Sulfidic caves
"Sulfidic" caves are an uncommon type of cave that form by the oxidation of hydrogen sulfide. These caves develop where hydrogen sulfide in anoxic groundwaters is exposed to oxygenated surface waters and cave air. Where oxygen and sulfide interact, sulfide is oxidized to sulfuric acid, which causes rapid limestone dissolution and aggressive cave formation. Sulfidic caves often contain large underground chambers, atypical passage morphologies, and unusual sulfur mineral formations.
Sulfidic caves are hotspots for biological activity in the subsurface. Because sulfide provides a rich source of chemical energy, sulfur-oxidizing microorganisms thrive right where sulfide and oxygen mix. Often this happens at the cave water table , and so sulfide inputs to these caves support in situ primary production by microbial chemosynthesis.
"Sulfidic" caves are an uncommon type of cave that form by the oxidation of hydrogen sulfide. These caves develop where hydrogen sulfide in anoxic groundwaters is exposed to oxygenated surface waters and cave air. Where oxygen and sulfide interact, sulfide is oxidized to sulfuric acid, which causes rapid limestone dissolution and aggressive cave formation. Sulfidic caves often contain large underground chambers, atypical passage morphologies, and unusual sulfur mineral formations.
Sulfidic caves are hotspots for biological activity in the subsurface. Because sulfide provides a rich source of chemical energy, sulfur-oxidizing microorganisms thrive right where sulfide and oxygen mix. Often this happens at the cave water table , and so sulfide inputs to these caves support in situ primary production by microbial chemosynthesis.