Baiyun Cave in Naigu Shilin,Yunnan Karst,China

The Baiyun cave is a 380 m long karst cave in the Naigu Shilin, situated 70 km southeast of Kunming, Yunnan Province, China. The prevailing orientations of the cave passages are N110°-120°E and N0°-10°W and those of the fissures in the cave are N30°-40°W and N20°-30°W. The cave is developed in the thick-bedded Lower Permian Qixia Formation. The cave has an active water flow and is currently at the near water-table stage. There are large amounts of different infills of cave sediments. The cave shows different stages of paragenesis. The palaeomagnetic analysis of cave sediments shows that their ages are younger than 780 ka B.P. (the Brunhes Chron). The upper part of the sampled profile belongs to the reverse Blake event (112.3-117.9 ka B.P.). The formation of the Baiyun cave is directly connected with the development of the Naigu Shilin. The formation of karst underground and surface features depends on the regional tectonic deformation and the Cenozoic extension of the study area.     

New dates and palaeoenvironmental evidence for the Middle to Upper Palaeolithic occupation of Higueral de Valleja Cave,southern Spain

A research programme has been set up at Higueral de Valleja Cave in southern Spain to investigate the late survival and eventual extinction of the southern Iberian Neanderthals and the arrival of modern humans. Of key interest in the first phase of research was to understand the depositional environment in the entrance chamber of the cave and to establish whether palaeoenvironmental and dating samples could be retrieved from the Middle and Upper Palaeolithic sequences. The outcome is a series of OSL, TL and radiocarbon dates showing that the cave was occupied by Neanderthal populations in Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 3, if not earlier, and by modern human Solutrean populations during the last glacial maximum. Cave sediments provisionally indicate that the lower Middle Palaeolithic sequence (X–VIII) formed in warm and humid environments and the upper sequence (VIII–V) formed when the climate was cooler and drier. The presence of long grass phytoliths and of the small mammals Microtus duodecimcostatus, Microtus brecciensis and Apodemus sylvaticus in the upper sequence indicates that a range of habitat types persisted near the cave including grassland, scrubby vegetation, patchy tree cover and ponds. This raises the possibility that environmental factors were key factors in the late survival of Neanderthal populations at the cave.     

Konispol Cave,southern Albania,and correlations with other Aegean caves occupied in the Late Quaternary

Archeological excavations in a karstic cavern on the south facing slopes of the Pindus range, southern Albania, have disclosed a continuous, 4.5 m thick sequence of human occupation since the Mesolithic. In 1994 geoarcheological field work identified nine (9) principal lithostrata that correspond with successive occupations. Sedimentary sequences indicate that during the Mesolithic spring flow was active and produced a pool in the cave's central chamber. This accounts for settlement along the dry western margin of the cave. After 6000 B.P. episodic flushing of Terra Rossa soil from the cave slopes was dominant. Sediments were variously modified or mobilized by weathering, diagenesis and human agency. These changes are correlated to the chronology and contribute to a limited reconstruction of site formation process. Comparison of sediment stratigraphy with an earlier study of magnetostratigraphy verifies an inferred moist pulse of the Early Holocene/Mesolithic and a turn to warmer/drier conditions during the Middle Holocene/Neolithic. The Konispol sequence is compared to cave chronologies in neighboring Epirus (Kastritsa and Klithi) and to Franchthi in southern Greece. Sedimentation patterns reveal that these caves were initially occupied at the same time (Late Pleniglacial) and that during deglaciation there was a general hiatus in deposition (15,000–10,000 B.P.). Early Holocene moisture phases correspond to an increase in sedimentation during the Neolithic when the caves were intensely utilized. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

High-resolution paleomagnetic correlation of Middle Weichselian ice-dammed lake sediments in two coastal caves, western Norway

Olahola is a wavecut cave positioned well above the postglacial marine limit. The sediment sequence in the cave can be litho- and magnetostratigraphically correlated with the sequence in the Skjonghelleren cave, 36 km northeast of this locality. Three boulder formations in Olahola represent three ice-free periods (including the Holocene) and two formations of laminated clay represent periods of ice-cover. Paleomagnetic excursions in the laminated clays have been correlated with the Lake Mungo/Mono Lake excursion (28 ka), and with the Laschamp excursion (43 ka), but the resolution of these events is much better in the caves than anywhere else. The paleomagnetic records from Skjonghelleren and Olahola suggest that during the Laschamp excursion at least 0.75–1 m of sediment accumulated in Skjonghelleren before sedimentation started in Olahola, indicating also an earlier ice coverage at Skjonghelleren.     

From cave geomorphology to Palaeolithic human behaviour: speleogenesis,palaeoenvironmental changes and archaeological insight in the Atxurra-Armiña cave (northern Iberian Peninsula)

A detailed geomorphological study was performed in the Atxurra-Armiña cave system (northern Iberian Peninsula) to decode landscape evolution, palaeoenvironmental changes and human use of a cave within an Inner Archaeological Context. The results show an average incision rate of the river of <0.083 mm a^–1 for at least the last 419 ka, with interruptions due to sedimentary inputs. Moreover, allostratigraphic units comprising fluviokarstic deposits at the base and flowstone formation at the top have been shown to be climatically controlled, formed either during glacial–interglacial cycles or during interstadial cycles. Finally, when the cave was used by humans in the Late Magdalenian, the lower entrance was closed, and they must therefore have entered the cave through the upper entrance. To reach the sectors selected to decorate the panels, they probably travelled from the upper cave level, as the current crawlway was wider than today, according to our U/Th dating. Once these visitors reached the panels, the floor in the main gallery would have been around 15 cm lower than at present. However, the morphology of the conduit was similar; this has significant implications for understanding and interpreting the human use of the cave during the Palaeolithic.     

北京猿人洞穴堆积气候地层的重新划分与对比

周口店第一地点洞穴四十余米厚的堆积层自下而上共分为 17层 ,新近测量的年代推前了近 2 0 0 ka。对堆积层所含哺乳动物化石和孢粉资料进行聚类统计和因子分析 ,结合风化系数和微量元素含量等古气候代用指标 ,重新定量地描绘它所记录的古气候波动旋回。根据第 2层 TIMS测年为 410 ka B.P.,第 14层上部是磁性地层测量的B/ M界线 ,可以将该洞穴堆积层 1— 14层对比于深海岩心 δ1 8O气候曲线的 11— 19段或中国黄土—古土壤序列S4— S7,并且古气候旋回内的次级波动也可进行一定程度的对比。     

不同二氧化碳浓度岩溶洞穴可培养细菌群落特征——以重庆雪玉洞和水鸣洞为例

以重庆雪玉洞和水鸣洞为例，在测试地球化学参数的基础上，在不同CO2浓度条件下利用4种分离培养基，富集培养不同类型（洞穴沉积物及洞壁）样品可培养细菌并进行系统进化分析。结果表明:（1）水鸣洞可培养细菌丰度明显高于雪玉洞；（2）分离纯化得到的244株细菌基于16S rRNA基因序列比对分析发现，细菌主要由变形菌门（Proteobacteria）、放线菌门（Actinobacteria）、厚壁菌门（Firmicutes）、拟杆菌门（Bacteroidetes）与异常球菌-栖热菌门（Deinococcus-Thermus）构成。Bacteroidetes只存在于高CO2浓度的雪玉洞，推测Bacteroidetes能耐受高CO2浓度；（3）CO2浓度是影响岩溶洞穴细菌丰度、群落与活动的重要因素之一，推测雪玉洞和水鸣洞的δ13C-CO2值偏负可能是微生物与水文地球化学作用共同影响的结果。      

中国洞穴驼螽物种多样性与适应

文章总结了中国洞穴驼螽的种类、分布及适应进化。中国记录洞穴驼螽3属26种,其中疾灶螽属（Tachycines）（24种）物种最丰富;洞穴驼螽分布范围窄,96%（25种）的物种仅分布于模式产地,或模式产地所在的县（市）,而贵州省物种最丰富,有记录15种;喜洞穴和偶洞穴驼螽的外部形态与地表种相似,真洞穴驼螽具有适应洞穴生活的典型特征,如体色浅,复眼不同程度退化（甚至消失）,触角和尾须较长且感器类型丰富等。对洞穴生物的保护,除了保护天然洞穴外,还需进一步保护洞穴周围的环境。     

中国洞穴无脊椎动物的研究概况

我国喀斯特地貌发育强烈,主要分布在滇、黔、桂、湘、川、渝、鄂、浙等省区,洞穴无脊椎动物的研究也主要集中在这些省份。本文介绍了我国洞穴无脊椎动物研究的简史,列出了近20多年来我国发现的真洞穴无脊椎动物种类,并根据栖息环境的不同,将洞穴无脊椎动物划分为陆生群落和水生群落;着重介绍了蛛形纲、重足纲、昆虫纲、甲壳纲、腹足纲的研究现状。此外,对洞穴无脊椎动物的生态特征以及进化研究也进行了概述。然而,我国洞穴无脊椎动物的研究在国内重视程度不够,与国外同类研究相比还存在一定的距离。因此,深入系统地研究洞穴无脊椎动物,加大洞穴生物保护的宣传力度,防止生物多样性的流失,将是未来中国洞穴无脊椎动物研究前进的方向。      

广西巴马县水晶宫洞穴沉积物特征及其沉积环境

巴马县水晶宫洞内次生化学沉积物景观丰富,类型多样,有石钟乳、石幔、石瀑布、石笋、石柱、石盾等特色景观;尤其是近期仍在发育的洞顶鹅管、卷曲石、石花等是国内外较为罕见的洞穴奇景。据沉积物的沉积类型、物质成分、沉积序次及测年等资料研究表明,水晶宫洞穴沉积物形成于晚第三纪以来。晚第三纪和第四纪早更新世早期,洞内沉积主要为外源水携带的硅质岩、砂岩类砾石沉积形成的钙华砾石层。早更新世中期—中更新世气候温暖湿润,是水晶宫洞穴主要景观的形成期,沉积物景观宏大而壮观,230Th-U系测年得出其分别形成于100～35万年前。晚更新世早期12.5～9万年的末次间冰期主要为温暖气候环境,洞内仅有少量的石笋沉积,且极少保存;9万年后气候环境发生突变,更不利沉积物发育和保存;自4万年后气候环境开始表现为温暖湿润,化学沉积活跃,洞穴沉积物主要由高约50～150 cm的纯白色石笋群和钟乳石组成,为洞穴奇景的形成期,230Th-U系测年得出其分别形成于40 ka BP和7 500 a BP以及1 450 a BP。晚更新世晚期以来形成的洞穴沉积物景观,不仅为水晶宫提供了丰富的旅游资源和价值,同时也为广西重建古气候环境提供了重要的信息载体。      

中国洞穴步甲研究三十年概述

中国洞穴步甲分类研究起步较晚,最早记录的洞穴步甲是于1991年发现并被描述的奇华盲步甲（Sinaphaenops mirabilissimus Uéno & Wang, 1991）。经过国内外步甲分类学者三十年的不断努力,已记录中国洞穴步甲8族71属202种,其中以行步甲族最为丰富,共61属172种。目前,在属级水平上,中国已成为世界上洞穴步甲物种多样性最为丰富的国家。     

我国洞穴旅游从业者安全认知研究

安全是洞穴旅游的生命线,是洞穴旅游活动正常开展的前提和保障。国内外多数洞穴旅游安全事故多起因于旅游从业者和游客自身安全认知欠缺。由于洞穴旅游从业者直接面对游客,是洞穴旅游安全事故的“第一道防火墙”,因此,从洞穴旅游从业者的角度对洞穴旅游安全认知进行研究就显得尤为重要。本文对我国17个旅游洞穴从业者的旅游安全认知开展问卷调查,运用统计分析和灰色关联分析对洞穴旅游从业者的安全认知及其差异进行分析,得到以下结论:（1）我国洞穴旅游从业者的总体安全认知度较高;（2）我国洞穴旅游从业者安全管理认知存在一定差异;（3）不同属性的洞穴旅游从业者安全认知度存在一定差异;（4）不同洞穴旅游从业者的安全认知度存在一定差异。基于洞穴旅游从业者的安全认知,可采取如下措施提高洞穴旅游安全管理水平:加强对洞穴旅游从业者的安全教育培训,提高安全意识;提升洞穴旅游景区（点）的安全管理水平,增强执行力度;建立健全洞穴旅游安全控制、预警和救援制度,切实保障旅游。      

重庆芙蓉洞上覆基岩、土壤元素分布特征及其对洞穴滴水水化学影响

通过对重庆芙蓉洞上覆基岩和土壤中元素分布特征以及表层岩溶泉水、土壤渗透水和洞穴滴水水化学特征的系统监测,发现Ca2+、Mg2+、Sr2+和SO42-在表层岩溶系统的基岩、土壤、水(土壤渗透水和洞穴滴水)三大载体的运移过程中发生了明显分异。Ca2+、Mg2+和Sr2+在基岩中平均质量比分别为239949ppm、129607ppm和123ppm,在土壤中分别为37458ppm、28360ppm和49ppm,土壤渗透水中分别为25.55mg/L、11.04mg/L和0.026mg/L,而在洞穴滴水中分别为64.37mg/L、37.87mg/L和0.044mg/L。Ca、Mg和Sr在土壤剖面中表现出明显的淋溶和淀积作用,其元素含量高低直接影响土壤渗透水元素含量;基岩的元素含量主导了土壤各层位、土壤渗透水及滴水中元素含量。不同滴水点的水其运移的路径、时间和环境条件不同,因此在利用洞穴次生化学沉积物元素地球化学特征来反映洞外环境变化时,需综合考虑各元素在岩-土-水中的分布迁移特征及其与环境因素的相互关系。      

中国旅游洞穴景区（点）的统计分析

通过中国洞穴数据库、中国各省市旅游景区名录、同程旗下网站（www.17u.net）和欣欣旅游网（www.cncn.com）下属的洞穴旅游专栏以及其他相关网站、报刊等途径获得中国大陆旅游洞穴的相关数据,对中国旅游洞穴的数量、质量、开放时间、空间分布、开发主题、门票价格等进行统计分析,结果发现:截止2016年7月,中国大陆地区拥有旅游洞穴景区（点）708个,其中,旅游洞穴景区364个,旅游洞穴景点344个,除宁夏和上海外,在其余29个省级行政区均有分布;现有A级旅游洞穴景区177家;以旅游洞穴景区作为重要组成部分的世界自然遗产有2处,世界地质公园有6处,国家地质公园有24处,国家级风景名胜区有26处;中国旅游洞穴景区（点）开放时间主要集中于20世纪70年代以来的40多年间,尤以1980—2008年间开放的最多,年际差异性较小;受岩溶地质背景的区域差异和社会经济发展水平的双重影响,中国旅游洞穴景区（点）较为集中地分布于西南、中南、华南、华东地区,在省际间空间上呈凝聚态势;中国旅游洞穴景区（点）的开发主题主要涉及地质观光、历史遗迹、宗教活动、科普教育、医疗保健、地下漂流等类型;中国5A、4A、3A、2A级旅游洞穴景区的平均门票价格分别为129元、86.16元、53.09元、37.19元,高于非洞穴类同类A级旅游景区。      

本溪水洞洞穴空气CO2浓度与温、湿度的空间分布和昼夜变化特征

洞穴空气CO2浓度是影响洞穴次生化学沉积物沉积和溶蚀的重要因素之一。基于对本溪水洞洞穴空气CO2浓度、温度和湿度连续两个昼夜的系统观测结果,结合洞外大气CO2浓度、温度和湿度数据,初步分析了本溪水洞洞穴空气CO2浓度空间分布特征和昼夜变化规律：（1）洞穴空气CO2浓度自洞口开始快速增高至一定深度后趋于稳定,这个快速升高的距离与不同季节洞穴交换能力有关,秋季大约是370 m。洞穴CO2浓度稳定区的空间差异可能主要与洞穴结构和裂隙发育情况有关,在洞体变小的倚天长剑景点附近出现峰值,而在洞体变大的石瀑布景点和游客无法进入的源头区出现低谷。（2）观测期间,洞穴空气CO2浓度总体上呈递降趋势,基本上与游客数量有关。（3）在洞穴空气CO2浓度急剧上升的近洞口段,洞穴空气CO2浓度每个昼夜出现两个峰值,分别对应正午12时和午夜前后。本溪水洞洞穴空气CO2浓度的这种变化特点,受游客与工作人员的呼吸排放和洞穴与大气间的气体交换作用的双重影响。     

海平面周期性升降变化与岩溶洞穴层序次关系探讨

层序地层学理论为全球或跨地区的等时地层对比提供了理论和技术方法,它对洞穴层的跨地区对比及序次分析同样适用。从洞穴层的发育期总是与水平面稳定期对应关系出发,通过水平面周期性升降变化与岩溶洞穴层序次关系研究,探索层序地层学与岩溶学交叉学科研究领域中的一些基本问题。认为同一个水平面稳定期发育的所有水平洞穴可形成一个跨地区对比的洞穴层,岩溶旋回应包括侵蚀基准面上升和下降两种旋回,在海平面的间歇性上升(或下降)过程中可以发育多个水平洞穴层及下老上新(或上老下新)的洞穴层序列。在总结前人研究成果及美国YATE油田、四川峨眉山剖面、塔河油田实例分析基础上,概括了3种受海平面间歇性上升(或下降)变化控制的洞穴层序次模式,包括层序地层内部同生期岩溶形成的下老上新的洞穴层序次,以及碳酸盐岩陆块近地表风华壳岩溶形成的上老下新和下老上新的洞穴层序列。利用塔河油田早海西期古岩溶地质条件、洞穴充填结构等直接和间接证据,求证该洞穴系统的洞穴层序次,指出该特大洞穴系统为晚泥盆-早石炭世海平面间歇性上升过程中形成的下老上新的洞穴层序列,并由此推测塔里木盆地早海西期大规模岩溶的时代。指出利用水平洞穴层同时期形成的沉积地层等地质体可以确定洞穴层的形成年代,预测洞穴的发育分布。     

贵州绥阳双河洞国家地质公园洞穴基本特征及成因探讨

106地质大队于1959～1960年曾对双河洞石膏矿进行过地质勘查。1986年～2006年4月,先后有中、法、日等国专家19次进双河洞考察,初步查明了该洞总长度为105.7km,是亚洲第二长洞,在世界上排名第16位。该洞不仅规模宏大,网络复杂,且有一定数量的次生淋滤型石膏矿分布,成为国内外罕见的独特洞穴景观。双河洞自2004年荣获国家地质公园称号以来,已引起国内外专家的广泛关注。该洞的形成,与该区域大范围内下寒武统清虚洞组上部至中寒武统平井组下部白云岩中,含大量硬石膏层有着密切的成因联系。     

Stratigraphy,sedimentary development and palaeoenvironmental context of a naturally accumulated pitfall cave deposit from southeastern Australia

McEachern's Deathtrap Cave (G—49/50) is located in the Lower Glenelg region of southeastern Australia and records a Late Pleistocene to Holocene sedimentary record that has been directly influenced by surface processes during its formation. The sedimentary sequence contained within the cave is divided into lower, middle and upper sequences consisting of eight facies. The lower sequence represents the earliest phase of sedimentation, and groundwater fluctuations during the Last Interglacial period resulted in its erosion and redistribution deeper into the cave system. A decrease in the magnitude and frequency of flood events in the cave during the formation of the middle sequence indicates increasingly drier surface conditions prior to the Last Glacial Maximum. The middle sequence has a minimum age of 9840 ± 290 a BP. Moving sand sheets during the Last Glacial blocked the entrance to the cave allowing flowstones to develop on the cave floor. The surface environment surrounding the cave was probably not as dry as contemporaneous inland sites because sedimentation continued to be dominated by flowing water during this period. Holocene sedimentation is represented by the upper sequence and reflects wetter cave conditions between 7680 ± 160 a BP and 5700 ± 110 a BP. A major phase of sediment accretion occurs after 5700 a BP and correlates to a phase of dune instability in the Lower Glenelg region. Flowing water remodelled the sediment cone sometime after 2240 ± 100 a BP, which represents a period of increased surface runoff, although it is not clear whether this is due to climatic or anthropogenic influences.     

Variable temperature and moisture conditions in Yungang Grottoes,China, and their impacts on ancient sculptures

Deterioration of grottoes induced by the negative impacts of the variable temperature and moisture conditions has been an important issue in the conservation of heritage sites in China. In this case study, the spatial distributions and varying patterns of moisture and temperature in the caves of Yungang Grottoes, China, were investigated. The relative air humidity was approximately 100 % in the deep zone of the unsaturated surrounding rocks of the grottoes where the temperature remained almost steady at around 9.4 °C. However, the indoor air temperature, relative humidity, and rock surface temperature in the caves varied significantly because of the active exchange of the air with the outside atmosphere. The condensation water appeared on cave walls in the summer when the dew point in the air was higher than the rock surface temperature. Preliminary assessments with a special collection device indicated that the thickness of the transient condensation water could reach 0.03–0.10 mm on the back wall of a cave. The occurrence of this condensation water is expected to worsen salt deterioration of the sculptures in the grottoes. As revealed by long-term observations, a wooden building in front of a cave can weaken the indoor air temperature fluctuation and reduce the condensation water, and consequently, prevent the negative effects of the microclimate for the sculptures.     

北京石花洞结构特征及发育演化过程研究

北京石花洞是中国北方已探明洞穴中次生碳酸盐沉积规模最大、种类最丰富的洞穴;石花洞的景观美学价值和科学价值,在我国北方岩溶洞穴中占有重要地位。2013年7月,为了获取石花洞发育规模、空间结构等基本数据,采用国际通用洞穴测量方法,运用激光测距仪、罗盘和倾角仪,辅以Onstation洞穴绘图软件和ArcMap10软件对石花洞洞穴开展了全面的调查和测绘。结果显示:(1) 石花洞洞穴系统整体呈北西西-南东东向展布,长度为5 639 m,洞底投影面积为37 096 m2,洞底高差为172 m,洞内最高点海拔约为265 m,最低点海拔约为93 m。洞穴系统的发育演化主要受地层产状与北东向和北西向两组断层控制;(2) 石花洞洞穴系统分为五层,自上而下,各层洞道平均海拔依次为249 m, 211 m, 154 m, 111 m和95 m;(3) 最底第五层季节性地下河洞道长1 638 m,自西北向东南方向贯穿整个洞穴系统,依干湿季水文条件的差别,地下水以季节性涨落为主要特征,有多段有水通道;地下河道下游末端为叉状河道,崩塌明显,洞壁上无明显流纹发育;(4) 综合石花洞地下河走向和流向、洞穴发育控制因素和区域地层产状特征、石花洞与周边洞穴的空间位置关系,推测孔水洞是石花洞洪水期的排泄口。