Articles
Non-destructive characterization of variously colored gypsum and aragonite/calcite speleothems from the Cigalère Cave (Ariège, France)
Martin Vlieghe, Johan Wouters, Gérald Fanuel, Jean-François Drion du Chapois, Anne Gallez, Stéphane Pire-Stevenne, Gaëtan Rochez, and Johan Yans
- Portable X-ray fluorescence allows non-destructive elemental analysis in the field
- Designated calibration greatly increases accuracy and reproducibility
- Detection of Fe, Mn, Zn, Pb, and Cu, responsible for the various colorations
- Metals and sulphate ions likely originate from the overlying Pb-Zn sulfide ores
A cave in Miocene conglomerate: the Törökpince-Abaliget cave system, Hungary
Krisztina Sebe, Piroska Pazonyi, Márton Bauer, Bálint Szappanos, Márton Szabó, Zoltán Szentesi, Mihály Gasparik, Ákos Juhász, Luca Pandolfi, Máté Gregorits, József Haász, Ágnes Novothny, and Zsófia Ruszkiczay-Rüdiger
- A 536 m-long through cave segment developed in Miocene conglomerates
- Cave development through dissolution, collapse, and granular disintegration
- Rich Miocene, Pleistocene, and Holocene vertebrate fossil assemblage
- A cave minimum age of 0.8-0.7 Ma, potentially reaching several Ma
- A rich archive of – partly syn-sedimentary – tectonic features
Hydrothermal vents in sulfuric acid speleogenesis karst: isolated feeders with pristine hypogenic water or interconnected conduits with rapid flow and recycled water?
Jakub Mareš, Marek Audy, Serban M. Sarbu, Jan Kukačka, Romeo Eftimi, and Jiří Bruthans
- The modified model of sulfuric acid speleogenesis (SAS) presented
- First tracer tests performed in active SAS karst
- Feeders in SAS do not transport deep, pristine water, as previously believed
- The SAS hotspots are located in places where water whirls and releases H2S
- Collapses of cave halls induce polyfurcation and maze patterns in caves
Antimicrobial resistance of cultivable bacteria isolated from Sorcerer’s Cave in Texas
Jennifer R. Huddleston, David E. Sanderson, Braden J. Smith, Joshua M. Brokaw, Evan M. Babb, and Jeffrey T. Wooliscroft
- Under half (41.4%) of the Gram+ and 68.4% of the Gram- were resistant to three or more antimicrobials
- The two most common genera identified were Pseudomonas and Bacillus
- Sorcerer's Cave bacteria were more antimicrobial resistant than those in other caves
Assessing the impact of visitors on airborne particle deposition in the Giant Gypsum Geode of Pulpí (SE Spain)
Ana Camila Mendoza, Ángel Fernández-Cortés, Fernando Gázquez, Jesús Morilla, Milagros Carretero, Jose Maria Calaforra, and David Benavente
- Study of airborne particles to assess tourism impact in the Geode of Pulpí
- Fine particles (<5>μm) remain suspended and reach deep into the Geode
- Coarse particles (>5 μm) peak inside the Geode during visiting hours
- Visitor activity introduces foreign fibers into the pristine environment
- Natural ventilation and visitors control particle dynamics inside the Geode
