Geomorphology and paleohydrology of Hurricane Crawl Cave, Sequoia National Park, California

Abstract

Hurricane Crawl Cave in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, California, contains adjacent but varied passage morphologies including network and anastomotic mazes, large rooms, narrow canyons, prolific speleothems, and multiple levels that collectively are difficult to explain. We investigated the cave through cartography, geochronology, dye traces, modern discharge measurements, and paleodischarge estimates from scallop and cobble measurements. The cave has strong structural control along vertically oriented beds and subparallel fractures. . Paleodischarge and flow velocity values determined from scallops and cobbles vary more in relation to passage morphology than to passage elevation, a proxy for time. Paleodischarges were orders of magnitude larger than modern discharge. We attribute varied morphology and location of mazes to temporally and spatially variable sediment flux and stream discharges. Higher sediment loads and stream discharges promote the development of passages with anastomotic maze morphology. The morphology of Hurricane Crawl Cave differs from that Crystal Cave, which is in the same basin, primarily due to a comparatively lower sediment load.

Verification of and Expansion Upon the Use of Cave Scallops in Recreating Hydrogeologic Conditions in Karst Aquifers

“…This agrees with the findings of Gale (1984). It disagrees however with the conclusions of Jeaninn 2001, Despain and Stock (2005) and Despain et al (2016) that scallops and sediments represent high discharges but sediments represent the highest discharges. The sediment velocities we calculated were not significantly higher than the scallop velocities and in some sites, were actually lower with the exception of the first site in Fullers Cave (Table 7), where the sediment velocity is significantly larger than the scallop velocity.…”

“…used pebble size and scallop length to recreate paleo-velocity conditions. He found that scallops formed at roughly half of the highest annual flow velocities, whereas the pebbles represent the highest annual flow velocities Despain et al (2016). used both cobble measurements and scallop lengths to estimate paleodischarge and compare that value to modern discharge measurements to help construct a history of Hurricane Crawl Cave in Sequoia National Park, California.…”

Mixed Recharge and Epikarst Role in a Complex Metamorphic Karst Aquifer: The Pollaccia System, Apuan Alps (Tuscany, Italy)

“…Groundwater drainage in metamorphic carbonates shows peculiar structures with reduced infiltration and storage with respect to non-metamorphosed carbonate massifs. Moreover, morphological processes and regional tectonics are commonly responsible for the fragmentation and/or juxtaposition of hydro-structures with contrasting characteristics, shaping complex catchments with sectors having different recharge styles and different hydrodynamic behaviors [31][32][33][34].…”

Deterioration Processes on Prehistoric Rock Art Induced by Mining Activity (Arenaza Cave, N Spain)

“…), the delineation of protection areas is required to restrict and even forbid such activities when necessary [4,6,35]. Most karst protection policies involve restricting development around a karst feature by establishing a fixed radius or delineated area around the feature [5,36,37]. The Spanish-French meeting on Rock Art Conservation held in Colombres (Asturias) in June 1991 [19] established criteria for delimiting the "protected area" to preserve rock art caves and their surroundings.…”