Lime Creek Cave

The objectives of this study were to develop a method for cave sediment mapping, and to use that method to develop a sedimentary history for the caves of Lime Creek. Cave deposits were mapped using techniques generally applied to unconsolidated surface deposits. Correlation between surface glacial deposits and cave deposits allowed some... 

Lime Creek Cave and Alphine Twister Cave contain sand to cobble-sized fill derived from igneous and metamorphic rock (Ft). In Alphine Twister, these deposits overlie a bedrock floor, and are 1 m (3 ft) below the cemented Fml deposit. In Lime Creek Cave, these sediments are cemented by calcite and are, in turn, overlain by reworked fill (Fml). This relationship is contrary to what is observed in Alphine Twister Cave where the Fml deposit appears to be older. This may indicate that there were two episodes of Fml deposition, separated by an episode of Ft deposition. 

The brown fill deposits (Frs, Frc) are silt to clay-sized with almost no organic components. These deposits are generally found overlying the limestone bedrock in higher-level cave passages. The overall relationship between these deposits and the Fml and Ft deposits is unclear. In Lime Creek Cave, both the Ft and Fr deposits are overlain by Fml. 

Lime Creek Cave, Ice Palace and Bonnies Hall... 

As water stopped flowing into Ice Palace and Bonnies Hall, Lime Creek Cave and the similar springs around it stopped flowing and began to fill with breakdown and secondary calcite deposits. Whether the water stopped flowing because all of the ice had melted, or because flow was pirated elsewhere is unknown. 

Lime Creek Cave Eagle County, Colorado... 

Table 2, Observed sedimentary history of Lime Creek caves.

Cave sediments in the Lime Creek area of Eagle County, Colorado were classified by composition and texture and were plotted on detailed maps of cave geomorphology. These maps were used to relate cave sediments to surface deposits and to assemble a depositional history of the caves. 

Table 1. Sediment types found in the caves of Lime Creek...

The fourth general stage of development in the caves of Lime Creek was abandonment. Downcutting and piracy of cave streams to lower routes left some of the lower caves near Lime Creek Canyon without significant flow. Presently, these caves take water captured as snow and rain in sinkhole entrances and through open fractures. 

Clay, sand, and gravel deposits were mapped to determine likely sources of cave fill and relative flow system energy (Table 1). The vertical relationships between sediments indicate the sequence of sedimentation in most of the caves of Lime Creek. Older deposits are buried by younger ones, or can be preserved in pockets and cemented by calcite above current base level. Older deposits may have been completely removed by later stream activity, so a complete sediment record may not be preserved. 

Glacial ice may have been responsible for removing some of the rock that overlies the Leadville Limestone, exposing the limestone to karstification. As discussed previously, glacial ice also transported igneous and metamorphic material from exposed Precambrian bedrock westward, onto the limestone. Glacial effects on cave sedimentation and karst development vary throughout Lime Creek. 

There is evidence that there were sinkholes along the flanks of Lime Creek prior to glaciation, but those sinkholes are now completely filled with glacial till. Currently-accessible caves in areas overridden by glacial ice probably did not form until after the ice retreated. The caves in these areas are characterized by an initial active stream phase... 

Possible Soring Caves in Lime Creek Canvon ... 

Cave Name Lime Creek Grovers Den Cave Cable Cave ... 

Periglacial caves in Lime Creek have the longest preserved sediment record. These caves have evidence of development before and after glaciation, and possibly multiple glacial episodes. 

The sedimentary maps were developed using standard cave mapping techniques and techniques generally used for mapping unconsolidated surface deposits. With virtually no disturbance to the deposits in the cave, it was possible to reconstruct the sedimentary record of the caves of Lime Creek. The cave sediment record made it possible to determine the speleogenesis of the caves and to evaluate the effects of glaciation on karst development. 

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