Speleogenetics

Abstract

Speleogenetics are defined as the totality of all processes which effect the creation and development of natural underground cavities. These comprise corrosion, erosion, and incasion as have already been discussed. They are influenced by lithology, tectonics, and climate from which springs the morphological and karst-hydrological diversity of karst regions. The result is that speleogenetic theories are heavily dependent on the region studied by the author in question. Yet it can be generally stated that in karst interstices and joints are widened to form caves by the dissolution of rocks. D.C. Ford (1970) rightly questions the validity of this statement as a definition of speleogenetics, considering it to be much too general and to express too little. Other authors, mostly American, have also expressed negative opinions of general speleogenetic theories, such as White and Longyear (1962) who observed: “… the multitudinous theories are neither correct nor incorrect in the general case, they are irrelevant” (quoted by Ewers, 1972). Howard (1963) said: “… an universally applicable origin of caves is impossible unless one speaks in the vaguest and most inconsequential terms,” (p. 54). Halliday (1960) expresses it a little more mildly: “Only in the broadest terms can it be said that all limestone caves develop in the same way, and terminology which suggests that this is true should be replaced by the description of individual speleogenetic sequences,” (p. 23, Abstract).