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Some fine‐grained sedimentation phenomena in caves
Author(s) -
Bull Peter A.
Publication year - 1981
Publication title -
earth surface processes and landforms
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.294
H-Index - 127
eISSN - 1096-9837
pISSN - 0197-9337
DOI - 10.1002/esp.3290060103
Subject(s) - geology , cave , sedimentation , bedform , sediment , geomorphology , accretion (finance) , sediment transport , physics , archaeology , astrophysics , history
Fine‐grained sedimentation in caves often occurs by the parallel accretion of laminations upon the underlying bedforms. These laminations show remarkable persistence in unit thickness and grain size in a down‐passage direction. A translatory flow mechanism ofdeposition is postulated which results in the rhythmic pulsing of sediment‐laden water into subterranean lakes in response to variations in surface climate. The sediments are pulsed into standing water via multiple inputs, often resulting in coarser sediment being deposited on steeper slopes than on more gentle slopes. The final extension of this sediment input is the complete filling of the cave passage to the roof. The problem of sediment stability on steep slopes remains an unanswered anomaly.