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Karstic caves are created by water eroding and corroding rocks that can be dissolved. Since both the spring areas of caves (normally at the valley bottom) as well as the recharge is controlled by superficial processes, the morphology of the cave bears strong links to these influences. Lowering of local base levels promotes the development of horizontal phreatic cave passages at progressively lower elevations, resulting in the formation of multi-level karst systems. Upon the next lowering of base level, these upper systems become fossilized, and sediment trapped within them may remain preserved for millions of years. Dating these sediments gives clues regarding the time when the passages were last active, and thus may yield age information for old valley floors. The present paper presents cosmogenic nuclide datings of twelve samples from eight caves in the central part of the Northern Calcareous Alps of Austria. Besides three samples that gave no results, most of the obtained ages are at the Mio-Pliocene boundary or within the Pliocene, as was expected before sampling. No multi-level caves could be sampled at different elevations, thus, the obtained valley deepening rates are averages between the age of sediment deposition and the present-day valley floor. However, the valley deepening rates of 0.12 to 0.21 km/Ma are in accordance to previous findings and corroborate a comparatively slow evolution of base level lowering in the Eastern Alps compared to the fast (Late Quaternary) evolution in the Central and Western Alps.

Inner-Alpine lakes typically present a complex sedimentary record, with changing sediment dynamics and event deposits related to different natural hazards. Lake Altaussee (712 m asl; 2.4 x 1.0 km; max. 72 m deep) is a moderately sized lake located within the Northern Calcareous Alps. It is mainly fed by several subaqueous springs associated to a regional karst plateau (“Totes Gebirge”). This spring activity produced several craters (up to 60 m in diameter and 22 m deep) on the lake bottom. Within the framework of the Walter Munk Foundation for the Oceans (WMFO), a multidisciplinary research effort is undertaken to understand the lake system.Here we present first results based on sedimentological and geochemical analysis (XRF core scanning) of four long sediment cores (3-9 m long) collected in summer 2021. The cores were taken in different depositional environments, such as the deep central basin, a shallow plateau in the western part and on the outer slopes of the largest karst crater. The sediment cores were dated by 14C and are further interpreted based on observations on subbottom profiling data and high-resolution multibeam bathymetry.The deep basin core (9 m long; 52 m water depth) reveals a ~2.5 m thick megaturbidite (MT) characterized by an overall normal grading and a thin fine-grained cap layer. The MT is overlying a ~1.3 m thick mass-transport deposit consisting of a mixture of remobilized organic-rich lake-internal sediment and coarser cm-scale pebbles. Morphologic and seismostratigraphic mapping indicate that this megaturbidite was formed by massive sediment remobilization due to multiple (synchronous?) rockfalls and/or sudden remobilization of accumulated slope deposits impacting the eastern part of the lake basin around 724-931 CE.This event deposit overlies several brighter-colored, rather homogenous units, which are separated by a 20 cm thick dark organic-rich laminated interval. Preliminary dating of these lower units to about 8-10 kyrs BP suggest the existence of a hiatus of several millennia between the MT and the lower units. To verify whether this is caused by erosion related to the mass-transport event or a period of non-deposition, we analyzed a long core (6 m long; 22 m water depth) on the western plateau. This core exhibits a Late Glacial clastic varve sequence (~14-15 kyr BP), overlain by a unit of poorly-sorted debrite(s) and an organic-rich lacustrine sediment sequence deposited during the past ~1.2 kyr which can be traced in all short cores and seismic profiles throughout the lake. Altogether these observations suggest highstand conditions during Late Glacial times, a significantly lower lake level during large parts of the Holocene, and again highstand conditions during the past 1.2 kyrs.The identification and stratigraphic position of numerous clastic outflow deposits on the outer slope of the largest karst crater hint at a sudden onset or intensification of spring activity in the Late Holocene at this location. Whether this can have contributed to the hypothesized lake level rise in this inner-alpine basin remains unclear and forms the focus of ongoing multidisciplinary investigations.

For sediment-burial dating with a cosmogenic nuclide pair, the isochron burial method performs well provided that the sediment source has undergone (1) steady erosion and (2) continuous exposure to cosmic rays. These conditions exert important limitations on applications of the method. And yet, in mountainous fluvial and glacial landscapes, it is commonly found that the source area has experienced landsliding or glacial quarrying (i.e., non-steady erosion), and/or intermittent sediment storage or burial beneath glaciers (i.e., discontinuous exposure). As well as breaching the assumptions of the isochron method, such processes tend to yield low nuclide concentrations in the sample, which further limits its workability.Here we present a more flexible method that accommodates complex, non-steady pre-burial erosion and exposure histories: conditions that exclude the isochron burial method. P-PINI (Particle Pathway Inversion of Nuclide Inventories) is a Monte Carlo-based inversion model that employs a source-to-sink approach for estimating the depositional age of fluvial and glaciogenic sediments. This method has been successfully applied to the Deckenschotter in the northern Alpine foreland (see Knudsen et al. 2020, Earth & Planetary Science Letters 549, 116491). As with the isochron burial method, P-PINI exploits an ensemble of paired nuclide (e.g., 10Be-26Al) concentrations measured in different samples from the same depth in a sedimentary sequence. But unlike the isochron method, P-PINI applies a stochastic approach to simulate a wide range of possible pre-depositional exposure and erosion histories for each individual sample. These different pre-burial histories (unique to each sample) are then integrated with the constraint that all samples share a common burial history at the sink. Where cosmogenic nuclide data (or other chronometric data, e.g., OSL) are available for multiple sites, Bayesian inference modelling can impose a priori relative age constraints, or estimates on the maximum duration of sediment storage.In this presentation, we extend P-PINI to explore how sediment storage and reworking (i.e., a range of burial depths and durations) between source and sink affects burial age estimates. Significant intermediate storage is characteristic of large river systems, such as the Danube River. Using cosmogenic 10Be-26Al concentrations measured in fluvial gravels at Gänserndorf and Schlosshof, two terraces along the Danube River in the Vienna Basin (Braumann et al., 2019. Quat. Int. 509. 87-102), we examine how the burial ages at these two sites are a function of the pre-burial history experienced by the samples.

Switzerland’s geomorphological diversity is the result of the combination of (i) a complex geological structure, marked by the prevalence of Alpine orogeny, (ii) Quaternary glaciations, during which Alpine glaciers invaded a large part of the Swiss Plateau and (iii) the country’s climatic diversity, driven by its position in the Alps and the confluence of climates from southern, northwestern, and eastern Europe. Four main types of geomorphological landscapes are present: glacial, fluvial, karstic and gravitational.

The karst region Siebenhengste-Hohgant-Schrattenfluh is located in west-central Switzerland, north of Lake Thun. Although it is not well known outside the karst and caving community, it is one of the important karstic sites of the world. Surface landscape is impressive, with vast karren fields with distinct micromorphologies, stark contrast of sandstone and limestone pavements and the impressive view on the high Bernese Alps. The underground landscape is rich as well, with more than 340 km of cave passages developed below three adjacent massifs. Caves evolved in response to valley deepening processes, which could be dated by cave sediments. Soft tourism (hiking, walking) developed in the last two decades, and protected zones have multiplied in recent years.

Accurate and precise chronologies are essential in understanding the rapid and recurrent climate variations of the Last Glacial – known as Dansgaard-Oeschger (D-O) events – found in the Greenland ice cores and other climate archives. The existing chronological uncertainties during the Last Glacial, however, are still large. Radiometric age data and stable isotopic signals from speleothems are promising to improve the absolute chronology. We present a record of several precisely dated stalagmites from caves located at the northern rim of the Alps (NALPS), a region that favours comparison with the climate in Greenland. The record covers most of the interval from 120 to 60 ka at an average temporal resolution of 2 to 22 yr and 2σ-age uncertainties of ca. 200 to 500 yr. The rapid and large oxygen isotope shifts of 1 to 4.5‰ occurred within decades to centuries and strongly mimic the Greenland D-O pattern. Compared to the updated Greenland ice-core timescale (GICC05modelext) the NALPS record confirms the timing of rapid warming and cooling transitions between 118 and 106 ka, but suggests younger ages for D-O events between 106 and 60 ka. As an exception, the timing of the rapid transitions into and out of the stadial following GI 22 is earlier in NALPS than in the Greenland ice-core timescale. In addition, there is a discrepancy in the duration of this stadial between the ice-core and the stalagmite chronology (ca. 2900 vs. 3650 yr). The short-lived D-O events 18 and 18.1 are not recorded in NALPS, provoking questions with regard to the nature and the regional expression of these events. NALPS resolves recurrent short-lived climate changes within the cold Greenland stadial and warm interstadial successions, i.e. abrupt warming events preceding GI 21 and 23 (precursor-type events) and at the end of GI 21 and 25 (rebound-type events), as well as intermittent cooling events during GI 22 and 24. Such superimposed events have not yet been documented outside Greenland.

Humpleu Cave is currently Romania’s second longest cave. Its highlights are the beauty of its fossil and water passages, the alpine-type narrowness of the second, vertical, entrance, and by the still exciting possibility of finding new passages. Except for a number of mineralogical studies, Humpleu Cave remains largely under-investigated. A variety of features (morphology, tectonics, speleothems, speleogenesis) are awaiting to be studied in order to better understand this huge cave and its surroundings. The present chapter gives a very brief and condensed overview of the cave and hopes to resuscitate interest to study it more thoroughly.

Deuterium (δD) and oxygen (δ18O) isotopes are powerful tracers of the hydrological cycle and have been extensively used for paleoclimate reconstructions as they can provide information on past precipitation, temperature and atmospheric circulation. More recently, the use of 17Oexcess derived from precise measurement of δ17O and δ18O gives new and additional insights in tracing the hydrological cycle whereas uncertainties surround this proxy. However, 17Oexcess could provide additional information on the atmospheric conditions at the moisture source as well as about fractionations associated with transport and site processes. In this paper we trace water stable isotopes (δD, δ17O and δ18O) along their path from precipitation to cave drip water and finally to speleothem fluid inclusions for Milandre cave in northwestern Switzerland. A two year-long daily resolved precipitation isotope record close to the cave site is compared to collected cave drip water (3 months average resolution) and fluid inclusions of modern and Holocene stalagmites. Amount weighted mean δD, δ18O and δ17O are −71.0‰, −9.9‰, −5.2‰ for precipitation, −60.3‰, −8.7‰, −4.6‰ for cave drip water and −61.3‰, −8.3‰, −4.7‰ for recent fluid inclusions respectively. Second order parameters have also been derived in precipitation and drip water and present similar values with 18 per meg for 17Oexcess whereas d-excess is 1.5‰ more negative in drip water. Furthermore, the atmospheric signal is shifted towards enriched values in the drip water and fluid inclusions (Δ of ∼ + 10‰ for δD). The isotopic composition of cave drip water exhibits a weak seasonal signal which is shifted by around 8–10 months (groundwater residence time) when compared to the precipitation. Moreover, we carried out the first δ17O measurement in speleothem fluid inclusions, as well as the first comparison of the δ17O behaviour from the meteoric water to the fluid inclusions entrapment in speleothems. This study on precipitation, drip water and fluid inclusions will be used as a speleothem proxy calibration for Milandre cave in order to reconstruct paleotemperatures and moisture source variations for Western Central Europe.

The vertical organisation of karst conduit networks has been the focus of speleogenetic studies for more than a century. The four state model of Ford and Ewers (1978), which still is considered as the most general, relates the geometry of caves to the frequency of permeable fissures. The model suggests that the ‘water table caves’ are common in areas with high fissure frequency, which is often the case in natural settings. However, in Alpine karst systems, water table caves are more the exception than the rule. Alpine speleogenesis is influenced by high uplift, valley incision rates and irregular recharge. To study the potential role of these processes for speleogenesis in the dimensions of length and depth, we apply a simple mathematical model based on coupling of flow, dissolution and transport. We assume a master conduit draining the water to the spring at a base level. Incision of the valley triggers evolution of deeper flow pathways, which are initially in a proto-conduit state. The master conduit evolves into a canyon following the valley incision, while the deep pathways evolve towards maturity and tend to capture the water from the master conduits. Two outcomes are possible: a) deep pathways evolve fast enough to capture all the recharge, leaving the master conduit dry; or b) the canyon reaches the level of deep pathways before these evolve to maturity. We introduce the Loop-to-Canyon Ratio (LCR), which predicts which of the two outcomes is more likely to occur in certain settings. Our model is extended to account for transient flow conditions. In the case of an undulating master conduit, floodwater is stored in troughs after the flood retreat. This water seeps through sub-vertical fractures (‘soutirages’) connecting the master conduit with the deep pathways. Therefore, the loops evolve also during the dry season, and the LCR is considerably increased. Although the model is based on several approximations, it leads to some important conclusions for vertical organisation of karst conduit networks and stresses the importance of base-level changes and transient recharge conditions. It therefore gives an explanation of speleogenesis that relies much more on the dynamic nature of water flow than on the static fracture density.

Jama Kaltbach je razvita v Hochgantskem eocenskem peščenjaku na območju Siebenghengste v Švici. Rezultat ponovne izmere jame je precej večja dolžina, nov načrt jame in številna opažanja, ki kažejo na to, da jama ni nastala z »normalno speleogenezo«, ampak je t.i. fantomska jama. Fantomske jame nastajajo pri delnem preperevanju nečistega apnenca v toplih klimah, v pogojih nizkega hidravličnega gradienta. Ob povečanju gradienta, voda izpere netopni preostanek, pri čemer nastane jama. Članek obravnava geomorfološke značilnosti jam, ki nam omogočajo prepoznavati fantomske jame. Kaltbach cave is developed within the Eocene Hohgant sandstone in the Siebenhengste area in Switzerland. A remapping project of the cave resulted in a huge increase in length. It also produced a complete, updated map and longitudinal section. The cave’s morphology does not fitwiththe“normal”speleogenesis:itisaso-calledphantom cave. Phantoms are created by differential weathering of impure limestone under a preferably warm climate and a very low hydrologic gradient. Once the gradient steepens, the undissolved residual sediments are piped out; the “cave” manifests itself. The paper discusses the geomorphological features that permit to recognize the phantom caves.

We report the first incision rates derived from burial ages of cave sediments from the Mur river catchment at the eastern margin of the Eastern Alps. At the transition zone between the Alpine orogen and the Pannonian basin, this river passes through the Paleozoic of Graz — a region of karstifiable rocks called the Central Styrian Karst. This river dissects the study area in a north–south direction and has left behind an abundance of caves. These caves can be grouped into several distinct levels according to their elevation above the present fluvial base level. Age estimates of abandoned cave levels are constrained by dating fluvial sediments washed into caves during the waning stages of speleogenesis with the terrestrial cosmogenic nuclide method. These ages and the elevations of the cave levels relative to the current valley floor are used to infer a very complex history of 4 million years of water table position, influenced by the entrenchment and aggradation of the Mur river. We observe rather low rates of bedrock incision over the last 4 Ma (in the order of 0.1 mm/y) with an e-folding decrease in this trend to lower rates at younger times. We relate this incision history to a tectonic setting where an increase of drainage area of the Mur river due to stream piracy in Late Miocene to Pliocene times is linked to surface uplift. The later decrease in valley lowering rates is attributed to the rise of the base level related to aggradation of sediments within the valley. Sediment transport through the valley from the upstream section of the Mur river limited the erosional potential of the river to a transport limited state at the later stages of the incision history.

Inactive stalagmites from the Silberen cave system and its surroundings (Muota Valley, Central Switzerland) have been dated by the 230Th/U method (alpha spectrometry and TIMS). Several samples yielded ages of approximately 200 ka (MIS 7) and 320 ka (MIS 9), others were beyond the upper limit of the method (about >350 ka) or might have behaved as open systems with respect to uranium. The following complementary dating methods were applied: 234U/238U, paleomagnetism, palynology and electron spin resonance. Paleomagnetism yielded positive inclination of the natural remanent magnetization of two stalagmite samples, corresponding to the Brunhes-epoch ( The uplift rate of the mountains, the corrosion rate of the karstified surface and the incision of the valley bottom, suggest that karstification started 4 to 3 Ma (Middle to Upper Pliocene). The dated speleothems are therefore substantially younger than the beginning of speleogenesis. Inaktive Stalagmiten aus dem Silberen-Hohlensystem und dessen Umgebung (Zentralschweiz) sind mittels der 230Th/U-Methode (Alpha-Spektrometrie bzw. TIMS) datiert worden. Einige Proben ergaben 230Th/U-Alter zwischen von 320 ka (MIS 9) und 200 ka (MIS 7), andere lagen ausserhalb des Zeitfensters der 230Th/U-Methode (>350 ka), wieder andere konnten offene Uran-Systeme gebildet haben. Erganzend zu den numerischen Datierungen wurden versuchsweise weitere Datierungsmethoden eingesetzt: 234U/238U, Palaomagnetik, Palynologie und Elektronen-Spin-Resonanz. Die Palaomagnetik zeigte bei den zwei untersuchten Tropfsteinen eine positive Inklination der naturlichen remanenten Magnetisierung, was der Brunhes-Epoche ( Aus der bekannten Hebungsrate des Gebirges, dem korrosiven Abtrag der Karstoberflache sowie der Eintiefung des Muotatals wurde abgeleitet, dass die Verkarstung im Untersuchungsgebiet vor 4 bis 3 Ma (Mittleres bis Oberes Pliozan) begonnen hat. Die bislang datierten Karsthohlensedimente sind nach diesem Modell also wesentlich junger als der Anfang der Speleogenese.

The sedimentary deposits from Cioclovina Uscată Cave yielded numerous paleontological, anthropological and mineralogical findings. However, until now, a study of the sediments and their depositional features and environment had not been conducted. Here, we present a complete study of the sediments within the Main Gallery with the purpose of documenting their origin, depositional mode and processes, and direction of the paleodrainages. Seventeen sedimentary profiles were mapped and analyzed. A complete map was drawn, based on the lithological description, laboratory analyses, and the exact position of the profiles in the sedimentary deposit and their location along the gallery. Although the deposition mode of the sediments is very complex, the distribution of three main complexes (silt, sand and pebbles) can be clearly distinguished, indicating a typical cave channel lithofacies. We recognize seven stages in the evolution of the cave; the third one indicates a sudden change in the climatic conditions at the surface.

While stalagmites within caves are commonly used to obtain information about past climate change, little attention has so far been given to the cave, its morphology, and many other types of deposits contained in it. The discontinuous nature of cave sediments and the possibility that caves are re-shaped by more recent water circulations has discouraged many researchers, despite the fact that it is just this intimate relationship between the cave and surface conditions that makes caves such valuable archives. This article presents a method of determining a relative chronology which can then be dated numerically. Information from St. Beatus Cave and other nearby caves provides evidence of glacial advances that occurred within the following time windows: >350, 235–180, 160–135, 114–99, 76–54, and 30–16 ka. It also describes the following dated periods of valley deepening: 805–760 m a.s.l. (>350 ka), 760–700 m a.s.l. (235–180 ka), 700–660 m a.s.l. (160–135 ka), and 660–560 m a.s.l. (30–16 ka). These dates are new for this part of the Alpine Arc.

Summary Observations in St. Beatus Cave and neighboring caves revealed complex water flowpathes that can be used for explaining the behaviour of tracing experiments. The observations prove that even in vadose conditions, cross-formational flow, diffluences and transfluences are a quite common feature. Therefore, also the vadose karst has a very complex organisation.

The cave region of Siebenhengste, situated north of Lake Thun (Switzerland), contains one of the most important cave systems in the world, which extends from 500 to 2000 m a.s.l. It has a complex multiphase history. The recognized speleogenetic phases are related to spring level and to old valley floors. The six most recent phases were investigated in St. Beatus cave and Barenschacht. They suggest a progressive Quarternary Aare valley incision to 890, 805, 760, 700, 660, and 558 m a.s.l. that is confirmed by statistical analysis of small caves. U/Th-datings of flowstone allowed a timing of the valley deepening phases: the valley bottom was at 760 m already before 350 ka, the one at 700 m was active between 235 and 160 ka. The cave morphology in the upper part of the cave system was coupled with sedimentological observations. This combination leads to the hypothesis that the uppermost (oldest) cave parts were already created in the Miocene, during and after the last deposition of the Molasse. Ideas about the evolution of the paleorelief suggest that today's Aare valley is a product of glacial erosion, and that the old Aare valley shifted its position several times between the Miocene and today.

The cave system is situated north of Lake Thun, in the Helvetic border chain. The overall geology is simple: the slightly dipping (15–25° towards the southeast) strata are interrupted by a NE–SW trending normal fault with a throw of 150 m in the NE and about 500 m in the SW. Since a part of the region is covered by flysch, the caves are the only way to observe the geological setting of the underlying Cretaceous and Eocene series. We show that observations in caves may yield valuable information about the onset of the tectonic movements: in particular, observations in the Barenkluft region clearly demonstrate that the beginning of prealpine extension had already begun in the Upper Cretaceous, and that this normal fault has been inverted later during Alpine compression. We also illustrate the influence of tectonic stress and strain upon karstification. The Alpine tectonic phases, with alternating compression and extension, contributed to the development of different karstogenetic levels. Tectonic strains opened and possibly closed some fractures, allowing (or preventing) water to flow through parts of the karst massive. The structural setting, defining the overall geometry of the limestone bed, played an important role in the development of the various phases of the system. Most of the conduits appear to belong to old, deep phreatic systems. Tectonics is only one of a number of factors controlling karstification. Together with lithology, it represents the geological control. Geomorphological factors (mainly spring and catchment positions, but also erosion of the flysch cover), as well as bioclimatical factors (quantity and physico-chemical characteristics of water), and hydrodynamics and transport processes can play a significant role on the genesis of karst systems.

Although the two conditions given in the article title already narrow down considerably the caves that fall within these categories, it quickly becomes clear that the geomorphology of such caves is not clear from the beginning. A closer look into the literature actually reveals that diverse speleogenetic agents may influence the genesis of such caves. Vertical vadose passages, as well as (epi)phreatic base level control, very commonly occur in large caves in high-relief areas. The key to understanding the speleogenesis is first the notion of time (commonly such caves are old and may even present different distinct phases of evolution) and second, the evolution of the surface around these caves. Often, caves in mountaineous areas deliver hints to reconstruct the (spatial and temporal) evolution of the surface morphology. In that fashion, caves in mountains and in lowlands are no different, but surface information within the mountains is usually much rarer because of the intensive erosional processes in such steeply sloping areas.

This article presents the main results of 60 years of caving exploration in the Siebenhengste region. An overview of the regional context (geographical, geological, and hydrogeological setting) is followed by discussion of the main caves and the history of their exploration, genesis of the cave system, several aspects of the minerals and speleothems to be found here, and findings on cave biology (recent and past fauna). The area consists of 320 km of mapped passages spanning 1500 m altitudinal difference. The second oldest cave level was existing already 4.4 Ma BP; a complete set of ages permit a detailed insight into valley deepening phases.

Le mont Granier, situé à l'extrémité nord des hauts plateaux de Chartreuse orientale, est un massif karstique montagnard perché contenant un méga-réseau souterrain dont les niveaux de galeries les plus haut-perchés, soupçonnés d'être antéquaternaires, ont fait l'objet de datation par défaut par détermination de l'âge d'enfouissement de leurs remplissages détritiques à l'aide des isotopes cosmogéniques 10Be et 26Al. Les résultats obtenus sur deux échantillons d'un même étage mais spatialement distants donnent des âges d'enfouissement pliocènes (4,3 Ma et 3,4 Ma) conformes aux hypothèses génétiques préalables. L'âge de ces niveaux de galeries établis post-plissement est donc assurément néogène. Les taux de dénudation estimés sont étonnamment faibles dans ce contexte alpin mais montrent une accélération sensible au cours de la période considérée, passant de 7 m/Ma à 14 m/Ma. Par ces résultats, le mont Granier conforte son statut de site de référence et de comparaison pour les reconstitutions spéléokarstogéniques et paléogéographiques alpines, au même titre que le massif des Siebenhengste en Suisse.; International audience; Mount Granier lies in the northeast corner of the Chartreuse Mountains. It contains a vast cave system, whose uppermost levels were thought to be of pre-Quaternary age. 10Be/26Al burial dating of two cave deposits in the oldest passages, widely spaced but belonging to a same gallery level which formed after the last folding phase, gave ages of 4.3 Ma and 3.4 Ma, indicating that these levels are of at least Pliocene age. In addition, the rates of denudation estimated according to the analytical data are unusually low in this alpine context but show an acceleration during the pre-Quaternary period of interest, ranging from 7 m/Ma to 14 m/Ma. Data from karst deposits serve as reference and comparison site for Alpine chronology as well as for cave genesis and palaeogeographical reconstructions, similar to that of the Siebenhengste massif in Switzerland.

International audience; Nouvelles considerations sur la genèse des cavités dans les Alpes depuis le Miocène. Les progrès dans la compréhension des processus spéléogénétiques ainsi que les recherches intensives conduites dans les Alpes depuis quelques décennies donnent de nouvelles clefs à la compréhension des cavités alpines. Les parties noyées des réseaux karstiques se développent à proximité de la surface piézométrique, qui est déterminée par la position de l'émergence, elle-même généralement dépendante de la position du talweg. Par conséquent, les cavités sont directement en liaison avec l'évolution géomorphologique superficielle et enregistrent l'approfondissement des vallées. Les sédiments piégés dans les cavités permettent de reconstituer les phases morphogéniques et l'évolution paléoclimatique. De plus, ce sont les seules possibilités de dater les grottes et en conséquence l'évolution des paysages. Les grottes se forment dès lors que les calcaires émergent et qu'un gradient hydraulique est présent. Les paléokarsts du Mésozoïque et du Paléogène attestent de ces émersions précoces. Le karst hydrothermal semble beaucoup plus fréquent qu'envisagé auparavant, car les circulations postérieures ont souvent gommé les indices hydrothermaux originels. La fantômisation est décrite comme un nouvel agent spéléogénétique. En revanche, les glaciers ont plutôt ralenti les processus spéléogénétiques et colmaté les cavités. Leur influence n'est qu'indirecte, par l'approfondissement des vallées et le décapage des couvertures imperméables. L'ensemble des données chronologiques et morphologiques montrent que la plupart des cavités alpines ( à l'exception des paléokarsts) sont d'âge pliocène ou même miocène. Les progrès des méthodes de datation (particulièrement l'essor récent des nucléides cosmogéniques) devrait permettre de dater les sédiments karstiques, non seulement pléistocènes mais également pliocènes.

Predstavljen je seznam jamskih simbolov, ki jih Mednarodna speleoloska zveza priporoca pri risanju nacrtov podzemnih jam. Seznam simbolov so leta 1999 izvolili delegati iz dvanajstih držav. Kjer je potrebno, je poleg simbola se krajsa razlaga. V prispevku je na kratko predstavljena tudi podkomisija za topografijo pri Mednarodni speleoloski zvezi. A set of cave symbols used for underground mapping has been voted by national delegates of 12 countries in 1999. This symbol set is shown and, when necessary, explained. The UIS subcommission on topography is briefly presented and its aims outlined .

Resanovačke Pećine Caves belong to Vijenac tectonic unit, extended in Northwest–Southeast direction, north of Dinara Mt. in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Ledenica or Resanovačka Ledenica Cave is located on NW part of Resanovac polje (field) on the slopes of Stražbenica Mt. The cave was named “Ledenica” (Ice Cave) due to the ice in entrance chamber, which usually remains till the summer. The Cave contains one big fossil channel abt. 700 m long, till 40 meters wide and 25 meters high, particularly rich of sinters. Recent biospeleological research of Ledenica Cave, conducted in June 2010 and May 2011, has been organized in collaboration of Biospeleological Society in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BIOSPELD), Croatian Biospeleological Society (CBSS) and representatives of Municipality of Bosansko Grahovo. Main intention of research was to find specimens of Hadzinia karamani (Hadži, 1940) (Opiliones: Nemastomatidae), described from Resanovačka Ledenica Cave. During the second research in May 2011 we found one adult and two juvenile specimens of Hadzinia karamani. This is the first finding of this species after August 8th, 1935 when famous biologist Stanko Karaman found one adult male of new genus and species. Our research included physical prospecting of cave channels, microclimate measurements, cave fauna collecting and photo-documentation with cave animal’s macro photography. Terrestrial habitats are dominant with average temperature of 8°C, while aquatic habitats are presented with small and enhanced water pools. Around 25 taxa of cave fauna were detected: Gastropoda (Zospeum sp.), Isopoda (Alpioniscus sp.), Acari (Eschatocephalus sp.), Araneae (Parastalita sp., Troglohyphantes sp., Meta sp.), Pseudoscorpiones (Chthonius sp., Neobisium sp.), Opiliones (Hadzinia karamani, Nelima troglodytes), Diplopoda (Brachydesmus sp.), Collembola (Pseudosinella sp. and other), Coleoptera (Parapropus sp., Duvalius sp., Laemostenus sp.), Orthoptera (Troglophilus sp.), Diptera (Speolepta sp.), Lepidoptera (Triphosa dubitata) and representatives of bat fauna Chiroptera (Rhinolophus sp.). Also representatives of cave fungi have been found, as parasites on moth Triphosa, most probable belong to genus Cordiceps. During preliminary analyses, in collected material some taxa, new for science, were detected. Plentiful photo documentation, including photographs in situ was realized. Investigations of Ledenica Cave, but also the other caves in Resanovac region will be continued as cabinet expert work and further speleological and biospeleological research.