Cave formations and processes in Malta

Abstract

Cave formations are geomorphological features that can be found in any Limestone terrain. These features form through the chemical dissolution of Limestone induced by water (Jennings, 1985). Cave structures form in a relatively long period of time and need millions of years to develop. Although the Maltese Islands are made up of considerably soluble rock strata, deep caves are not frequent and rarely occur. This is also a result of the island's hydrological properties, in which the lack of runoff from nearby insoluble landforms has constrained cave forming processes to a different type of solution induced through mixing of water with different hardness. This study deals with the analysis of the different cave formations located in Malta and the identification of the solution processes that have formed these solution voids. A map has been produced through the use of Geographical Information System to represent the cave formations and their distribution in the studied areas. The areas under study have been divided into 8 zones. This procedure has facilitated the identification of the occurrence and type of caves in each zone. Analyses of the distribution of cave formations have shown the relation between the geological strata and hydrological properties. The data collected throughout the fieldwork was used to analyse the growth characteristics of caves in Malta. Two classifications have been put forward for the purpose of this research study. These classifications take account of the structural features observed in the studied caves. The proposed classifications take into consideration whether the studied caves retain their natural features or if these have been altered by anthropogenic activities throughout time. In order to better visualise the studied caves, three cave formations have been presented in 3D format. The use of computer aided graphics in the speleological field is a new concept that is gaining considerable importance in many studies. This exercise has produced interactive and realistic cave models that can be used for both analytical and educational purposes. i