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The Frasassi Caves: A “Classical” Active Hypogenic Cave

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Hypogene Karst Regions and Caves of the World

Part of the book series: Cave and Karst Systems of the World ((CAKASYWO))

Abstract

The Frasassi caves present a unique opportunity to study sulfuric acid speleogenesis in a large karst system that contains active sulfidic processes as well as relict features produced by past speleogenetic episodes. The caves consist of a network of ramifying, mainly subhorizontal passages that reach more than 30 km in total length, and are organized in superimposed and interconnected levels. Sulfidic groundwaters are accessible in the lowermost levels. The water chemistry in the shallow phreatic zone is influenced by mixing phenomena between the sulfidic groundwaters and descending oxygenated water and, to some extent, gas exchange with the cave atmosphere. The sulfidic waters are corrosive with respect to limestone, with average limestone dissolution rates around 100 mm 10−3 year−1 for submerged tablets. The release of gases to the air also causes wall corrosion (linear corrosion rate up to 85 mm 10−3 year−1), which produces gypsum replacement crusts above the water table. Morphological and isotopic analyses show that large relict gypsum deposits in the upper dry levels were created by the same mechanism. Sulfide-oxidizing chemosynthetic bacteria living in the cave produce organic matter and support a rich and diverse ecosystem in the sulfidic branches, and these microorganisms contribute to sulfur cycling and cave formation processes. The evolution of the older cave levels during the Pleistocene was a complex result of changing regional geomorphological and hydrogeological regimes as well as local factors that affect water movement and gas exchange in the shallow phreatic zone within the cave.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. 60035, Jesi, Italy

    Sandro Galdenzi

  2. BioTechnology Institute & Department of Earth Sciences, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA

    Daniel S. Jones

Authors
  1. Sandro Galdenzi
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  2. Daniel S. Jones
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Correspondence to Sandro Galdenzi .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Hydrogeological Problems, Institute of Geological Sciences, Kiev, Ukraine

    Alexander Klimchouk

  2. Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, State University of New York, Oneonta, New York, USA

    Arthur N. Palmer

  3. Department of Biological, Geological, and Environmental Sciences, Universita di Bologna, Bologna, Italy

    Jo De Waele

  4. Instituto do Carste, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil

    Augusto S. Auler

  5. University of Nice Sophia Antipolis, Sophia Antipolis Cedex, France

    Philippe Audra

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Galdenzi, S., Jones, D.S. (2017). The Frasassi Caves: A “Classical” Active Hypogenic Cave. In: Klimchouk, A., N. Palmer, A., De Waele, J., S. Auler, A., Audra, P. (eds) Hypogene Karst Regions and Caves of the World. Cave and Karst Systems of the World. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-53348-3_8

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