,000km2. The IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas has recognised karst landscapes as being critical targets for designation as protected areas, and this study is an initial inventory of the karst conservation situation in Southeast Asia, excluding China. The karstlands exhibit considerable topographic diversity, including "cockpit" and "tower" styles, together with extensive dry valleys, cave systems and springs. The karst has a long and distinguished history of scientific study. The Gunung Sewu of Java, the Chocolate Hills of Bohol, the pinnacles and caves of Gunung Mulu and the karst towers of Vietnam and peninsular Malaya are "classic" tropical carbonate karst landscapes. The karst also has archaeological, historical, cultural, biological, aesthetic and recreational significance, but human impacts have been considerable. Probably less than 10% of the karst retains its natural vegetation. Regional protected areas and conservation legislation is highly variable in nature and effectiveness. In practice, the protection of designated areas is problematic. Local patterns are highly variable, but about 12% of the regional karst landscape has been afforded nominal protection through designation as a protected area. Levels of protection in different countries are uneven, reflecting population, economic and political variations. There are significant protected karst areas in Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand. Karst conservation in Burma (Myanmar), Cambodia, and Papua New Guinea is minimal, but there remains the potential to designate additional protected karst areas here, in Vietnam and in Laos (Lao PDR). Overall, however, the future of the region's karst landscapes remains uncertain.

(Pentecost, A. & Z. Zhang)
The travertine flora of Juizhaigou and Munigou, China, and its relationship with calcium carbonate deposition
Vol 27 (2) pp 71 - 78

Abstract: The flora of two large travertine deposits in Sichuan Province is described. Travertine compositions were similar to those of Europe, averaging 95% CaCO3 (low Mg-calcite). Travertines were covered in algae (mainly cyanobacteria and diatoms) and bryophytes. The most frequent cyanobacteria (N=15 species) were Calothrix and Dichothrix, and Achnanthes and Cymbella were most common among the diatoms (N=21). 68% of the algae have been reported from European travertines. Among the bryophytes (13 mosses, 3 liverworts), Cratoneuron, Fissidens and Gymnostomum were the most abundant, but only 50% of the species are known from European sites. Among the algae, close spatial relationship with the deposited calcite could be established only for Oocardium. In the mosses Bryum, Fissidens and Gymnostomum, parallels were established between the distribution of carbonate and leaf morphology, reminiscent of the intercellular calcification model for marine algae. The implications are discussed with reference to travertine formation on dams and cascades.

Reports

(Baker, A. & C. Proctor)
Actively growing subaqueous stalagmites
Vol 27(2) pp 79 - 83

Abstract: In this study, stalagmites have been observed growing underwater. The stalagmites are found within a flooded horizontal mine adit, where the poolwater is supersaturated with calcite. Pool and drip water chemistry and hydrology were analysed over an annual field cycle. Stalagmite formation was observed to be from drip waters both undersaturated and supersaturated with calcite. Stalagmites were composed of calcite, and were poorly consolidated: all samples were compact on the side faces but several were unconsolidated underneath the splash impact point. Stalagmite morphology varied with drip fall height and overlying water depth. SEM and XRD analysis demonstrate that the stalagmites comprise calcite crystals of 50-200 micrometres, and show no evidence of biogenic particles or binding. Subaqueous stalagmite formation can be postulated to be caused by the disturbance of the impacting drip of surface calcite rafts formed due to degassing and/or evaporite processes, as well as possible calcite precipitation from the mixing of waters at the drip impact point. The stalagmites form by the slow accumulation of calcite crystals, with occasional collapses until a stable structure is formed, which can ultimately be preserved in the rock record. The stalagmites observed in this study can be considered to be an example of the chemogenic precipitation of calcite by a combination of chemical and physical processes. Such evidence has been rarely reported before in either freshwater or marine environments, and should be preserved in palaeokarst environments.

(Cordingley, J.N.)
Vein cavities in the Castleton caves: further information
Vol 27(2) pp 85 - 88

(Knight, L. & P.J. Wood)
Bivalves (Pisidiidae) in English caves
Vol 27(2) pp 89 - 90

Abstract: Four new records of Pisidiidae are reported for English caves. Bivalves may form a largely ignored component of some subterranean aquatic invertebrate communities. In view of the poor dispersal ability of this family of bivalves, the viability of cave populations is considered, and potential modes of colonisation explored.

Forum

(Cigna, A.A.)
Comments on the paper "Carbon monoxide poisoning: a potential hazard to speleologists?" by Bregani, E.R., T. Ceraldi, A. Rovellini & C. Camerini (Cave and Karst Science Vol 26 (3)), with a reply from the authors.
Vol 27 (2) pp 91 - 92

(Self, C.)
Bell holes
Vol 27 (2) p 92

(Cordingley, J.N.)
Scientific Note: Cave inception horizons in Beck Head Stream Cave, Clapham, North Yorkshire, UK
Vol 27 (2) p 93

Book Reviews

(Sustersic, F.)
Shaw, T., 2000. Foreign travellers in the Slovene karst 1537-1900
Vol 27 (2) pp 94 - 95

(Lowe, D.)
Korpás, L., 1998. Palaeokarst studies in Hungary
Vol 27 (2) pp 95 - 96

Thesis Abstracts

(Whitehead, R., 2000)
Water tracing experiments in the Peak District: A study of the drainage of the Bradwell-Eyam-Stoney Middleton area, Derbyshire, UK
Vol 27 (2) p 96

Unpublished MSc (Surface and Groundwater Resources) dissertation, Geographical Sciences, University of Huddersfield, Queensgate, Huddersfield HD1 3DH, UK

This page created by Dr John D. Wilcock j.wilcock[at]bcra... and edited by David Gibson.

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