Caves in slightly karstic rocks of Altai-Sayan mountain region: formation mechanism and Morphology

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Abstract

In addition to numerous underground cavities associated with the processes of dissolution of carbonate rocks, within the Altai-Sayan mountain region there are a number of caves developed in non-karstic and slightly karstic rocks. Among them, the caves of the conglomerate Narva rock mass of the Badzheiskii massif (Eastern Sayan, Manskii trough) stand out due to their size. The most outstanding caves here are Big Oreshnaya, Dudinskaya and Badzheiskaya, the length is more than 50 km, 35 km and 10 km respectively. The limestones of the middle Altai mountains are often in contact with effusive and intrusive rocks and are altered within the contact zones of metamorphism to dense marbleized rocks, which makes it impossible for karst processes to occur. Nevertheless, in the marbled Lower Cambrian limestones of the Kayanchinskaya suite of the Altai Mountains, large Altaiskaya and Kek-Tash caves with a total length of 4.7 and 3.2 km, respectively, are developed.

Detailed mapping of the caves was carried out, which showed their close spatial connection with the systems of the latest faults. In caves along fault zones, signs of widespread argillization were found (changes in the original substance by hydrothermal processes and its replacement by newly formed clayey minerals). The mechanism we propose for the formation of caves in non-karstic and slightly karstic rocks comes down to the removal by groundwater of a substrate argillized by hydrothermal processes along fault zones without significant participation of dissolution (karst processes). This makes this mechanism some similar to the well-known process of “clay karst” associated with suffusion in clayey rocks. The difference comes down to the development of the forms and processes we studied in argillicized fault zones, and not in clayey strata.

About the authors

A. A. Bulychov

Sobolev Institute of Geology and Mineralogy of SB RAS

Author for correspondence.
Email: bulychovanatoli@yandex.ru
Russian Federation, Novosibirsk

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2. Fig. 1. Geological-tectonic scheme of Badzheiskii site. Cm₁sn₂ — sinerskaya subsuite, massive dolomites; Cm₁vl — suite of Vyezzhii Log, clayey shales; Cm₁kr — krolskaya suite, dolomites; Cm₃-O₁nr— narva conglomerate sequence, calcareous-clayey conglomerates, boulders-dolomites, pebbles-quartz flint; Cm₁ks — koiskaya suite, quartz sandstones; νPt₁ — microcline granite-gneisses; 1 — faults; 2 — caves (Р – Rucheinaya, БО — Big Oreshnaya, Б — Badzheiskaya, Д — Dudinskaya); 3 — assumed faults.

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3. Fig. 2. Scheme of Big Oreshnaya cave and traced faults along which the cave is developed. 1 — geophysical measurement site; 2 — faults, their numbers (names in the text) and appropriate linear cave structures; 3 — assumed faults, toning — the rock massive.

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4. Fig. 3. Identified faults and the map binding of Big Oreshnaya and Rucheinaya caves to the surface. 1 — geophysical measurement site; 2 — faults, their numbers (names in the text) and appropriate linear cave structures; 3 — assumed faults; 4 — horizontal lines with elevation marks; 5 — alignment surfaces; toning — the rock massive.

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5. Fig. 4. Identified faults and the binding of Badzheiskaya and Dudinskaya caves to the surface. А–Аʹ — fractures measurements profile; 1 — local plateaus; 2 — faults; 3 — horizontal lines with elevation marks; 4 — assumed faults; 5 — zones of increased density of rock fracturing; toning — the rock massive.

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6. Fig. 5. Averaging of primary data along the А–Аʹ profile at the Dudinskaya Cave site. 1 — original function; 2 — polynomial; 3 — averaging.

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7. Fig. 6. Fracture density distribution spectrum along the A–Aʹ profile at the Dudinskaya cave site. 1 — fragmentation zones; 2 — fault zones.

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8. Fig. 7. Faults identified inside the Dudinskaya cave, and a binding to the surface. 1 — faults, their numbers (names in the text) and appropriate linear cave structures; 2 — horizontal lines with elevation marks; toning — the rock massive.

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9. Fig. 8. Geological-tectonic scheme of the region of Altaiskaya and Kek-Tash caves. 1 — marbled limestones Cm1kn; 2 — effusives Cm2km; 3 — effusives D2kr; 4 — marbles Snbr; 5 — terrigenous-volcanogenic rocks Sn-Cm1mn; 6 — lava breccia with cantomenate Cm12; 7 — granitoid; caves: А — Altaiskaya cave, К — Kek-Tash cave; 1 — faults.

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10. Fig. 9. The plan of Altaiskaya cave. 1 — faults.

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11. Fig. 10. The plan of Kek-Tash cave.1 –faults and their numbers.

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