Arid hypogene karst in a multi-aquifer system: Hydrogeology and speleogenesis of Ashalim Cave, Negev Desert, Israel

Amos Frumkin*, Boaz Langford

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterpeer-review

5 Scopus citations

Abstract

Ashalim maze cave, and neighbouring caves in the NW Negev Desert, Israel demonstrate hypogene karst features. These features are shown to have developed as a result of the mixing of two types of groundwater flowing in opposite directions within two tiers of Cretaceous rock aquifers. The stable isotope composition indicates that the lower Kurnub sandstone aquifer was recharged over far-field Nubian Sandstone outcrops in the vicinity of the Precambrian basement outcrops of the Sinai Desert, which belongs to the Afro-Arabian dome. The water flows northward and rises into the Judea carbonate aquifer through deep faults. A similar hydrogeological system is inferred for the speleogenetic period of Ashalim Cave. Dewatering of the cave occurred in the Pliocene due to regional uplift. This is indicated by the first vadose speleothems, dated to the late Pliocene (3.1 Ma). This was followed by surface denudation, which breached the cave and formed the present entrance.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationGeological Society Special Publication
PublisherGeological Society of London
Pages187-200
Number of pages14
Edition1
DOIs
StatePublished - 2018

Publication series

NameGeological Society Special Publication
Number1
Volume466
ISSN (Print)0305-8719

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2018 The Author(s).

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