Divergent Geochemical Pathways of Carbonate Aquifer Evolution in a Classic Karst Terrain: (1) Polygenetic Cave Development Identified Using Longitudinal Groundwater Geochemistry

• Published in: Water
• Main Authors: Sarah A. Burgess, Lee J. Florea, Tracy D. Branam
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2023
• Subjects: water chemistry; stable isotopes; Mitchell Plateau; lost river; Bluespring Caverns; Hydraulic engineering; TC1-978; Water supply for domestic and industrial purposes; TD201-500; Lost River; St. Louis; Carbonic acid
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.3390/w15193410; https://doaj.org/article/4ce784cbcd4d4544ad2bd9516964b6f9

Carbonic acid and sulfuric acid speleogenesis describe a dichotomy between epigenetic and hypogenetic caves and carbon and sulfur cycling in karst, but do not acknowledge the global spectrum of cave formation. This paper, part one of a two-part investigation, tests and revises speleogenetic models f...