Paleokarst

Virtually all of the major aspects of karst and paleokarst are brought together for the first time in this thorough overview. A variety of studies which address the many-faceted topic of buried karst are presented. Modern cave systems and the precipitates (speleothems) adorning them are described as a baseline against which ancient features can be compared, including geochemical attributes. A series of examples of ancient karst - ranging from local to regional and interregional in scale and from Precambrian through Mesozoic in age - document the kind of stratigraphic and sedimentologic detail preserved in the rock record. The occurrence of hydrocarbons and mineral deposits in ancient karst systems are outlined. Moreover, this book is an important reference tool for graduate students and research geologists in the minerals and petroleum industry as well as those participating in government surveys.