Speleothems and speleogenesis of the hypogenic Santa Barbara Cave System (South-West Sardinia, Italy)

Authors

  • Antonio Pagliara Italian Institute of Speleology, University of Bologna, Via Zamboni 67 – 40126 Bologna
  • Jo de Waele Italian Institute of Speleology, University of Bologna, Via Zamboni 67 – 40126 Bologna
  • Ermanno Galli Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Largo S. Eufemia 19 – 41100 Modena
  • Antonio Rossi Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Largo S. Eufemia 19 – 41100 Modena

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3986/ac.v39i3.83

Abstract

This paper presents the results of a study on the speleogene­sis and the speleothems and secondary mineralisations of the Santa Barbara Cave System in the Iglesiente Mining District (South-West Sardinia, Cagliari). This cave system, hosted in Cambrian carbonate rocks, has a very long geological history and its main voids have formed in hypogenic conditions. Nine speleogenetic phases can be recognised ranging in age between Cambrian and Holocene. Optical microscope and diffracto­metric analysis of active flowstone deposits have shown them being composed of alternating calcite and aragonite layers. The textural and chemical characteristics of these layers, obtained by SEM and EDAXanalysis, suggest them to be related to varia­tions in the depositional environment inside the cave, whichin turn are probably correlated to external climatic oscillations.

 

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Published

2010-12-01

How to Cite

Pagliara, A., de Waele, J., Galli, E., & Rossi, A. (2010). Speleothems and speleogenesis of the hypogenic Santa Barbara Cave System (South-West Sardinia, Italy). Acta Carsologica, 39(3). https://doi.org/10.3986/ac.v39i3.83

Issue

Vol. 39 No. 3 (2010)

Section

Original papers

License

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