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Coastal Karst Landforms pp 347–373Cite as

Overview of the Controls on Eogenetic Cave and Karst Development in Quintana Roo, Mexico

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Part of the book series: Coastal Research Library ((COASTALRL,volume 5))

Abstract

The northeast coast of the state of Quintana Roo, Mexico is known for its vast underwater cave systems, numerous cenotes, and unusual coast line features that are all expressions of the coastal hydrology of an eogenetic karst region. Variations in geological and hydrological controls, and boundary conditions, have resulted in the formation of extensive linear phreatic caves located in the phreatic and vadose zone, and relict flank margin caves in the vadose zone. A significant number of the region’s cenotes are portals into underwater cave systems. Dry sinkholes provide access to caves currently located in the vadose zone. A combination of karstification and littoral processes have affected the northeast coastline of Quintana Roo resulting in the formation of features such as coastal and off-shore springs, caletas, and crescent-shaped beaches. The juxtaposition of extensive inland recharge, diagenetically immature carbonates, intersection of regional fault, fracture and lineament trends, and mixing zone dynamics, all within glacioeustatic-driven fresh/saline water regime have resulted in a density-stratified coastal karst aquifer drained by an extensive network of conduits. Sea-level change has stranded the higher-elevation conduit networks and the flank margin caves in the vadose zone. The conduits, indicative of turbulent flow, and flank margin caves formed from laminar flow, are both the result mixing-zone dissolution. Surface and littoral erosion facilitate the continued karstification of the inland and coastal areas of Quintana Roo.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the Quintana Roo Speleological Survey for providing information about the underwater systems of the study area, to cartographers Peter Sprouse and Jason Richards for providing cave maps, and to John Mylroie for maps of flank margin caves.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geosciences, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS, 39762, USA

    Patricia N. Kambesis

  2. Quintana Roo Speleological Survey, 7353 Myrna Blvd, Kent, OH, 44230, USA

    James G. Coke IV

Authors
  1. Patricia N. Kambesis
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  2. James G. Coke IV
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Patricia N. Kambesis .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Coastal Cave Survey, West Main Street 313 1/2, West Branch, 52358, Iowa, USA

    Michael J. Lace

  2. Department of Geosciences, Mississippi State University, Hilbun Hall 205, Starkville, 39762, Mississippi, USA

    John E. Mylroie

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Kambesis, P.N., Coke, J.G. (2013). Overview of the Controls on Eogenetic Cave and Karst Development in Quintana Roo, Mexico. In: Lace, M., Mylroie, J. (eds) Coastal Karst Landforms. Coastal Research Library, vol 5. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-5016-6_16

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