The Traders’ Cave of Niah (NW Borneo): morphology and features as indicators of speleogenesis and karstification
© 2017 Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany Relict caves which are isolated from regional groundwater flow are common in deeply dissected tropical tower karsts. Their passage morphology and the micro-morphology of their walls can provide valuable information on former karst processes and speleogenesis. The...
| Main Author: | |
|---|---|
| Format: | Journal Article |
| Published: |
Springer
2017
|
| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/62067 |
| _version_ | 1848760781384974336 |
|---|---|
| author | Dodge-Wan, Dominique |
| author_facet | Dodge-Wan, Dominique |
| author_sort | Dodge-Wan, Dominique |
| building | Curtin Institutional Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | © 2017 Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany Relict caves which are isolated from regional groundwater flow are common in deeply dissected tropical tower karsts. Their passage morphology and the micro-morphology of their walls can provide valuable information on former karst processes and speleogenesis. The Traders’ Cave at Niah (Sarawak, Malaysia) was selected for a case study including comprehensive survey and observations to establish a model of the cave’s formation which can serve as a basis for comparison with other caves in the region. The research identified six levels of vadose alluvial notches showing evidence of relative water-level drop of at least 15 m during the main vadose phase of speleogenesis. During this phase, the passage reached its maximal dimensions, possibly over 90 m wide. The notches are associated with paragenetic ceiling anastomoses formed by upward or antigravitative erosion. The results indicate that point-recharge allogenic flow, i.e., sinking streams from non-karst terrains, and sediment transport and removal played a major role during cave formation. The position of limestone boulders within the cave suggests that cave-ceiling collapse and un-roofing contributed to erosion of a large part of the cave and formation of the steep-sided valley between adjacent karst towers. The collapse is linked to landscape rejuvenation associated with a significant relative water-level drop leading to the present situation in which the Traders’ Cave is isolated and relict. Most speleothems post-date the opening of the cave into the karst valley and are fed by epikarstic flow. Many speleothems are phototropic, indicating a biological influence. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T10:21:14Z |
| format | Journal Article |
| id | curtin-20.500.11937-62067 |
| institution | Curtin University Malaysia |
| institution_category | Local University |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T10:21:14Z |
| publishDate | 2017 |
| publisher | Springer |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | curtin-20.500.11937-620672018-02-01T05:55:54Z The Traders’ Cave of Niah (NW Borneo): morphology and features as indicators of speleogenesis and karstification Dodge-Wan, Dominique © 2017 Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany Relict caves which are isolated from regional groundwater flow are common in deeply dissected tropical tower karsts. Their passage morphology and the micro-morphology of their walls can provide valuable information on former karst processes and speleogenesis. The Traders’ Cave at Niah (Sarawak, Malaysia) was selected for a case study including comprehensive survey and observations to establish a model of the cave’s formation which can serve as a basis for comparison with other caves in the region. The research identified six levels of vadose alluvial notches showing evidence of relative water-level drop of at least 15 m during the main vadose phase of speleogenesis. During this phase, the passage reached its maximal dimensions, possibly over 90 m wide. The notches are associated with paragenetic ceiling anastomoses formed by upward or antigravitative erosion. The results indicate that point-recharge allogenic flow, i.e., sinking streams from non-karst terrains, and sediment transport and removal played a major role during cave formation. The position of limestone boulders within the cave suggests that cave-ceiling collapse and un-roofing contributed to erosion of a large part of the cave and formation of the steep-sided valley between adjacent karst towers. The collapse is linked to landscape rejuvenation associated with a significant relative water-level drop leading to the present situation in which the Traders’ Cave is isolated and relict. Most speleothems post-date the opening of the cave into the karst valley and are fed by epikarstic flow. Many speleothems are phototropic, indicating a biological influence. 2017 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/62067 10.1007/s13146-017-0357-2 Springer restricted |
| spellingShingle | Dodge-Wan, Dominique The Traders’ Cave of Niah (NW Borneo): morphology and features as indicators of speleogenesis and karstification |
| title | The Traders’ Cave of Niah (NW Borneo): morphology and features as indicators of speleogenesis and karstification |
| title_full | The Traders’ Cave of Niah (NW Borneo): morphology and features as indicators of speleogenesis and karstification |
| title_fullStr | The Traders’ Cave of Niah (NW Borneo): morphology and features as indicators of speleogenesis and karstification |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Traders’ Cave of Niah (NW Borneo): morphology and features as indicators of speleogenesis and karstification |
| title_short | The Traders’ Cave of Niah (NW Borneo): morphology and features as indicators of speleogenesis and karstification |
| title_sort | traders’ cave of niah (nw borneo): morphology and features as indicators of speleogenesis and karstification |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/62067 |