Thesis (M.Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 2009. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 95-99).

published_or_final_version / Applied Geosciences / Master / Master of Science

Tafoni have been confusingly defined in many ways: variations in size, rock type, and forming mechanisms. This study addresses tafoni in Quaternary eolian carbonates to help better define the term. Large tafoni were differentiated from other coastal caves in the Bahamas, specifically flank margin and sea caves, using morphometric analyses. The differentiation is important as all three cave types form in the same area, but flank margin and sea caves can be used as paleo-sea level indicators, while tafoni cannot. Small tafoni show a growth rate of 0.022 m3/yr; and may amalgmate to form larger tafoni, which grew at 0.65 m3/yr. Petrographic analysis helped identify tafoniorming mechanisms; results revealed no evaporites present, removing crystal wedging as a mechanism, while indicating wind erosion as the primary mechanism. This analysis found significantly greater cements within the Holocene rocks compared to previous studies, and SEM analysis revealed organic cements preserved by oil-based cutting.

Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT) is a novel technique which can be used to build up a 2D pseudo-section of resistivity distribution of a porous material. Here, it is used to visualise internal moisture regimes by measuring the resistivity distribution of transects within sandstone, inferring that high resistivity equals low moisture content and vice versa. This method was used to perform two intermediate complexity laboratory tests; the first one to determine high-resolution, multi-scale drying patterns of sandstone, the second to determine capillary ingress of moisture within a sandstone block and the influence of temperature on moisture distribution. It was found that moisture behaviour showed far more complex patterns than previously acknowledged. A new model is therefore proposed which describes the influence of increased near-surface temperatures on capillary rise. This series of tests bridge the gap between field observations and mathematical models, as well as confirm the validity of ERT as a geomorphological tool. This research was continued by investigating the role of internal moisture in sandstone weathering using the Golden Gate Highlands National Park (GGHNP), South Africa as a case study. The ERT data was correlated with Equotip (rock surface hardness) and Protimeter (rock surface saturation) measurements. Seven sites were investigated, which showed that there is a non-linear correlation between rock surface hardness and internal moisture patterns. In addition, annual change measurements confirmed that the fluctuating patterns of internal moisture can be correlated to strengthening or weakening of the rock surface. This research therefore proposes two new conceptual weathering models. The first correlates ‘optimal moisture content’ to rock surface strength. The second correlates the development of shelters and changing weathering patterns to the non-linear interaction between case hardening and internal moisture. This new approach to sandstone weathering can be incorporated into conservation methods, as rock surface loss is one of the main causes of the San Rock Art deterioration observed in the GGHNP.

The thesis deals with moisture transport in porous medium of quartz sandstone. Capillary water and its movement is crucial for processes such as salt and frost weathering, growth of organisms and development of honeycombs and tafone. However, moisture transport is still not well described. I focused particularly on two new methods applied to sandstone investigation. In the laboratory I studied moisture transport in sandstone samples by means of repeated injection of uranine solution. I observed the evolution of evaporation front based on the changes in solution concentration indicated by difference in color of uranine solution. Additionally I investigated moisture content in the shallow subsurface of sandstone outcrops in the field using suction pressure and moisture content measurements by microtensiometers and TDR in three locations in the Bohemian Cretaceous Basin. Uranine proved to be an excellent tracer for visualization of the evaporation front geometry and its evolution in time. The results suggest that moisture transport is considerably affected by the presence of biofilms which are hydrophobic and retain moisture transport to surface. In addition, the values of suction pressure measured in honeycombs and a tafone are in agreement with the salt weathering model proposed by Huinink et al. (2004).

Thesis (M.S.)--Mississippi State University. Department of Geosciences. / Title from title screen. Includes bibliographical references.

The main goal of this thesis was to find and compare salt-forming ions from samples of a subsurface zone of sandstone and other porous rocks. The surveyed samples came from different environments (humid and arid climate) from different locations in the Czech Republic, Jordan and the United States of America. Identification of various types of salt was based on evaluation of chemical analyzes of leached samples. Furthermore a laboratory experiment in which I used a fluorescein dye to observe the capillary rise and evaporation in unsaturated samples of sandstone was carried out. The salt content in the Czech Republic humid environment locations is generally lower than the one in foreign arid climate locations. Halit dominates in the locations Petra and Crystal Peak. In the other locations sulphate minerals dominate. The salts containing aluminum - alums were determined in the Czech Republic in the area of Czech Paradise and the surrounding. Relatively high concentrations of nitrate mineral nitratine were identified in the Devil's Pulpit location in Pilsen, the Czech Republic. From the observation of capillary rising experiments performed with artificially created honeycombs, I conclude that the height of the capillary rise is crucial for the transport of solution, and at a certain capillary height,...

Abaco Island is located on Little Bahama Bank at the northwestern extent of the Bahamian Archipelago. Karst features on Abaco include: flank margin caves, karren, blue holes, pit caves, banana holes, and cone karst. As part of this study all known flank margin caves on Abaco were GPS located and surveyed. The presence and locations of the other karst features were recorded as part of the karst inventory of Abaco. The cone karst is of particular interest because cone karst has not been documented on other Bahamian islands. These cones form from the dissection of an eolianite ridge due to karst, fire, and vegetative processes. Tafoni-like recesses, originally believed to be high flank margin caves, were formed during cliffing of an eolianite ridge during the OIS 5e highstand. The geologic evolution of representative depositional sequences on Abaco fits within the accepted Bahamian stratigraphy.

Forms of cavernous weathering - tafoni and honeycombs - belong to long-term investigated and discussed phenomena in geology. The reason for the difference in size between few centimetres- long honeycombs and the several-metres-long tafoni has not been yet studied. In my master thesis I compared the hydraulic properties of rocks with developed honeycombs and tafoni. The research consists of field measurements (measurement of suction pressures and capillary water absorption using Karsten tube) and laboratory measurements on tafoni and honeycomb samples (retention curve measurement, capillary water absorption, water vapour diffusion rate and saturated hydraulic conductivity). I have been studing honeycombs from various sites in the Bohemian Cretaceous Basin and tafoni from three different sites: Carbon Arkoses near Kralupy nad Vltavou, Cambrian Sandstone in Petra (Jordan) and Tunnel Spring Tuff in Crystal Peak (Utah). The measurements showed that values of suction pressure are far higher inside tafoni than inside honeycombs. This observation corresponds to different retention curves of studied rocks: steeper retention curve for honeycomb's quartz sandstone than for fine-grained arkosic sandstones to arkoses with tafoni. In the other part of my research I have compared the properties of hydrophobic...