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DRT 2011 Meeting Oviedo

Quantitatively structural control of the karst based on speleological cave survey data: Cabeza Llerosos massif (Picos de Europa, Spain)
Daniel Ballesteros1, Montserrat Jimnez-Snchez1, 2, Joaqun Garca-Sansegundo1 and Miguel Borreguero3.

1Geology 2Institute 3Socit

Departament, Oviedo University, c/ Jess Arias de Velasco s/n 33015 Oviedo (Spain) ballesteros@geol.uniovi.es Earth Sciences Jaume Almera, c/ Sol i Sabars s/n 08028 Barcelona (Spain)

Suisse de Splologie, section Troglolog, case postale 1332 CH-2301 La Chaux-de-Fonds (Swiss)

Abstract: Speleological cave survey, joints and bedding data is statistically analyzed and compared with each on stereographic projection to determinate quantitatively the structural control. The comparison includes the definition of families of joints and groups of cave passages according its direction and dip. 10,866 m of eight cave from a calcareous massif are studied to illustrate this method. The results shows the percentage of the influence on the karst of each joint family and the bedding.

1. INTRODUCTION
The influence of Tectonics on speleogenesis has been qualitatively studied by several previous works (e.g. Skoglund and Lauritzen, 2010) based on 1) observations from bedrock outcrops, 2) geological maps, 3) geological crosssections and 4) collection of joints and bedding plane measurements in caves and data projection on caves surveys. Cave survey data can be statistically analyzed and compared with the geometry of the massif discontinuities. The aim of this work is to establish quantitatively the influence of the structural factor in eight several vertical caves based on speleological cave survey data, joint and bedding measurements and stereographic projection.

Table 1.- Relation of the cave studied. Cave survey data is from Borreguero (1986), Ballesteros et al (2009, 2010) and Colectivo Asturiano de Espelelogos et al (2011).

Caves

Figure Situation of the area of study.

El Frailn Torca Llorosa Torca Teyera Torca del Camino Torca del Zapo Torca E Bocn de las Ancolas 2. SETTING The area of study is located in Cabeza Gralleros de Salinas TOTAL Llerosos massif, in the North of Picos de 1.-

Development (m) 1,084 1,817 4,438 759 544 511 875 838 10,866

Depth (m) 349 686 738 406 230 130 255 381

Europa (Cantabrian Mountains, North of Spain) (figure 1). Picos de Europa Mountains are manly formed by 1,000 m of carboniferous limestone affected by a NW-SE to E-W trending, sub-vertical and SW-directed thrusts system and other faults (Merino-Tom et al, 2009). The landscape is dominated by karstic, glacial, periglacial, snow and gravity forms (Moreno et al, 2011). The cavities studied are eight vertical caves (shafts) witch length ranges from 500 to 4,400 m and its depths vary from 130 to 738 m (table 1).

3. METHODOLOGY
The method includes: 1) cave survey collection (10,866 m) 2) geological map and cross-sections with the cavities projection 3) data collection (152 measurements) of bedding and joints in caves and near outcrops

4) establishment of the families of joints and bedding by stereographic projection 5) definition of groups of cave passages from stereographic projection (based on their directions and dips) 6) the comparison between bedding, families of joints and cave survey data by stereographic projection

4. RESULTS
Cabeza Llerosos massif is mainly formed by 1,000 m of massive, laminated or stratified carboniferous limestone affected by an NW-SE trending, sub-vertical and SW-directed thrusts and other faults which direction is SE-NW, SW-NE or N-S (figure 2). The cave projections on the geological map and on the geological cross section are parallel to the trace of thrusts, others faults and bedding. Seven families of joints shown in table 2 have been distinguished in all the area of study. Five groups of cave passages have been defined, but these groups are not represented in all caves (table 3).
Table 2.- Trend of joint families and the bedding.

Joint families J1 J2 J3 J4 J5 J6 J7 Bedding (S0)

Trend (o) N63/68SE N29E/46NW N146E/78SW N52E/72NW 129E/17NE N167E/57NE N180E/26E N30-55/60-80NE

Table 3.- Trend of cave passage groups.

Group of passages A B C D E

Trend ( ) sub-vertical N10W-N10E/3-20N N20-70E/0-50NE N125-145E N105-151W/38-65SW TOTAL

% of cave total 61 13 13 6 3 96

5. DISCUSSION
The definition of the groups of cave passages on stereographic projection varies little due to the statistic parameters (range and number of contours) used to elaborate the analysis of density of the directions and dips of the cavity. Nevertheless, the definition of each group of passages has been checked by field observations and the cave survey. Table 4 resumes the structural control of each group of cave passages highlighted in figure 2. 64 % of the whole of cave passages is represented by A and E groups, being controlled by sub-vertical joints and their intersections. 26 % of cave passages is represented by B and C groups, ruled by the intersection between sub-vertical and sub-horizontal joints. D group represents the 6 % and is forced by the bedding. Some cave shows groups of cave passages that are not present in the others. The differences about the development of cave passages in one cave or another can not be explained only by structural criteria. Perhaps, geomorphological or hydrological factors controlled these differences.
Acknowledgements
This research has been funded through CONTRACT project (CN-06-177) provided by Asturias Government-Oviedo University, CALIBRE project (CAVECAL) (CGL2006-13327-C04/CLI) provided by Ministerio de Educacin y Cultura, and GRACCIE project (CONSOLIDER PROGRAM) (CSD200700067) provided by Centro de Investigacin Cientfica y Tecnolgica. We acknowledge J. Bahamonde, . Merino, G. Sendra, I. de Felipe, P. Solares, S. Suisse de Splologie, A. Dep. Gema, G. Espeleolgico Polifemo, G. Splologique du Doubs and GES Montaeiros Celtas for there help.

Figure 2.- Geological map and cross section. The stereographic projections show the density analyses of the cave survey data and the media plane of the bedding and the families of joints. Table 4.- Structural control of cave passages.

6. CONCLUSIONS
1.- The endokarst morphology is strongly controlled by the structure. Subvertical joints rule the 64 % of the cave passages and the intersections between sub-vertical and sub-horizontal joints condition the 26 %. 2.- The influence of joints on the caves is more important than the guidance of bedding. The stratification forces only the 6% of the cave passages. 3.- The qualitatively determination of the structural control on endokarst by the representation of cave survey, joints and bedding data in stereographic projection just depends on the criteria of density analyses.

Group of passages A B C D E

Structural control J1, J2, J4, J6 and their intersections Intersections of J5 and J6 Intersections of J1, J2, J4, J5, J7 Bedding J1, J2, J3, J4

References
Ballesteros et al (2009) Semun 2009 Exploracin espeleolgica en Pea Jascal, Picos de Europa, NO de Espaa. Oviedo, Spain. Unpublished. 41p. Ballesteros et al (2010) Torca Teyera. Subterrnea 30:24-26. Borreguero (1986) Special Picos: Puertos de Ondn. Neuchtel, Swiss. Unpublished. 118 p. Colectivo Asturiano de Espeleologa et al (2011) Memoria de la campaa de exploracin espeleolgica Pea H.ascal 2010. Macizo del Cornin, Picos de Europa. Ons y Cabrales, Asturies. Unpublished. 41p. Groupe Splologique du Doubs (1988) Camps dt dans les Picos de Europa (1987-1988). Unpublished. 47 p. Merino-Tom et al (2009) Emplacement of the Cuera and Picos de Europa imbrcate system at the core of Iberian-Armorican arc (Cantabrian zona, north Spain): New precisions concerning the timing of the arc clousure. Geological Society of America 121, 5-6, 729-751. Moreno et al (2010) The last deglaciation in the Picos de Europa National Park (Cantabrian Mountains, northern Spain). Journal Quaternary Science 25, 7, 1076-1091. Skoglund and Lauritzen (2010) Morphology and speleogenesis of Okshola (Fauske, northern Norway): example of a multi-stage network cave in a glacial landscape. Norwegian Journal of Geology 90, 123-139.1

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