08623 - Speleology

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course the student will have the elementary knowledge to understand the evolution of caves and the karst landscape and to describe the typical erosional and depositional morphologies.

The student will be able to: - recognize the main speleogenetic mechanisms active in carbonate caves and other types of caves; - recognize the processes and the mechanisms that bring to and cause the evolution of the main corrosive and erosional hypogean landforms; - recognize and define the genesis of the main types of speleothems.

Course contents

Cave morphology

Karst geomorphology

Hydrogeology of carbonate aquifers

Speleothems

Speleogenesis

Readings/Bibliography

Powerpoint and library F. Anelli

Teaching methods

For logistical reasons the course has a limited number of students (16 students). This is why it is important to contact the professor in advance to indicate your intention to participate. In the case of excess numbers, the group of students will be chosen based on the exams obtained up to 30 October of the academic year of reference (weighted average of marks), drawing from separate lists of geologists and naturalists, and any other degrees

The course will develop with 8 hours of lectures in the room, and 60 hours of field activities, in weekends, and during a field expedition of several days. The locations change from year to year, but always combine caves with high geo diversity.

The field work comprises overnight camps, travel, and group logistics entirely covered by the students and the teacher.

The activities are carried out in simple caves, and are entirely covered by insurances.

Assessment methods

Report on the camp, individual behavior during the camp, and field notes (notebook)

Teaching tools

Material of the Speleological Documentation Centre of F. Anelli, Bologna.

Online material

Office hours

See the website of Jo Hilaire Agnes De Waele