Marble Caves Geology

The marble arch caves were formed in limestone rock when water flowing through the rock slowly dissolved it away to leave the chambers passages and systems.

Marble caves geology.

The marble chapel capilla de mármol is located in the commune of chile chico in port calm puerto tranquilo. The marble arch caves global geopark contains some of the finest landscapes in the north of ireland. Marble caves one of the most isolated natural treasures of the world the marble caves capillas de mármol are a series of sculpted caves in the general carrera lake in the heart of patagonia. The marble caves is geological formation of unusual beauty.

The geopark features various sites which demonstrate the geological and wider natural heritage of the area as well as the cultural heritage relating to 7 000 8 000. About the marble caves geology. The marble caves is a group of caves made of marble situated in the chile portion of the general carrera lake in south america. In its pure form marble is a white stone with a crystalline and sugary appearance consisting of calcium carbonate caco 3 usually marble contains other minerals including quartz graphite pyrite and iron oxides these minerals can give marble a pink brown gray green or variegated coloration.

Marble caves is also known as marble caverns as well as marble cathedral and marble chapel although these terms may refer to particular formations in the area. Ranging from rugged uplands lakes and forests through to gently rolling drumlins the landscapes of the geopark represent a complex earth history dating back as far as 895 million years ago. Over 6 200 years the huge marble deposits on the edge of the general carrerra lake have been worn away by the water creating caves tunnels and huge columns of pure marble. The cathedral the chapel and the cave are the three formations that make up this natural spectacle that will certainly leave you breathless.

The marble caves are a natural albeit fantastical geological formation. This cave system located in the center of general carrera lake was formed around 6 000 years ago by the relentless action of the lake s waves. The marble arch caves are just one of the numerous extensive cave systems found within the surrounding area. Marble is a metamorphic rock formed when limestone is subjected to high pressure or heat.

The existence of caves in this region is attributed to the underlying geology. The marble arch caves global geopark straddles the border between northern ireland and the republic of ireland it is centred on the marble arch caves and in 2001 it became one of the first geoparks to be designated in europe. Limestone forms the bedrock of most of the middle slopes of cuilcagh mountain and it is in these rocks that the large number of caves in the geopark including the marble arch caves are found. The limestone is often full of fossils representing sea creatures that lived in these shallow seas all those millions of years ago.