Fig 1 - uploaded by Jo De Waele
Content may be subject to copyright.
Geological map of Sicily (from Catalano et al. 2000, 2013b) and location of hypogenic cave systems. 1 Monte Inici caves; 2 Grotta dei Personaggi; 3 Grotta dei Personaggini; 4 Grotta Barone; 5 Monte Kronio caves; 6 Grotta dell'Acqua Fitusa; 7 Abisso del Vento; 8 Grotta dell'Acqua Mintina; 9 Grotta Palombara; 10 Grotta Scrivilleri; 11 Grotta Monello; 12 Grotta Chiusazza. Inset map shows the main elements of the collisional complex of Sicily (FFTB, fold and thrust belt; BUPP, boundary of undeformed hyblean-pelagian carbonate platform)
Source publication
Karst in Sicily develops in both Messinian gypsum and Mesozoic or Tertiary limestone rocks. Caves are also found in the basalts of Mount Etna. Except for some rare cases, until recently most caves developed in limestone were considered to be of epigenetic origin. The discovery of gypsum in some of these caves, and especially detailed morphological...
Similar publications
Hypogene caves originate from upwelling deep-seated waters loaded with CO2 that mix with meteoric waters in a limestone aquifer. Here we present first results on digital modelling of Carbonic Acid Speleogenesis (CAS). We study an unconfined aquifer where meteoric water seeps through the vadose zone and becomes saturated with respect to calcite when...
Sulfuric acid caves are widespread worldwide. In Central Italy, the Fiume-Vento karstic complex represents the most important active hypogenic cave system hosting several interconnected lakes where groundwater moves towards sulfidic springs emerging along the Sentino Stream. Stratification and dilution phenomena between freshwater and sulfidic wate...
Hypogene speleogenesis (HS) describes cave development by rising fluids independent of recharge from the overlying or adjacent areas. Dissolution includes deep-seated acidic sources (CO2/H2S), “hydrothermal” cooling, mixing corrosion, and Sulfuric Acid Speleogenesis (SAS) at and above the water table. HS localizes in basin at sites of upward flows...
Georgia is home to multiple, widespread limestone massifs with well-developed karst areas and their associated landscape features found throughout the country. Due to geological, geomorphological, and speleological characteristics of the limestone massifs in Georgia, there are developments in classical karst processes and landforms, which contain v...
Cave Provalata (Mariovo, southern part of Republic of Macedonia) is a small but remarkable hypogenic cave with abundant
gypsum deposits, mostly covering thick corroded calcite crust, with cupolas, ceiling and wall channels, feeders and
replacement pockets as some of the most characteristic morphological features. Morphological and mineralogical ana...
Citations
... In such view, CO 2 migration noted on SBTM can be considered as upward movement, similarly to those noted worldwide in hypogene karst regions (De Waele and Gutiérrez, 2022). Contrary to known mechanisms occurring in hypogene karst, such as dissolution associated with SAS (De Waele et al., 2024) or cooling of hydrothermal fluids (Roded et al., 2023) in subsurface, and condensation corrosion in subsurface but above piezometric surface (Audra et al., 2007;Vattano et al., 2017;Fernandez-Cortes et al., 2018), carbonate dissolution at SBTM occurs at the contact of meteoric water and exhaled CO 2 in the epikarst zone well above the piezometric surface. ...
... In the Palearctic region an inverse relationship between latitude and guano distribution in caves was also observed. At lower latitudes, the extent of guano accumulations into caves increases (e.g., Mediterranean islands: Vattano et al., 2017;Merino et al., 2019;France, Spain, and Italy: Audra et al., 2019;North Africa: Audra et al., 2021). This is most likely the consequence of bat physiology: pregnancy and lactation require suitable temperatures, while deeper parts of the caves offer lower temperatures and higher humidity. ...
Interactions between bat guano and speleothems were studied in caves of Slovakia (Domica, Drienovská, and Jasovská caves) and Poland (Nietoperzowa Cave). This contribution focuses on the estimation of the rate of guano-induced corrosion of carbonates and on the transformations of speleothems caused by the corrosion. The intense interaction between bat guano accumulations and cave carbonates is mainly controlled by the chemical composition of guano. Corrosion of carbonates by guano leachates, suggested by negative calcite saturation index, was confirmed by weight loss of experimental carbonate tablets exposed to interaction with guano in situ in caves, and under laboratory conditions. The calculated corrosion rate of the tablets was up to 0.111 mm/y. However, measurements of selected corrosion forms in the studied caves, compared to the guano 14C age, suggest rates of the corrosion up to 0.65 mm/y. Transport of aggressive guano leachates is possible in the presence of water; increased drip water supply is considered as contributing to the higher dissolution rates. Crystallization of phosphates as byproducts of the interaction of guano with carbonates can also alter the dissolution process. Phosphates, represented by ardealite, brushite, and hydroxylapatite, were observed on the surfaces of experimental tablets and speleothems alike. Interestingly, hydroxylapatite was the only mineral associated with guano-related hiatuses within speleothem sections. Phosphates are usually accompanied by various dissolution features, such as corrosion pits and considerably dissolved calcite crystals. Dissolution features currently forming on speleothem surfaces are analogous to those identified in the fossil record. U-series dating of guano corrosion episodes within stalagmites from Domica and Drienovská caves indicates their Pleistocene age, while within a flowstone from Nietoperzowa Cave, a Holocene age. Considerable guano accumulations are common in low-latitude caves, whereas in temperate climatic zones guano accumulates irregularly in space and time. The guano accumulations are usually restricted to cave sections distant no more than few hundred meters from the nearest entrance. Considering the widespread distribution of bats across the globe, this process is expected to be common in caves. Nevertheless, the random distribution of guano in caves and its temporal deposition, but also the climate-dependent availability of water, suggest that guano-induced corrosion can be regarded as a site specific process.
... Sulfuric Acid Speleogenetic (SAS) caves are widespread worldwide (Piccini et al. 2007;Klimchouk 2009;Palmer 2011;Laurent et al. 2021), with most examples in Central-Southern Italy (e.g., Galdenzi and Menichetti 1995;De Waele et al. 2014;Vattano et al. 2017;D'Angeli et al. 2021). As reported by Galdenzi and Maruoka (2003), and Jones et al. (2015), the SAS caves are mostly formed above the water table by abiotic and/or biotic oxidation of hydrogen sulfide (H 2 S) deriving from a deep source (hypogenic caves). ...
Sulfuric acid caves are widespread worldwide. In Central Italy, the Fiume-Vento karstic complex represents the most important active hypogenic cave system hosting several interconnected lakes where groundwater moves towards sulfidic springs emerging along the Sentino Stream. Stratification and dilution phenomena between freshwater and sulfidic water occur in many underground lakes, even if they remain still open if these processes are driven by stream-aquifer interaction or dripping water. The speleological knowledge coupled with geochemical surveys can help study groundwater circulation in the karst system’s inner and outer portions. The geochemical analyses on water samples taken along the Sentino Stream, inside the caves (dripping and lakes water) and in sulfidic springs allow establishing the origin of the dilution water in the dripping water. However, stream-aquifer interactions cannot be excluded during flood events. Using the tracer masse balance method (chloride and sodium ions), the discharge of the sulfidic springs ranges between 65 and 11 L/s. The results presented in this study may help understand groundwater circulation and dilution phenomena in other karst systems characterised by sulfuric acid speleogenesis type.
... Acqua Mintina (Caltanisetta, Sicily) (no. 23 in Fig. 9) is placed in southern Sicily, about 7 km NW from the village of Butera, and entirely develops in Messinian limestones (Lugli et al., 2016;Vattano et al., 2017), for an overall length of 140 m (no. 23 in Fig. 5). ...
... Sulfuric-acid karren (Fig. 8E) and cups can be found along sulfuric-acid notches (Vattano et al., 2012(Vattano et al., , 2017De Waele et al., 2016). Gypsum, thenardite, and eugsterite deposits have been collected especially in the active level (D'Angeli et al., 2018). ...
Many active and inactive hypogene sulfuric acid cave systems are known along the Apennines, Italy. The Cavallone-Bove cave system is located in the external part of the central Apennine Chain, in the Majella Massif, and opens at 1470 m asl along the Taranta Gorge (South of Chieti). The presence in these caves of peculiar geomorphological features, such as feeders, rising channels, megacusps, cupolas, and replacement pockets, offers evidence of rising acidic fluids. The secondary mineral deposits, including meter-size white gypsum deposits, alunite, jarosite, black layers of iron‑manganese oxides and hydroxides, along with a rare association of authigenic rutile-ilmenite minerals indicate a sulfuric acid origin. Stable isotope analyses of sulfates further confirm a sulfuric acid speleogenetic (SAS) origin of these minerals and, in general, of the whole cave system, with H 2 S coming from the bacterial sulfate reduction of deep-seated Triassic evaporites interacting with hydrocarbons. Alunite dating demonstrates this water table SAS cave to have been active at least until 1.52 ± 0.28 Ma. All the evidence suggests that Cavallone-Bove is an ancient sulfuric acid karst system that was uplifted <1 km above pre-existing base level. The age of speleogenesis further suggests that tectonic uplift of this area was as high as 670 m My ⁻¹ over the last 1.5 Ma.
... Acqua Mintina (Caltanisetta, Sicily) (no. 23 in Fig. 9) is placed in southern Sicily, about 7 km NW from the village of Butera, and entirely develops in Messinian limestones (Lugli et al., 2016;Vattano et al., 2017), for an overall length of 140 m (no. 23 in Fig. 5). ...
... Sulfuric-acid karren (Fig. 8E) and cups can be found along sulfuric-acid notches (Vattano et al., 2012(Vattano et al., , 2017De Waele et al., 2016). Gypsum, thenardite, and eugsterite deposits have been collected especially in the active level (D'Angeli et al., 2018). ...
In Italy, especially along the Apennine Chain, numerous active and inactive sulfuric acid speleogenetic (SAS) caves have been documented in the last two decades. Here we present an overview of these peculiar hypogene systems, illustrating their main geomorphological and mineralogical features, and the microbial signatures observed in the active underground environment. SAS caves are widely distributed in the northern and central Apennines, whereas they are less abundant in the southern Apennines, in the Apulian foreland, in Sicily and in Sardinia. Their location is significantly influenced by lithological and structural rock properties, as they occur in carbonate areas where acidic fluids, deriving from the interactions with deep-seated sulfates and/or sulfides, rise through deeply rooted geological structures. Geomorphological observations demonstrated sub-horizontal maze passages to be one of the most favorite arrangements for SAS caves, whereas gypsum, sulfur and alunite supergroup minerals are the most typical sulfuric acid by-products. The δ ³⁴ S results demonstrated the deep-seated H 2 S sources to be mainly related to the interaction between Triassic evaporites and hydrocarbons.
... Soluble rocks are mainly carbonates (limestone and dolomites) and evaporites (gypsum and anhydrites), which are found in different zones of Sicily (Di Maggio et al. 2012). Carbonate and gypsum karstic systems originate in unconfined conditions and in most cases constitute epigenetic systems powered by meteoric waters; hypogenic caves are found only in carbonate rocks and are linked to the presence of deep thermal water (Vattano et al. 2013(Vattano et al. , 2017. ...
The results of a long investigation (20 years) on bryophyte diversity of 28 Sicilian caves are reported; the study regarded both karstic and volcanic caves, located at altitudes ranging from 15 to 2030 m a.s.l. The bryophyte diversity consists of a total of 136 taxa, 20 liverworts, 3 hornworts and 113 mosses. The ecological analysis was performed using the Ellenberg indicator values for moisture, light and soil reaction to the substrate. On the whole, mesophytic and meso-hygrophytic, sciophytic and photo-sciophytic species strongly prevail independently from the geological nature of the caves; the values of the soil reaction to the substrate well reflect the characteristics of the substrate. The phytogeographical analysis shows the prevalence of the Mediterranean species, followed by the temperate and southern-temperate species. It is remarkable the occurrence of boreo-arctic-montane species, which find refuge for their survival in some high-altitude caves. Some typical species well adapted to the cave environment are reported, including Amphidium mougeotii, Isopterygiopsis pulchella, Thamnobryum alopecurum and Rhynchostegiella tenella, showing a troglophilous character. The occurrence of species of phytogeographical significance, as well as of conservation interest, e.g. Ptychostomum cernuum, Tortula bolanderi, Rhabdoweisia fugax, Grimmia torquata, Brachytheciastrum collinum, very rare in Italy, is emphasized too.
The thermal waters of famous springs and spas of Budapest have dissolved more than 240 hypogene caves in the Buda Hills, mostly in Eocone limestone and marl, during the Middle and Late Pleistocene. Recently we have 60 km of known cave passages mapped, chiefly in the Rózsadomb (Rose Hill) part of the city. Every cave was discovered by accident (stone quarrying, digging basements, trenching for gas and water pipes, canalization, etc.). These caves are characterized by speleothems of thermal-water origin, mostly calcite, aragonite (cave coralloids, mammillary crusts, cave rafts, frostworks) and some types of gypsum crystals, as well as shapely solution pockets, especially cupolas. Three caves, Pál-völgy Cave, Szemlő-hegy Cave and Buda Castle Cave are open to the public as show caves. The tourists can also visit Mátyás-hegy Cave for an adventure tour, and cave divers can explore warm thermal water passages in Molnár János Cave. József-hegy Cave, Citadella Crystal Cave and Királylaki Cave are accessible for research projects only. There are fewer, but very interesting, caves in the Triassic limestone of the Pilis Hills. The intensively investigated Ariadne Cave System is now nearly 20 km long. Sátorkőpuszta Cave, with many superb cupolas and gypsum precipitates, is the world type example of one of the principal hypogene cave morphologies. The Gerecse Hills are not rich in caves, but it is well worth viewing Pisznice, Lengyel and Keselő caves, which are also in the Triassic limestone.KeywordsHypogene cavesSpeleothems of thermal-water originSolution pocketsCupolasRózsadombBuda Thermal Karst
Sulfuric acid minerals are important clues to identify the speleogenetic phases of hypogene caves. Italy hosts ~25% of the known worldwide sulfuric acid speleogenetic (SAS) systems, including the famous well-studied Frasassi, Monte Cucco, and Acquasanta Terme caves. Nevertheless, other underground environments have been analyzed, and interesting mineralogical assemblages were found associated with peculiar geomorphological features such as cupolas, replacement pockets, feeders, sulfuric notches, and sub-horizontal levels. In this paper, we focused on 15 cave systems located along the Apennine Chain, in Apulia, in Sicily, and in Sardinia, where copious SAS minerals were observed. Some of the studied systems (e.g., Porretta Terme, Capo Palinuro, Cassano allo Ionio, Cerchiara di Calabria, Santa Cesarea Terme) are still active, and mainly used as spas for human treatments. The most interesting and diversified mineralogical associations have been documented in Monte Cucco (Umbria) and Cavallone-Bove (Abruzzo) caves, in which the common gypsum is associated with alunite-jarosite minerals, but also with baryte, celestine, fluorite, and authigenic rutile-ilmenite-titanite. In addition, the core of alunite and jarosite, from these two systems, results enriched in PO43-, clearly suggesting hypogene hydrothermal origin. Santa Cesarea Terme, Capo Palinuro, and Acqua Mintina caves show important native sulfur deposits, which abundantly cover walls, ceilings, and speleothems. Abundant copiapite, pickeringite, tamarugite, hexahydrate assemblages have been observed in the Calabrian systems; their association with pyrite and hematite would suggest they formed in very acidic conditions with pH ranging between 0 and 4.
