Glaciation and saline-freshwater mixing as a possible cause of cave formation in the eastern midcontinent region of the United States: A conceptual model
Journal Article
·
· Geology; (USA)
- Illinois State Geological Survey, Champaign (USA)
- Lawrence Livermore National Lab., CA (USA)
We present a hypothesis for the formation of caves and associated karst features near the southern margins of the Illinois, Michigan, and Appalachian basins. Spatial and temporal relations among intracratonic basins, karstic terrain, and continental glaciation suggest that Pleistocene glaciation may have initiated the discharge of saline waters from the margins of these basins. Glaciation-induced discharge of saline waters could result from the consolidation of sediments due to the overlying pressure of glacial ice, and flushing of underlying aquifers as a result of bottom melting in recharge areas of basic aquifers. The upward migration of basin-derived saline waters into near-surface aquifers would result in the mixing of saline waters with infiltrating glacial meltwater and meteoric water. The development of a vertically restricted zone of mixing of saline and fresh water in limestone aquifers would result in the dissolution of limestone; this mechanism could be responsible for the formation, or at least the initiation of, some caves and associated karst features in the midcontinent region.
- OSTI ID:
- 6357244
- Journal Information:
- Geology; (USA), Journal Name: Geology; (USA) Vol. 18:8; ISSN GLGYB; ISSN 0091-7613
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Conference
·
Mon Dec 31 23:00:00 EST 1984
· Geol. Soc. Am., Abstr. Programs; (United States)
·
OSTI ID:6458759
Geologic controls of the distribution of freshwater in a regional aquifer system: Central Michigan Basin
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·
Thu Mar 31 23:00:00 EST 1994
· Geological Society of America, Abstracts with Programs; (United States)
·
OSTI ID:6837909
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Journal Article
·
Fri Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 1995
· American Scientist
·
OSTI ID:103435
Related Subjects
58 GEOSCIENCES
580000* -- Geosciences
APPALACHIAN BASIN
AQUIFERS
CARBONATE ROCKS
CAVES
CAVITIES
CENOZOIC ERA
COMPRESSION
DISSOLUTION
FEDERAL REGION V
FLUIDS
FRESH WATER
GEOLOGIC AGES
GEOLOGIC HISTORY
GEOLOGIC MODELS
GEOLOGIC STRUCTURES
GLACIERS
GROUND WATER
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
ICE
ILLINOIS BASIN
LIMESTONE
MELTING
METEORIC WATER
MICHIGAN
MIXING
NORTH AMERICA
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PHASE TRANSFORMATIONS
PLEISTOCENE EPOCH
QUATERNARY PERIOD
RECHARGE
RESERVOIR FLUIDS
ROCKS
SALINITY
SEDIMENTARY BASINS
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
SEDIMENTS
USA
WATER
580000* -- Geosciences
APPALACHIAN BASIN
AQUIFERS
CARBONATE ROCKS
CAVES
CAVITIES
CENOZOIC ERA
COMPRESSION
DISSOLUTION
FEDERAL REGION V
FLUIDS
FRESH WATER
GEOLOGIC AGES
GEOLOGIC HISTORY
GEOLOGIC MODELS
GEOLOGIC STRUCTURES
GLACIERS
GROUND WATER
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
ICE
ILLINOIS BASIN
LIMESTONE
MELTING
METEORIC WATER
MICHIGAN
MIXING
NORTH AMERICA
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PHASE TRANSFORMATIONS
PLEISTOCENE EPOCH
QUATERNARY PERIOD
RECHARGE
RESERVOIR FLUIDS
ROCKS
SALINITY
SEDIMENTARY BASINS
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
SEDIMENTS
USA
WATER