1. MAIN IDEA: LANDFORMS CAUSED BY THE CHEMICAL WEATHERING OF LIMESTONE ARE CALLED KARST TOPOGRAPHY. Chp 10.2 Notes Groundwater Erosion & Deposition

2. Two Requirements for Karst Topography! ACIDIC WATER IS FORMED BY a CARBONATION PROCESS: Describe: Water drips down through soil and reacts with carbon dioxide. This creates carbonic acid, a relatively weak acid. ACIDIC RAIN WATER Limestone (Rock) +

3. When the two meet Action: Carbonic acid dissolves limestone slowly, over a long period of time.

4. The Structures formed LIMESTONE PAVEMENT Describe: An area of limestone that has been chiseled away and is exposed at earth surface

5. Shallow hole Describe: A hole that forms and “swallows” a stream as underground limestone is dissolved

6. Sinkhole (hint: Avoid Limestone regions!!) Describe: Rainfall in the soil absorbs carbon dioxide & reacts with decaying vegetation, creating acidic water. Acidic water moves through spaces underground, SLOWLY dissolving limestone, creating cavities. Cavities gradually get enlarged & carry even more acidic water. Sinkholes formed when the land surface above finally collapses by gravity & then sinks into the cavities.

7. Caves/caverns

8. Stalactites (“don’t fall, hang on tite!”) Describe: Hollow, elongated forms of various minerals deposited from solution by slowly dripping water. They hang from a cave ceiling.

9. Stalagmites Describe: Cones or massive mounds of calcite deposits that grow up from a cave floor due to dripping water.

10. Speleothems Describe: Known as “decorative cave formations”. Threads of deposited minerals that hang from a cave ceiling and sprout from a cave floor as a result of dripping water.