159-3 Cave Morphology as a Geological Signature: How Geology and Speleogenetic Mode Influence—and Are Influenced by—Subterranean Architecture

Session: Hypogene Speleogenesis: An Overview of Research in Memory of Dr. Alexander Klimchouk

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Subterranean architecture—the spatial and structural expression of karstic systems—functions both as a geological record and as an active agent of geologic and hydrologic transformation. This presentation explores how cave morphology reflects lithologic, structural, and speleogenetic conditions, while also participating in feedback loops that modify aquifer geometry, flow regimes, porosity, and mineralogy. Cave systems originate under the influence of lithologic heterogeneities and geologic structures, which guide conduit initiation and development. Speleogenetic modes—epigenic, hypogenic, and polygenetic—produce distinct morphologies, but these are often reshaped over time by processes such as microbial acid production and condensation corrosion. Microbial activity, especially from sulfur-oxidizing bacteria, enhances dissolution and drives localized morphogenesis. Condensation corrosion further modifies cave interiors through chemically aggressive water film etching on rock surfaces, particularly in upper levels. These dynamic transformations are framed by the theory of synergetics, developed by Haken (1977), which describes how ordered structures arise spontaneously in far-from-equilibrium systems. Klimchouk (2016) extended this framework to speleogenesis, conceptualizing karstic systems as recursive, feedback-regulated processes that reorganize basin-scale hydrology. Recursive feedbacks—where conduit enlargement accelerates flow and alters structural stability—enable conduits to evolve beyond their initial conditions.  Quantitative morphometric tools provide a means of decoding these evolutionary signatures. These tools include factal indices, sinuosity index, aspect ratio, torturtuosity, passage density, and  node degree and betweenness centrality (from network topology). Such metrics offer insight into the developmental pathways and organizational complexity of cave networks. Ultimately, cave morphology is not a static imprint of geologic setting but a dynamic, self-modifying system. Recognizing karstic systems as agents—not just products—of geological change reframes how we interpret subterranean landscapes and highlights the need for an integrative, systems-based approach to speleogenesis.

Geological Society of America Abstracts with Program. Vol. 57, No. 6, 2025

doi: 10.1130/abs/2025AM-10184

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