Abstract
During the Alpine orogeny of the Western Carpathians, hypogene caves have originated in different settings and epochs. Several caves of hydrothermal origin in crystalline limestones and metasomatic secondary quartzites (metasomatic silicites) are known in the central zone of the Štiavnica stratovolcano, Štiavnické vrchy Mountains. The early phases of speleogenesis in the crystalline limestone near Sklené Teplice Spa were caused by post-magmatic dissolution linked either to the emplacement of subvolcanic granodiorite intrusions during Late Badenian time or to the spatially associated Late Sarmatian epithermal system. Speleogenesis in metasomatic secondary quartzites in the Šobov quarry is related to deep-seated hydrothermal processes associated with a diorite intrusion in the northern part of the central zone of the Štiavnica stratovolcano during its pre-caldera evolution phase in Upper Badenian. Unusual caves in metasomatic magnesite, with mineralogical evidences of their hydrothermal origin, were investigated in the Revúcka vrchovina Mountains. Paleokarst geoda-like cavities and small hydrothermal caves occur in nappe structures of Triassic carbonates that were uplifted within the Tatra-Fatra belt of core mountains (many of these cavities are integrated into younger and larger non-hypogene caves). Cavities with thermal water in underlying and faulted Mesozoic carbonates (covered by Neogene or Paleogene sedimentary rocks) were identified by boreholes in some intermontane basins (Rimavská kotlina Basin, Liptovská kotlina Basin). A phreatic shaft formed by progradational collapse of non-carbonate beds disrupted by artesian karstification of underlying carbonates occurs at Tornaľa Town in the Rimavská kotlina Basin. Several caves with hypogene morphologies have originated along marginal faults of horst structures or fault edges of horst–graben structures (speleogenesis by thermal or slightly heated ascending waters, but mineralogical evidences of hydrothermal karstification were not found).
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.
Buying options
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Learn about institutional subscriptionsReferences
Andrusov D (1958) Geology of Czechoslovak Carpathians, vol. 1. Publishing house of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, p 304 (in Slovak)
Audra P, Mocochain L, Bigot JY, Nobécourt JC (2009) Hypogene cave patterns. In: Klimchouk AB, Ford DC (eds) Hypogene speleogenesis and karst hydrogeology of artesian basins. Ukrainian Institute of Speleology and Karstology, Simferopol, Special Paper 1, pp 17–22
Auler AS, Smart PL (2003) The influence of bedrock-derived acidity in the development of surface and underground karst: evidence from the precambrian carbonates of semi-arid northeastern Brazil. Earth Surf Proc Land 28(2):157–168. doi:10.1002/esp.443
Bacsó Z (1964) Post-Triassic skarn deposits at Tisovec Town (in Slovak). Geologické práce, Správy 31:13–45
Bajtoš P (2004) Groundwater chemical composition changes in the Dúbravský Massif hydrogeological structure, induced by magnesite exploitation. Acta Petrol Sin 20(4):887–898
Bayari CS, Ozyurt NN, Pekkan E (2009) Giant collapse structures formed by hypogenic karstification: the obruks of the central Anatolia, Turkey. In: Klimchouk AB, Ford DC (eds) Hypogene speleogenesis and karst hydrogeology of artesian basins. Ukrainian Institute of Speleology and Karstology, Simferopol, Special Paper 1, pp 83–90
Beaudouin H, Gaál Ľ, Galvánek J (2001) Values of inorganic nature of the Kremenia natural monument and human impact on them. Ochrana prírody 19:5–24 (in Slovak)
Bella P (2010) Formation of caves by waters ascending along a marginal fault of Malé Karpaty Mts. near Plavecké Podhradie, Western Slovakia—hydrogeological conditions and morphological features. Aragonit 15(2):65–70 (in Slovak)
Bella P, Bosák P (2012) Speleogenesis along deep regional faults by ascending waters: case studies from Slovakia and Czech Republic. Acta Carsol 41(2–3):169–192
Bella P, Gaál Ľ (2012) Hypogenic caves in Slovakia: current knowledge and research objectives (in Slovak). Geomorphologia Slovaca et Bohemica 12(1):38–50
Bella P, Gaál Ľ (2014a) The origin and morphology of hydrothermal caves in the Western Carpathians and their foreland. Geomorphologia Slovaca et Bohemica 14(2):15–30 (in Slovak)
Bella P, Gaál Ľ (2014b) Caves in magnesite: morphogenetic differences and basic typology. Aragonit 19(1–2):3–10 (in Slovak)
Bella P, Gaál Ľ, Bosák P (2009) Conditions and indications of evolution of hypogenic caves in Slovakia. Aragonit 14(2):159–161 (in Slovak)
Bella P, Gaál Ľ, Grego J (2010) Hydrothermal quartzite caves in the Šobov quarry near Banská Štiavnica. Slovenský kras 48(1):19–30 (in Slovak)
Bella P, Bosák P, Pruner P, Głazek J, Hercman H (2011a) The development of the Biela River valley in relation to the genesis of the Belianska jaskyňa Cave. Geografický časopis 63(4):369–387 (in Slovak)
Bella P, Gaál Ľ, Šucha V, Koděra P, Grego J (2011b) Hydrothermal caves in the Štiavnické vrchy Mountains. Aragonit 16(1–2):59–60 (in Slovak)
Bella P, Šucha V, Gaál Ľ, Koděra P (2011c) The First Karst Cave in the Štiavnické vrchy Mountains, Central Slovakia—hydrothermal speleogenesis in basement carbonates of miocene stratovolcano. Slovenský kras 49(1):5–21 (in Slovak)
Bella P, Gaál Ľ, Milovská S, Milovský R, Koděra P (2013) Caves in magnesite—another example of hydrothermal speleogenesis in Slovakia. Aragonit 18(1):42–44 (in Slovak)
Bella P, Littva J, Pukanská K, Gašinec J, Bartoš K (2015) Use of terrestrial laser scanning for the investigation of structural geological discontinuities and morphology of caves: the example of the Dúpnica Cave, Západné Tatry Mts., Slovakia (in Slovak). Acta Geol Slovaca 7(2):93–102
Bella P, Gaál Ľ, Šucha V, Koděra P, Milovský R (2016) Hydrothermal speleogenesis in carbonates and metasomatic silicites induced by subvolcanic intrusions: a case study from the Štiavnické vrchy Mountains, Slovakia. Int J Speleol 45(1):11–25. doi:10.5038/1827-806X.45.1.1879
Bosák P, Bella P, Cílek V, Ford DC, Hercman H, Kadlec J, Osborne A, Pruner P (2002) Ochtiná Aragonite Cave (Western Carpathians, Slovakia): morphology, mineralogy of the fill and genesis. Geol Carpath 53(6):399–410
Burian J, Slavkay M, Štohl J, Tözser J (1985) Metallogeny of neovolcanites in Slovakia. Mineralia Slovaca—monography, Alfa, Bratislava, p 269 (in Slovak)
Chernyshev IV, Konečný V, Lexa J, Kovalenker VA, Jeleň S, Lebedev VA, Goltsman YV (2013) K–Ar and Rb–Sr geochronology and evolution of the Štiavnica Stratovolcano (Central Slovakia). Geol Carpath 64(4):327–351. doi:10.2478/geoca-2013-0023
Choppy J (1994) La première karstification. Synthèse spéléologique et karstique, Les facteurs géographiques, 3, Spéléo-Club de Paris, Club Alpin Français, Paris, p 69
Cílek V, Bosák P, Melka K, Žák K, Langrová A, Osborne RAL (1998) Mineralogical researches in the Ochtiná Aragonite Cave. Aragonit 3:7–12 (in Czech)
Činčura J, Milovský R (2000) Hydrothermal karst of the cover nappe systems of the Central Western Carpathians. Slovenský kras 38:33–38 (in Slovak)
Gaál Ľ (1987) Karst of the Rimavská kotlina Basin. Slovenský kras 25:5–27 (in Slovak)
Gaál Ľ (2004) Geology of the Ochtiná Aragonite Cave. Slovenský kras 42:37–56 (in Slovak)
Gaál Ľ (2008) Geodynamics and evolution of caves of the Slovak Karst. State Nature Conservancy of the Slovak Republic, Slovak Caves Administration, Liptovský Mikuláš, p 168 (in Slovak)
Gaál Ľ, Ženiš P (1984) Caves in magnesite of the Dúbravský Massif (in Slovak). Spravodaj Slovenskej speleologickej spoločnosti 15(4):3–11
Gaál Ľ, Ženiš P (1986) Karst of the Revúcka vrchovina Mountains. Slovenský kras 24:27–60 (in Slovak)
Gaál Ľ, Balciar I, Belanová E, Megela M, Papáč V, Vaněková H (2007) The flooded chasm Morské oko in Rimava basin. Aragonit 12:4–9 (in Slovak)
Halečka J (1983) Final report Dúbravský Massif—PP, hydrogeological evaluation of magnesite deposit. Manuscript. Geofond, Bratislava, p 128 (in Slovak)
Hedenquist JW, Arribas A Jr (1999) The tops and bottoms of high sulphidation epithermal ore deposits. In: Stanley CJ et al (eds) Mineral deposits: processes to processing. Balkema, Rotterdam, Brookfield, pp 515–518
Hók J, Kahan Š, Aubrecht R (2001) Geology of Slovakia. Comenius University, Bratislava, p 43 (in Slovak)
Hók J, Šujan M, Šipka F (2014) Tectonic division of the Western Carpathians: an overview and a new approach. Acta Geol Slovaca 6(2):135–143 (in Slovak)
Hurai V, Huraiová M, Koděra P, Prochaska W, Vozárová A, Dianiška I (2011) Fluid inclusion and stable C–O isotope constraints on the origin of metasomatic magnesite deposits of the Western Carpathians, Slovakia. Russ Geol Geophy 52(11):1474–1490. doi:10.1016/j.rgg.2011.10.015
Ivan K (1991) Operational area of the regional speleological group B. Štiavnica (in Slovak). Spravodajca Slovenskej speleologickej spoločnosti 21(1):24–28
Jakál J (1993) Karst geomorphology of Slovakia. Map 1: 500,000. Slovenský kras 31:13–28 (in Slovak)
Kempe S (2009) Siderite weathering as a reaction causing hypogene speleogenesis: the example of the Iberg/Harz/Germany. In: Klimchouk AB, Ford DC (eds) Hypogene speleogenesis and karst hydrogeology of artesian basins. Ukrainian Institute of Speleology and Karstology, Simferopol, Special Paper 1, pp 59–60
Klago M (1984) Lúčky—sources of termomineral waters (in Slovak). In: Dovina V (ed) Fresh and mineral underground waters of the Liptovská kotlina Basin and surrounding mountains. Hydrogeological guide of the 8th national hydrogeological conference (Račkova dolina Valley—Západné Tatry Mountains, 6–8 June 1984). Geological Institute of Dionýz Štúr, Bratislava, pp 67–70 (in Slovak)
Klimchouk A (2007) Hypogene speleogenesis: hydrological and morphogenetic perspective. National Cave and Karst Research Institute, Carlsbad, Special Paper 1, p 106
Klimchouk A (2009) Morphogenesis of hypogenic caves. Geomorphology 106(1):100–117. doi:10.1016/j.geomorph.2008.09.013
Klír S (1962) Hydrogeology of Slovak magnesite deposits in Carboniferous of the Gemerides. Geologické práce, Zprávy 24:97–122 (in Czech)
Klír S (1968) Subsurface waters of the magnesite karst in Czechoslovakia. Steirische Beitraege zur Hydrogeologie 20:5–22
Konečný V, Lexa J (2001) Structure and evolution of the Štiavnica stratovolcano. Mineralia Slovaca 33(3):179–196 (in Slovak)
Lexa J (2001) Metallogeny of the Štiavnica stratovolcano. Mineralia Slovaca 33(3):203–214
Lexa J, Štohl J, Konečný V (1999) The Banská Štiavnica ore district: relationship between metallogenetic processes and the geological evolution of a stratovulcano. Miner Deposita 34(5–6):639–654
Maheľ M (1986) Geological structure of Czechoslovak Carpathians/Paleoalpine units 1. Veda, Bratislava, p 503 (in Slovak)
Mišík M, Chlupáč I, Cicha I (1985) Stratigraphical and historical geology. SPN, Bratislava, p 541 (in Slovak)
Mitter P (1990) Cave in quartz. Spravodajca Slovenskej speleologickej spoločnosti 21(1):39–40 (in Slovak)
Németh Z, Prochaska W, Radvanec M, Kováčik M, Madaras J, Koděra P, Hraško L (2004) Magnesite and talc origin in the sequence of geodynamic events in Veporicum, Inner Western Carpathians, Slovakia. Acta Petrol Sin 30:837–854
Nicod J (1976) Les régions karstiques de Slovaquie et de Hongrie septentrionale. Bulletin de la Société géographique de Marseille 82, nouvelle série 12:11–25
Oružinský V, Hurai V (1985) Fluid inclusions in secondary quartzites of the Štiavnica stratovolcano. Mineralia Slovaca 17(5):415–424 (in Slovak)
Orvan J (1960) About the origin of mineral waters in Šafárikovo. Geologické práce, Správy 17:203–213 (in Slovak)
Orvan J (1973) Hydrogeological situation of the Rimavská kotlina Basin. Mineralia slovaca 5(3):271–278 (in Slovak)
Orvošová M (2005) Calcite crystals in relicts of fossil hydrothermal karst in the Nízke Tatry Mountains. Slovenský kras 43:53–66 (in Slovak)
Orvošová M, Hurai V (2008) Calcite crystals in Kalcitová 1 and 2 caves in Mt. Poludnica, Nízke Tatry Mountains. Slovenský kras 46(1):87–97 (in Slovak)
Orvošová M, Hurai V, Simon K, Wiegerová V (2004) Fluid inclusion and stable isotopic evidence for early hydrothermal karstification in vadose caves of the Nízke Tatry mountains (Western Carpathians). Geol Carpath 55(5):421–429
Osborne RAL (2009) Hypogene caves in deformed (fold belt) strata: observations from Eastern Australia and Central Europe. In: Klimchouk AB, Ford DC (eds) Hypogene speleogenesis and karst hydrogeology of artesian basins. Ukrainian Institute of Speleology and Karstology, Simferopol, Special Paper 1, pp 33–43
Plašienka D (1999) Tectochronology and paleotectonic model of the Jurassic-Cretaceous evolution of the Central Western Carpathians. Veda, Bratislava, p 125 (in Slovak)
Plašienka D, Grecula P, Putiš M, Kováč M, Hovorka D (1997) Evolution and structure of the Western Carpathians: an overview. In: Grecula P, Hovorka D, Putiš M (eds) Geological evolution of the Western Carpathians. Mineralia Slovaca–Monograph, Košice, pp 1–24
Polák S (1955) Metasomatic occurrences of galena in the Middle Triassic limestones at Píla village, Nová Baňa district. Geologické práce, Správy 2:53–60 (in Slovak)
Pospíšil P (2004) 30-year survey of the Landrovská jaskyňa Cave. Spravodaj Slovenskej speleologickej spoločnosti 35(2):57–61 (in Slovak)
Rajman L, Roda Š Jr, Roda Š Sr, Ščuka J (1993) Unterchungen über die Genese der Aragonit-höhle von Ochtiná (Slowakei) Die Höhle 44(1): 1–8
Renčko A, Čipáková A, Toporila M (2013) Slovakian Mexico or Kryštálová jaskyňa Cave. Spravodaj Slovenskej speleologickej spoločnosti 44(4):16–24 (in Slovak)
Rye RO, Bethke PM, Wasserman MD (1992) The stable isotope geochemistry of acid sulfate alteration. Econ Geol 87(2):225–238
Sasvári T, Kondela J (2007) Demonstration of alpine structural phenomena at the structure of magnesite deposit Jelšava—Dúbrava Massif. Metalurgija 46(2):117–122
Sasvári T, Kondela J (2010) Structural and tectonic composition and origins of the magnesite deposit within Dúbravský Massif near Jelšava, based on studies at the 220 m elev. Level (Western Carpathians). Acta Montanistica Slovaca 15(3):256–260
Sillitoe RH (1989) Gold deposits in Western Pacific island arcs: the magmatic connection. In: Keays RR, Ramsay WRH, Groves DI (eds) The geology of gold deposits: the perspective in 1988. Econ Geol Monogr 6:274–291
Slavkay M (1963) Ponický Karst. Slovenský kras 4:57–69 (in Slovak)
Slavkay M (1970) Aragonite cave in the Ponický Karst. Slovenský kras 8:95–99 (in Slovak)
Slavkay M (1971) Deposits of polymetallic ores at Poniky Village. Mineralia Slovaca 11(3):181–213 (in Slovak)
Slavkay M, Beňka J (1995) Geology, mineralogy and metallogeny of lead and zinc ores at Ardovo village. Mineralia Slovaca 27(2):79–88 (in Slovak)
Sluka M (2014) Else about the Beckovská jaskyňa cave. Spravodaj Slovenskej speleologickej spoločnosti 45(4):38
Spötl C, Dublyansky Y, Meyer M, Mangini A (2009) Identifying low-temperature hydrothermal karst and palaeowaters using stable isotopes: a case study from an alpine cave, Entrische Kirche. Austria Int J Earth Sci Geol Rundschau 98(3):665–676. doi:10.1007/s00531-007-0263-2
Štohl J, Lexa J, Kaličiak M, Bacsó Z (1994) Genesis of stockwork base metal mineralizations in the Neogene volcanics of West Carpathians. Mineralia Slovaca 26(2):75–117 (in Slovak)
Straka P (1986) Deep structural borehole MEL-1 Meliata. Regionálna geológia Západných Karpát 21:89–92 (in Slovak)
Tisato N, Sauro F, Bernasconi SM, Bruijn RH, De Waele J (2012) Hypogenic contribution to speleogenesis in a predominant epigenic karst system: a case study from the Venetian Alps, Italy. Geomorphology 151:156–163. doi:10.1016/j.geomorph.2012.01.025
Uhlík P, Šucha V (1997) Distribution of pyrophyllite in the Šobov deposit and comparison with pyrophyllite from Vígľašská Huta deposit (Central Slovakia). Mineralia Slovaca 29(1):73–79 (in Slovak)
Uhlík P, Šucha V, Madejová J, Puškelová Ľ, Šamajová E (2001) Clay minerals in the area of the Štiavnica stratovolcano. Mineralia Slovaca 33(3):287–288 (in Slovak)
Vítek J (1987) Kremenia—unique natural site of the central Slovakia. Krásy Slovenska 64(12):34–36 (in Czech)
Vítek J (1989) Caves and microforms in neovolcanites of the Kremnické vrchy Mountains. Československý kras 40:129–131 (in Czech)
Zacharov M (2013) New knowledge from the research of Drienovská jaskyňa Cave. Slovenský kras 51(2):111–120 (in Slovak)
Zakovič M, Bodiš D, Orvan J, Lopašovský K (1994) Hydrogeology of the Rimavská kotlina Basin and the eastern part of Cerová vrchovina Mountains. Západné Karpaty 123:119–142
Ženiš P, Gaál Ľ (1986a) New caves in magnesites of the Slovenské rudohorie Mountains. Spravodaj Slovenskej speleologickej spoločnosti 15(4):3–11
Ženiš P, Gaál Ľ (1986b) Magnesite karst in the Slovenské rudohorie Mts. (Czechoslovakia). Communications, vol. 2, 9th International Congress of Speleology, Barcelona, pp 36–39
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2017 Springer International Publishing AG
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Bella, P., Gaál, Ľ. (2017). Hypogene Caves in Slovakia. In: Klimchouk, A., N. Palmer, A., De Waele, J., S. Auler, A., Audra, P. (eds) Hypogene Karst Regions and Caves of the World. Cave and Karst Systems of the World. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-53348-3_19
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-53348-3_19
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-53347-6
Online ISBN: 978-3-319-53348-3
eBook Packages: Earth and Environmental ScienceEarth and Environmental Science (R0)