Audra P., Cazes G., Robert Xavier, Barriquand L., Dublyansky Y., Koltai G., Temovski M., Polyak V., Carbone C., Heresanu V., Gruat J.P., De Waele J. (2025). Speleogenesis of Gap-Gotan (Cupp-Coutunn) cave system, Köýtendag massif, Turkmenistan. In :
Calux A. (ed.). Proceedings : Volume II. Belo Horizonte : SBE, 134-139. International Congress of Speleology ; Congresso Brasileiro de Espeleologia, 19. ; 38., Belo Horizonte (BRA), 2025/07/20-27.
Titre du document
Speleogenesis of Gap-Gotan (Cupp-Coutunn) cave system, Köýtendag massif, Turkmenistan
Année de publication
2025
Type de document
Colloque
Auteurs
Audra P., Cazes G., Robert Xavier, Barriquand L., Dublyansky Y., Koltai G., Temovski M., Polyak V., Carbone C., Heresanu V., Gruat J.P., De Waele J.
In
Calux A. (ed.), Proceedings : Volume II
Source
Belo Horizonte : SBE, 2025,
134-139
Colloque
International Congress of Speleology ; Congresso Brasileiro de Espeleologia, 19. ; 38., Belo Horizonte (BRA), 2025/07/20-27
The Gap-Gotan (Cupp-Coutunn) system (Turkmenistan) is known for its mineralogical wealth, thanks to the considerable work carried out by
Vladimir Maltsev in the 80s. However, following fieldwork carried out in 2024, Maltsev's speleogenetic hypotheses have been revised, in terms
of stages, chronology and processes. Several phases of speleogenesis can be identified. 1) Hydrothermal mineralizing fluids, leading to Pb-Zn
deposits in the vicinity, and impregnation of the host rock with sulfides, fluorite, and calcite veins. 2) The formation of large horizontal phreatic
conduits at shallow depth, fed by infiltration at high altitude, with dissolution produced by flows reacting with the sulfides in the host rock.
This process has been repeated in stages as the base level fell, until the present day. Nowadays similar active phreatic conduits are presumed
to exist beneath the gypsum collapses. 3) Once drained, the caves are decorated with gypsum speleothems mainly formed by sulfate-rich
seepage from the surface (e.g., chandeliers), and filled with fluvial sediments injected locally from canyon sinkholes. Mapping, isotopic and
mineralogical analyses, and U-series and U-Pb dating of the sediments are providing preliminary evidence for this model of speleogenesis in
these unique and exceptional caves.
Plan de classement
Géomorphologie [064GEOMOR]
;
Géologie régionale [064GEOREG]
;
Pétrologie et minéralogie [064PETRO]
;
Sédimentologie [064SEDIM]
Localisation
Fonds IRD [F B010096584]
Identifiant IRD
fdi:010096584
