Sedimentary anatomy and hydrological record of relic fluvial deposits in a karst cave conduit

A multidisciplinary analysis of relic fluvial deposits in the Demänová Cave System, part of the UNESCO-listed Aggtelek Karst and Slovak Karst, reveals unprecedented insights into the hydrological history of underground karst conduits. The study identifies 10 allostratigraphic units within a compound sidebar deposit, spanning from gravel to mud, and time-constrained by speleothem U-series isotopic dating. These deposits provide a detailed record of cave-floor sedimentation morphodynamics from the middle Pleistocene to the present, correlating with regional climate changes. Two distinct episodes of flow ponding are attributed to downstream cave-roof collapses, likely triggered by Carpathian post-orogenic earthquakes, adding a new dimension to the understanding of speleological processes and karst hydrology.

Bella, P., Gradziński, M., Hercman, H., Leszczyński, S., & Nemec, W. (2020). Sedimentary anatomy and hydrological record of relic fluvial deposits in a karst cave conduit. Sedimentology, 68(1), 425–448. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1111/sed.12785