KARST STRUCTURES
AND
GROUNDWATER FEATURES:
1. KARST TOPOGRAPHY:
 limestone,
chalk, or gypsum base.
 Great sinkholes and caverns can form,
caves. This type of rock can absorb water
well (or have lots of cracks to accept
water) and the water dissolves the rock.
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS:
 basic
chemical analysis: H2O + CO2 = H2CO3
water + carbon dioxide in atmosphere =
bicarbonate
 water falling mixes with CO2 to make an acid.
The acid mixes with limestone to make
soluable bicarbonate (in the water). This forms
cave formations like stalactites etc. when the
water evaporates.
2) KARST STRUCTURES:
from very
small to
very large
sinkholes- fairly small holes that cave in
Stalactites- ceiling icicle
Stalagmitesground spike
Rock Pillar-when the two above meet to join into a
column of rock
Karst's benefit to man limestone
is primary component in making
cement caverns for tourism, Carlsbad NM,
Mammoth Caves KT, Horne Lake BC.
LIMESTONE QUARRY:
Carlsbad Caverns NM:
Mammoth Caves Kt.:
Diagram Karst Structures here:
Ground
Water…
BASICS OF GROUNDWATER:
 Zone
of aeration: where air pockets in soil are dry
 Zone of saturation: where air pockets in soil are
filled with water
 Water table: the top of the zone of saturation

Where can you find ground water????
3) ARTESIAN WELLS:
a
porous outcrop (like sandstone) is exposed
in a rainy area, and then dips below the
surface and is "sandwiched" between two
layers of impervious rock (like shale).
ARTESIAN WELL DIAGRAM: