Bedding-plane anastomoses as one of the early stages of karst evolution

Abstract

Bedding-plane anastomoses are braided channels of oval cross-section, connected in networks. They form along limestone bedding planes, in the lower surfaces of upper beds. Reasons for their upward growth are still not clearly defined. Preliminary experiments, based on the assumption that bedding planes in which anastomoses occur are cycle boundaries, were carried out on several samples, as a suggestion for the further research of this problem. The sampling was carried out at anastomoses profiles in cave walls, while performed experiments and analyses were: calcimetry, experimental dissolution, and analysis of thin sections. The results showed that the method of experimental dissolution of powdered samples had certain shortfalls because of the significant change of natural conditions, and that the further research should be directed primarily to calcimetry and analyses of thin sections.