Karst Landforms in Mallorca(Some Karst Formations)

Karst landforms are generally the result of mildly acidic water acting on soluble bedrock.

The name, “Karst” comes from the Karst region in Croatia, where this landscape is very common.

The water, rich in CO2, acidifies and dissolves the limestone rock to create different formations both under ground as well as the above gournd.H20 + CO2 + CaCO3 Ca (CO3H)2

Acidic water Limestone

(insoluble)

Calcium Bicarbonate

(Soluble)

This chemical reaction is reversible. This is to say that the calcium bicarbonate can precipitate, forming new limestone rock.

The acidic water:

I. It erodes the earth’s surface.

II. It is filtered through permeable soil.

III. It erodes the limestone under ground, forming caverns and caves.

Karst Formations Found Above

Ground

Limestone Pavement: The runoff water erodes rock furrows.

It is as if they were the claws of a giant spider rock.

Karst Canyon:

This is formed by the erosion of a river or a flood.

Karst Formations Found Below

Ground

Caves: Water, which seeps into the ground, erodes the limestone, forming caves. Due to the precipitation of calcium bicarbonate inside the caves, this can lead to different formations in the rocks.

STALACTITES: limesto-ne formations hanging from the cracks in the ceiling of the caves.

COLUMNS.

Formations formed when a stalactite and stalagmite meet and bind together.

STALAGMITES: Limestone formations on the floor of caves fromed by precipitation of water falling from the stalactites.

This is the group of students who worked on this project.

Five of them are coming to Estonia