Cave and Karst Systems of Hungary

Description

This book describes Hungarian karst areas and Hungarian karst research results. The chapters present the general characteristics of karst areas, their geology, their paleokarst, their hydrology, their surface and subsurface morphology (more significant caves are classified according to karst areas and their morphology and development is described), ecology and flora and fauna. This book also includes a separate chapter which deals with the history of Hungarian karst and cave research. Another chapter deals with theories that were made during Hungarian karst researches. Preface Contents Contributors 1 A General Description of Karsts in Hungary Abstract 1 Introduction 2 A General Description of the Karstification of the Karsts of Hungary 3 The Parts, Morphology and Karst Types of Hungarian Karst Areas 3.1 The North Hungarian Mountains and Their Karsts 3.2 The Transdanubian Mountains and Their Karsts 3.3 The Mecsek Region (Western Mecsek) 4 Conclusions References 2 History of Karst and Cave Research in Hungary Abstract 1 Introduction 2 Research of Surface Karst Features in the Carpathians and Carpathian Basin 3 Cave Research and Explorations 3.1 Early Period 3.2 Nineteenth Century 3.3 Twentieth Century 3.4 Scientific Research 3.5 Exploratory Research 3.6 Protection of Caves 3.7 Cave Research Organizations 4 Conclusions References 3 An Interpretation of Karstification and Karst Processes by Hungarian Researchers Abstract 1 Introduction 2 Karst Types 3 CO2 Measurements and Karstic Denudation 4 Karst Hydrology 5 The Denudation and Landscape Evolution of Karst Surfaces 6 Processes and Phenomena Related to Epigenetic Valley Development 7 Surface Karst Features 8 Caves 8.1 Cold-Water Caves 8.2 Warm-Water Caves 9 Conclusions References 4 Geology of the Karst Terrains in Hungary Abstract 1 Introduction 2 Transdanubian Range (Transdanubian Mountains) 2.1 Tectonics 2.2 Geological Build-Up 3 Bükk Mountains 3.1 Tectonics and Metamorphism 3.2 Geological Build-Up 4 Aggtelek–Rudabánya Hills (Aggtelek–Rudabánya Mountains) 4.1 Tectonics 4.2 Geological Build-Up 5 Szendrő–Uppony Mountains 5.1 Tectonics and Metamorphism 5.2 Geological Build-Up 6 Mecsek and Villány Mountains 6.1 Tectonics 6.2 Geological Build-Up 7 Conclusion References 5 Paleokarst in Hungary Abstract 1 Introduction 2 Paleokarst as a Product of Diagenesis 2.1 “Diagenetic” Paleokarst Features Formed as Results of Ephemeral Exposure 2.2 “Diagenetic” Paleokarst Features Formed on Long-Lasting Exposure 3 Paleokarst Features as the Fossilized Remnants of Ancient “Exo”-(Surface) Karst Morphology 4 Paleokarst in Hungary—The Geological Framework 5 History of Paleokarst Research in Hungary 6 Paleokarst in the Transdanubian Range, Hungary—Selected Examples (Fig. 2) 6.1 Examples of Bahamian-Type Karstification Related to Ephemeral Exposure and the Related Early Diagenetic Modification of Peritidal Carbonate Sequences 6.1.1 Cycle-Bound Ephemeral Karstification in the Triassic of the Gerecse Hills 6.1.2 Enigmatic Dissolution Phenomena in the Late Triassic of Tata 6.2 Examples of “Alpine”-Type Paleokarst Related to Long-lasting Subaerial Exposure Along Tectonicaly Controlled, Major Regional Unconformities—Karst Bauxite Occurrences and Their Enclosing Karstic Carbonates 7 Paleokarst in South Hungary (Mecsek Mountains and Villány Hills) 7.1 Alpine-Type (?) Late Paleokarst in the Villány Hills 7.2 Superimposed Miocene-Quaternary Karstification Phases of the Mecsek Mountains 7.3 Pliocene–Quaternary Paleokarst Cavities of the Villány Hills 8 Conclusions Acknowledgements References 6 Hydrogeology of the Karst Regions in Hungary Abstract 1 Introduction 2 North Hungarian Mountains 2.1 Aggtelek Karst 2.1.1 Hydrogeologic Environment 2.1.2 Groundwater Flow Patterns and Processes 2.1.3 Groundwater-Related Phenomena 2.1.4 Groundwater Resources 2.2 Bükk Mountains 2.2.1 Hydrogeologic Environment 2.2.2 Groundwater Flow Patterns and Processes 2.2.3 Groundwater-Related Phenomena 2.2.4 Groundwater Resources 3 Transdanubian Mountains 3.1 SW Transdanubian Mountains 3.1.1 Hydrogeologic Environment 3.1.2 Groundwater Flow Patterns and Processes 3.1.3 Groundwater-Related Phenomena 3.1.4 Groundwater Resources 3.2 NE Transdanubian Mountains 3.2.1 Hydrogeologic Environment 3.2.2 Groundwater Flow Patterns and Processes 3.2.3 Groundwater-Related Phenomena 3.2.4 Groundwater Resources 4 Mecsek Mountains and Baranya Hills 4.1 Mecsek Mountains 4.1.1 Hydrogeologic Environment 4.1.2 Groundwater Flow Patterns and Processes 4.1.3 Groundwater-Related Phenomena 4.1.4 Groundwater Resources 4.2 Villány Mountains 4.2.1 Hydrogeologic Environment 4.2.2 Groundwater Flow Patterns and Processes 4.2.3 Groundwater-Related Phenomena 4.2.4 Groundwater Resources 5 Conclusions References 7 The Geomorphic Evolution of Karsts and Karstic Surfaces Abstract 1 Introduction 2 Karst Areas 2.1 Aggtelek-Rudabánya Mountains (Aggtelek-Rudabánya Hills) 2.2 The Bükk Region 2.3 The Transdanubian Mountains 2.4 The Western Mecsek Karst 3 Conclusions References 8 The Surface Morphology of Karsts in Hungary Abstract 1 Introduction 2 The Aggtelek-Rudabánya Mountains 2.1 General Characteristics 2.2 Distribution and Morphometry of Karst Features 2.3 Karst Features 3 The Bükk Region 3.1 General Characteristics 3.2 Morphometry 3.3 Karst Features 4 The Bakony Region 4.1 General Characteristic Features 4.2 Karst Features 5 The Vértes Mountains 6 The Gerecse Region 7 The Buda Hills (Buda Mountains) 8 The Pilis Mountains 9 The Western Mecsek Karst 9.1 General Characteristic Features 9.2 Distribution and Morphometry of Karst Features 9.3 Karst Features 10 Conclusions References 9 GIS Research of Karst Terrains in Hungary Abstract 1 Introduction 2 Morphometric Analysis 2.1 Doline Morphometry 2.2 Mountain Scale Relief 2.3 Geomorphologic Maps and Landform Classification 3 Land Cover Changes 4 Karst Vulnerability and Hydrogeology 5 Subsurface Karst Objects in GIS 5.1 Data of Cave Surveys 5.2 The Role of Cave Surveys 5.3 Complexity Levels of Cave GIS 5.4 Entrance Database 5.5 Passage Pattern in 3D 5.6 Realistic Models 5.7 Possible Use of the Data 6 Human–Environment Relations on Karst 7 Conclusions References 10 The Caves of Aggtelek Karst, Szalonna Karst and Rudabánya Mountains Abstract 1 Introduction 2 General Review 3 Presentation of the Significant Caves in Alphabetical Order 3.1 Almási Shaft Cave 3.2 Bába-völgy Stream Sink Cave No. 2 3.3 Baradla–Domica Cave System 3.4 Baradla-tető Shaft Cave 3.5 Béke Cave 3.6 Danca Cave 3.7 Esztramos Pantó Cave 3.8 Földvári Aladár Cave 3.9 Frank Cave 3.10 Hosszú-tető Cave 3.11 Stream Sink Cave No. 2 in Kopasz-gally Hillside 3.12 Kossuth Cave 3.13 Meteor Cave 3.14 Rákóczi No. 1 Cave 3.15 Rákóczi No. 2 Cave 3.16 Rákóczi No. 3 Cave 3.17 Rákóczi No. 4 Cave 3.18 Rejtek Shaft Cave 3.19 Szabadság Cave 3.20 Szabó-pallag Shaft Cave 3.21 Vass Imre Cave 3.22 Vecsembükk Shaft Cave 4 Conclusions References 11 The Caves of the Bükk Mountains Abstract 1 Introduction 2 Presentation of the Caves 2.1 Anna Cave 2.2 Balla Cave 2.3 Bányász Cave 2.4 Bolhás-Jávorkút Cave System 2.5 Büdös-Pest Cave 2.6 Diabáz Cave 2.7 Fekete Cave 2.8 Hajnóczy Cave 2.9 Hillebrand Jenő Cave 2.10 Istállós-kő Cave 2.11 István-Lápa Cave 2.12 Jáspis Cave 2.13 Kecske-lyuk Cave 2.14 Kis-Kőhát Shaft Cave 2.15 Létrás-Vizes Cave 2.16 Mexikó-völgy Ponor Cave 2.17 Miskolctapolca-Tavas Cave 2.18 Pénz-patak Ponor Cave 2.19 Pes-kő Cave 2.20 Szamentu Cave 2.21 Szeleta Cave 2.22 Szent István Cave 2.23 Szepes-Láner Cave System 2.24 Szivárvány-Sebes Cave System 3 Conclusions References 12 The Caves of the Northeastern Part of the Transdanubian Mountains Abstract 1 Introduction 2 Caves of the Buda Hills (Buda Mountains) 2.1 Caves of Rózsadomb (E.G. Ferenc-hegy Cave, József-hegy Cave, Molnár János Cave, Pál-völgy Cave System, Szemlő-hegy Cave) 2.1.1 Ferenc-hegy Cave 2.1.2 József-hegy Cave 2.1.3 Molnár János Cave 2.1.4 Pál-völgy Cave System 2.1.5 Szemlő-hegy Cave 2.2 Caves of Buda Castle Hill 2.3 Caves of Gellért Hill 2.4 Caves of Hármashatár Hill and Remete Gorge 2.5 Bátori Cave 2.6 Solymári-ördöglyuk Cave (or Solymár Devil’s Hole) 3 Caves of the Pilis Hills (Pilis Mountains) 3.1 Ajándék Cave 3.2 Ariadne Cave System 3.3 Sátorkőpuszta Cave 4 Caves of the Gerecse Hills (Gerecse Mountains) 4.1 Lengyel Cave 4.2 Megalodus Cave 4.3 Pisznice Cave 5 Conclusions Acknowledgements References 13 The Caves of the Southwestern Part of the Transdanubian Mountains (Transdanubian Range) Abstract 1 Introduction 2 Genetic Classification of the Caves in the Bakony Region 3 Presentation of the Caves 3.1 Alba Regia Cave 3.2 Csengő Shaft 3.3 Cserszegtomaj Well Cave 3.4 Csodabogyós Cave 3.5 Döme Cave 3.6 Gánt Cave 3.7 Hévíz Spring Cave 3.8 Likas-kő Cave of Hódos Stream 3.9 Lóczy Cave 3.10 Pula Basalt Cave 3.11 Nagy Sárkány Cave on the Szent György Hill 3.12 Ördög-lik Cave of the Sűrű Mountain 3.13 Tapolca Cave System 3.14 Tihany Spring Cave 3.15 Vértessomló Cave 4 Conclusions References 14 Caves in the Mecsek Mountains Abstract 1 Introduction 2 Abaliget Cave 3 Orfű Vízfő Cave 4 The Kőlyuk of Mánfa 5 Cave of the Mészégető Springs 6 The Tettye Spring Cave and the Tettye Tufa Cave 7 Sinkholes 7.1 Spirál Cave 7.2 Trió Cave 8 Conclusions References 15 The Caves of the Villány Mountains Abstract 1 Introduction 2 The Caves of the Villány Mountains 2.1 Beremend Crystal Cave 2.2 Nagyharsány Crystal Cave 3 Conclusion References 16 Monitoring and Geochemical Investigations of Caves in Hungary: Implications for Climatological, Hydrological, and Speleothem Formation Processes Abstract 1 Introduction 2 Studied Caves 3 Methods 4 Béke and Baradla Caves in the Aggtelek Karst 4.1 Background 4.2 Reflection of Climatological and Hydrological Processes in Cave Climate and Drip Waters 4.3 Cave Processes and Climatic Relevance of Isotopic Compositions of Recent Carbonates 5 The Ajándék-Ariadne Cave System in Pilis Mt. 5.1 Backgrounds 5.2 Observations 5.3 Paleoclimate Perspectives 6 Pálvölgy and Szemlőhegy Caves in the Buda Mountains 6.1 Backgrounds 6.2 Observations 6.3 Drip Waters: Natural and Anthropogenic Influences 7 Concluding Remarks Acknowledgements References 17 Sedimentologic, Taphonomic Processes and Paleontological Values of Hungarian Caves Abstract 1 Introduction 1.1 Sediments in Caves 1.2 Caves and Sediments Developed in Travertine and in Volcanic Rocks in Hungary 2 Taphonomic Processes 3 Paleontological Values 3.1 Oligo-Miocene Cave Deposits 3.1.1 Bodajk–Kajmát Quarry 3.1.2 Other Oligocene Cave Fragments 3.2 Late Miocene Fossiliferous Caves 3.2.1 The Csákvár Cave 3.2.2 Caves of Polgárdi 3.3 From Pliocene to Middle Pleistocene Fossils in Caves 3.3.1 Cavities and Karst Fissures at the Villány Region 3.3.2 Caves of Osztramos 3.3.3 Hajnóczy Cave 3.3.4 Tar-Kő Rock Shelter 3.3.5 Uppony Rock Shelter No. 1 3.3.6 Pongor-Lyuk at Répáshuta 3.4 Important Late Pleistocene Cave Deposits 3.4.1 Ördöglyuk Cave of Solymár 3.4.2 Horváti-Lik, Uppony 3.4.3 Por-Lyuk Cave at Jósvafő 3.4.4 Lambrecht Kálmán Cave 3.4.5 Kálvária Cave No. 4 3.4.6 Suba-Lyuk, the Neanderthal Man and the Steppe Paleobiome 3.4.7 Szelim Cave 3.4.8 Istállós-Kő Cave 3.4.9 Szeleta Cave 3.4.10 Herman Ottó Cave 3.4.11 Peskő Cave 3.4.12 Remete Felső Cave 3.4.13 Caves of the Bajót Cliffs 3.4.14 Pilisszántó Rock Shelter No. 1 3.5 Holocene Vertebrate Cave Localities 3.5.1 Jankovich Cave 3.5.2 Petényi Cave and Rejtek I. Rock Shelter 3.5.3 Kis-Kőhát Shaft 3.5.4 Aggtelek Cave 3.5.5 Nagyoldal Shaft 3.5.6 Hosszú-Hegy Shaft 3.5.7 Rigó-Lyuk 4 Conclusions References 18 Age, Depositional Environment, and Geochemistry of Freshwater Carbonates (Travertine, Tufa) from Hungary Abstract 1 Introduction 2 History of Travertine Research in Hungary 3 Depositional Environment of Hungarian Travertines 4 Age of Hungarian Travertines 4.1 Calculated Uplift Rates and Relation with Terrace Stratigraphy 4.2 Spring Relocations Based on the U–Th Data 4.2.1 Buda Mountains 4.2.2 Gerecse Mountains 5 Stable and Clumped Isotope Geochemistry of Hungarian Travertines 6 Recent Travertine Carbonate Accumulations in Hungary 6.1 Natural Springs 6.2 Thermal Wells 7 History of Freshwater Tufa Research in Hungary 7.1 Freshwater Tufa Accumulations in Hungary 7.2 Most Common Morphology of Freshwater Tufas in Hungary 8 Conclusions References 19 The Vegetation of Karsts in Hungary Abstract 1 Introduction 1.1 Macroclimate and Vegetation 1.2 Geomorphology and Vegetation 1.3 Biogeographic Features 2 North Hungarian Mountains 2.1 Floristic Composition 2.2 Vegetation Characteristics 3 Transdanubian Mountains 3.1 Floristic Composition 3.2 Vegetation Characteristics 4 Mecsek and Villány Mountains 4.1 Floristic Composition 4.2 Vegetation Characteristics 5 Biodiversity Features and Conservation Status 5.1 Biogeographic Importance and Biodiversity Hotspots 5.2 Capacity of Karst Dolines as Microrefugia 5.3 Karst-Related Protected Areas 5.4 Threatening Factors 6 Conclusions Acknowledgements References 20 The Fauna of Karsts in Hungary Abstract 1 Introduction 1.1 Biogeographic Features of the Surface-Dwelling Karst Fauna 1.2 Biogeographic Features of the Caves 1.3 Relationships Between Surface and Cave Fauna 2 North Hungarian Mountains 2.1 Surface Fauna of Karst Regions in the North Hungarian Mountains 2.2 The Fauna of the Caves in the Aggtelek Karst and in the Bükk Mountains 3 Transdanubian Mountains 3.1 Surface Fauna of Karst Regions in the Transdanubian Mountains 3.2 The Fauna of the Caves in the Karst Regions of the Transdanubian Mountains 4 Mecsek and Villányi Mountains 4.1 Surface Fauna of Karst Regions in the Mecsek and Villány Mountains 4.2 The Fauna of the Caves in the Karst Regions of the Mecsek and Villány Mountains 5 Conservation Status 6 Conclusions Acknowledgements References 21 Geoecology of Hungarian Karsts Abstract 1 Introduction 2 The Role of Climate in Shaping the Geoecological Character of Karsts 3 The Role of Soils in Karstic Geoecosystems 3.1 Physical and Chemical Properties of Karst Soils 3.2 The Geoecological Significance of Soil Biota: Microbes in Karst Soils 4 Ecosystem Services in Hungarian Karsts 5 Conclusions References Index