Isotopic Studies of Byproducts of Hypogene Speleogenesis and Their Contribution to the Geologic Evolution of the Western United States

  • Polyak V
  • Asmerom Y
  • Hill C
  • et al.
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Abstract

Hypogene speleogenesis in the western United States is associated with a deep source of water and gases that rise and mix with shallow aquifer water. Caves are formed below the surface without surface expressions (ie, sinkholes, sinking streams), and byproducts of speleogenesis are precipitated during the late phase of hypogene speleogenesis. These byproducts provide geochemical and geochronological evidence of a region’s geologic history and include gypsum rinds and blocks, elemental sulfur, halloysite-10Å, alunite, natroalunite, and other sulfur-related minerals. The following speleogenetic and speleothemic features are common: alteration rinds, crusts, mammillaries, folia, rafts, and cave spar. The types of hypogene speleogenesis vary and many can be expressed in space and time in relation to paleo-water tables. We identify two general types: (1) H2S-H2SO4-dominated speleogenesis that takes place predominantly near a paleo-water table (a few meters above and below), and (2) CO2-dominated speleogenesis that mostly takes place 10s to 100s of meters below a paleo-water table, with latest-stage imprints within meters of the water table.

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Polyak, V. J., Asmerom, Y., Hill, C. A., Palmer, A. N., Provencio, P. P., Palmer, M. V., … Onac, B. P. (2014). Isotopic Studies of Byproducts of Hypogene Speleogenesis and Their Contribution to the Geologic Evolution of the Western United States. Hypogene Cave Morphologies. Selected Papers and Abstracts of the Symposium Held February 2 through 7, 2014, San Salvador Island, Bahamas. Retrieved from http://www.karstwaters.org/publications/SP18_Hypogene_Cave_Morphologies.pdf#page=45

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