1. 9 Karst Landscape The formation of karst landscapes
Examples of karst regions in Ireland and around the world
Distinctive landforms found on the surface and subsurface in a karst environment
The life cycle of a karst landscape

3. Chapter 9: Karst Landscape
Karst topography = An area of exposed limestone on the surface of the land

4. Chapter 9: Karst Landscape
Example of karst region=
The Burren, Co. Clare
Chapter 9: Karst Landscape

5. Chapter 9: Karst Landscape
Formation
Limestone is permeable
Carbon dioxide (CO2) dissolves in rainwater
Forms weak carbonic acid (acid rain)
Carbonic acid/rainwater passes through rock – rocks dissolved by carbonation
Cracks in rock become enlarged
Underground drainage system develops
Chapter 9: Karst Landscape

6. Chapter 9: Karst Landscape
Surface landforms
Limestone pavement
Exposed area of limestone
Rugged and bare landscape with flat areas of rock surface

7. Chapter 9: Karst Landscape
Formation
Carbonation (chemical weathering)
Rainwater mixes with carbon dioxide in the air
Forms a weak carbonic acid
limestone is dissolved
Joints and cracks (i.e. bedding) are widened by the rainwater
e.g. the Burren, Co Clare

8. Chapter 9: Karst Landscape
Features of limestone pavements
Clint: section of a limestone pavement separated from adjacent sections by grikes
Grike: vertical crack that develops along a joint in limestone
Karren: small hollow that forms on the surface of a limestone clint

9. Chapter 9: Karst Landscape
2. Swallow holes
River reaches an area of permeable rock
Disappears down through grikes
Grikes made bigger by solution (carbonation)
Forms swallow hole (sluggas/sinkholes)
e.g. Poll na gColm in the Burren, Co. Clare

10. Chapter 9: Karst Landscape
Underground landforms
Caves
Swallow holes – river disappears underground
Carbonation – passages form large caverns
River erodes the rock of the cave by abrasion and hydraulic action
Carbonation and solution dissolve permeable rock (limestone)
Cave develops at or below zone of saturation
e.g. Ailwee Cave, the Burren, Co. Clare; Dunmore caves, Kilkenny

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12. Chapter 9: Karst Landscape
2. Dripstone features
Stalactites
Drops of water containing dissolved limestone seep down through cracks/fissures in the cave roof
Drops of water lose carbon dioxide and deposit calcite
Over time deposition of calcite forms pillars hanging down from the roof of the cave
Stalagmites
Water droplets fall to the cave floor
Over time deposition of calcite form pillars growing upward from the cave floor form directly below stalactites

13. Chapter 9: Karst Landscape
2. Dripstone features (continued)
Pillars
Stalactites and stalagmites grow towards each other
Eventually join to form a pillar or column
Curtains
Rainwater drips from a long crack in a cave roof forms a continuous strip of calcite

14. Name of location?
Size of area?
When was it formed?
Type of rock?
General features?
Famous caves?

15. Chapter 9: Karst Landscape
The Burren, Co. Clare
Covers approximately 250 square km of north-west Clare
Formed during the carboniferous period, 355 to 290 million years ago
Formed of limestone rock
Features include:
Limestone pavements
Subsurface and dripstone features
e.g. Ailwee Cave

16. Chapter 9: Karst Landscape
Cycle of erosion in a karst topography
Three stages:
Youthful
Mature
Old age

18. Over ground features
Underground features
Type of rock
Type of weathering
Famous example