EART 3 Geology of National Parks 3304

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EART 3- Geology of National Parks 3/3/04

• OUTLINE
• Groundwater and the Hydrologic Cycle
• Cave Formation
• Mammoth Caves NP and Carlsbad Caverns NP
• CONCEPTS
• Water- a valuable resource
• Chemical dissolution and precipitation reactions

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Well
Spring
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Ocean
Groundwater
Glaciers
Lakes and Rivers
Atmosphere
Biosphere
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Impacts of Groundwater Withdrawl

• Lowering water table
• Compaction and aquifer reduction
• Saltwater intrusion

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Karst Topography- limestone dissolution by
groundwater

• Caves
• Sinkholes
• Springs
• Disappearing streams
• Solution Valleys- linear series of sinkholes

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Dissolution Reactions

• water carbon dioxide carbonic acid
• H20 CO2 H2CO3
• carbonic acid limestone calcium
  bicarbonate
• H2C03 Ca CO3 Ca
  HCO3

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Reprecipitation in Caves

• When groundwater with dissolved Ca and 2HCO3
  seeps into an open cavity, it releases CO2 and
  forms CaCO3 as travertine which is reprecipitated
  limestone

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Speleothems travertine deposits in caves

• Stalactite- icicle like deposit from dripping
  water from cave ceiling
• Stalagmite- same as above but builds from cave
  floor up
• Flowstone- produced by flowing water over a wall

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Stalactite
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Stalactites and Stalagmites
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Photo CD-Mammoth
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El Capitan
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Guadalupe Peak
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Top of El Capitan
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H2S 2O2 2HSO4
Hydrogen sulphide oxygen sulphuric acid
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Keyhole and Eternal Kiss
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Queens Orchestra
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Queens Chamber
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Queens Chamber Draperies
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Papoose Room