Glacier and Citrus College Chapter
ESCI 118 – Physical Geography
Citrus College
Chapter 17 – Solution Processes and Karst Topography
1. How does carbonic acid form? It forms when water and carbon dioxide combine and react.
2. What is meant by dissolution? Dissolution is the action of being dissolved.
3. What kinds of rock are most susceptible to solution processes? Why? Limestone and dolomite are most susceptible to solution processes because the water, which is slightly acidic, reacts with rock and dissolves the co2 gas carrying away or dissolving some of the sediment.
4. How does the underground structure of the bedrock influence the dissolution process? Bedrock that is made of carbonate is more susceptible to being dissolved as the rock is much more easily broken down.
5. How is it possible for percolating groundwater to both erode and deposit? It can erode most weak rock and the heavier can be broken off, carried with the water flow until the velocity drops and the rock is deposited elsewhere.
6. What is the importance of jointing and bedding planes to the underground structure of caverns? Where joints and bedding planes are, there is usually more caverns and this is because they allow water to penetrate through small cracks.
7. Describe and explain the formation of speleothems such as stalactites, stalagmites, and columns. Speleothems are formed by the accumulation of compounds left by percolating water.
8. In what kinds of rocks does karst topography usually develop? It usually develops in limestone or other easily decomposed rocks.
9. Explain how a sinkhole is formed. A sink hole is formed when land underneath erodes and creates a depression.
10. Describe the formation of a collapsed sinkhole and a uvala. A collapsed sinkhole is created when the roof of a cavern falls through and usually leaves over hanging
Citrus College
Chapter 17 – Solution Processes and Karst Topography
1. How does carbonic acid form? It forms when water and carbon dioxide combine and react.
2. What is meant by dissolution? Dissolution is the action of being dissolved.
3. What kinds of rock are most susceptible to solution processes? Why? Limestone and dolomite are most susceptible to solution processes because the water, which is slightly acidic, reacts with rock and dissolves the co2 gas carrying away or dissolving some of the sediment.
4. How does the underground structure of the bedrock influence the dissolution process? Bedrock that is made of carbonate is more susceptible to being dissolved as the rock is much more easily broken down.
5. How is it possible for percolating groundwater to both erode and deposit? It can erode most weak rock and the heavier can be broken off, carried with the water flow until the velocity drops and the rock is deposited elsewhere.
6. What is the importance of jointing and bedding planes to the underground structure of caverns? Where joints and bedding planes are, there is usually more caverns and this is because they allow water to penetrate through small cracks.
7. Describe and explain the formation of speleothems such as stalactites, stalagmites, and columns. Speleothems are formed by the accumulation of compounds left by percolating water.
8. In what kinds of rocks does karst topography usually develop? It usually develops in limestone or other easily decomposed rocks.
9. Explain how a sinkhole is formed. A sink hole is formed when land underneath erodes and creates a depression.
10. Describe the formation of a collapsed sinkhole and a uvala. A collapsed sinkhole is created when the roof of a cavern falls through and usually leaves over hanging