Cave water

Frantz J.D. (1971) Bermudian ground and cave waters Bermuda Biological Station for Research. Spec. Pub. 7,47-55. 

Fairchild, I.J., Borsato, A., Tooth, A.F., Frisia, S., Hawkesworth, C.J., Huang, Y., McDermott, F. and Spiro, B., 2000, Controls on trace element (Sr - Mg) compositions of carbonate cave waters implications for speleothem climatic records, Chem. Geol. 166 255-269. 

Harmon, R.S., Schwarcz, H.P. and Ford, D.C., 1978c, Stable isotope geochemistry of speleothems and cave waters from the Flint Ridge-Mammoth Cave System, Kentucky Implications for terrestrial climate change during the period 230,000 to 100,000 years B.P., J. Geol. 86 373-384. 

An important starting point for modem geochemical studies of the carbonate system in cave waters is that of Holland et al. (1964), who related... 

The initial Ca concentration of cave water might be limited by lower-than-expected soil/>C02 because of relative aridity (Genty et al., 2001b) or where the solutions follow a sequential evolution (Drake, 1983) and reach saturation at lower pC02 values than the soil. 

Baker, A. Genty, D. (1999) Fluorescence wavelength and intensity variations of cave waters. Journal of Hydrology 217, 19-34. 

Holland, H.D., Kirsipu, T.V., Huebner, J.S. Oxburgh, U.M. (1964) On some aspects of the chemical evolution of cave water. Journal of Geology 72, 36-67. 

Acid in the Environment Carbonic acid plays a key role in the formation of caves and of stalactites and stalagmites. Carbonic acid is formed when carbon dioxide in soil is dissolved in water. When this acidic solution comes in contact with calcium carbonate—or limestone rock—it can dissolve it, eventually carving out a cave in the rock. A similar process occurs when acid rain falls on statues and eats away at the stone, as shown in Figure 16. When this acidic solution drips from the ceiling of the cave, water evaporates and carbon dioxide becomes less soluble, forcing it out of solution. The solution becomes less acidic and the limestone becomes less soluble, causing it to come out of solution. These solids form stalactites and stalagmites. 

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