Kraushöhle (Gams, Styria, Austria) is the only currently known sulfuric acid cave in the Eastern Alps. Cupolas, ceiling partings and portals, ceiling channels, replacement pockets, horizontal corrosion/convection notches, sulfuric acid karren, blind chimneys, incomplete dissolution walls, drip holes and cup shaped hollows in the floor are the most striking morphological features in this cave. Mineralogical analysis showed the presence, besides calcite, of gypsum, gibbsite, opaline, jarosite, metalunogene, hydroxylapatite, halloysite, and alunite. The timing of speleogenesis was preliminary determined, using 40Ar/39Ar dating of alunite, a product of acid limestone weathering, to 80 ka +/- 80 (the cave is thus younger than 160 ka). Preliminary U-Th dates of calcitic stalagmites indicate a minimum age of gypsum deposition of 52 ka. Stable isotope data of these speleothem are consistent with an epigenic origin of the drip water at that time.
De Waele J., Plan L., Audra Ph., Rossi A., Spoetl Chr., Polyak V., et al. (2009). Kraushoehle (Austria): morphology and mineralogy of an alpine sulfuric acid cave.. KERRVILLE : National Speleological Society.
Kraushoehle (Austria): morphology and mineralogy of an alpine sulfuric acid cave.
DE WAELE, JO HILAIRE AGNES;
2009
Abstract
Kraushöhle (Gams, Styria, Austria) is the only currently known sulfuric acid cave in the Eastern Alps. Cupolas, ceiling partings and portals, ceiling channels, replacement pockets, horizontal corrosion/convection notches, sulfuric acid karren, blind chimneys, incomplete dissolution walls, drip holes and cup shaped hollows in the floor are the most striking morphological features in this cave. Mineralogical analysis showed the presence, besides calcite, of gypsum, gibbsite, opaline, jarosite, metalunogene, hydroxylapatite, halloysite, and alunite. The timing of speleogenesis was preliminary determined, using 40Ar/39Ar dating of alunite, a product of acid limestone weathering, to 80 ka +/- 80 (the cave is thus younger than 160 ka). Preliminary U-Th dates of calcitic stalagmites indicate a minimum age of gypsum deposition of 52 ka. Stable isotope data of these speleothem are consistent with an epigenic origin of the drip water at that time.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
