Atypical Cavern Development of the Secret-Bensons Cave System … · 2014-03-28 · ABSTRACT: A thin band of Late Silurian-Early Devonian rock stretches from the western part of New
1
ABSTRACT: A thin band of Late Silurian-Early Devonian rock stretches from the western part of New York State to the Hudson-Mohawk region, and extends southwards to Poughkeepsie. Secret Caverns, located 25 miles from Albany, is a nearly straight vadose-phreatic passage oriented 45° to the regional dip - without obvious structural or sedimentological control. The purpose of the study lay in defining the forces responsible for cavern development. Possible reasons for the observed trend of the cave were: 1) preferred water flow along existing joint sets 2) a fault running through the cave 3) a sedimentological confining layer 4) surficial geomorphological controls We currently believe that Secret Caverns may have formed as a result of surficial processes. Joint patterns in the vicinity (figure 1) do not parallel the stream passage, although there is some evidence that the entrance vadose passage may be joint controlled. Both thrust and normal faults are present in the region, but neither have been observed within the cave proper. Layers noted beneath the caverns floor were tested for solubility differences, and were found to be slightly less soluble, although not enough to act as a foci for cavern development. In the end, the most significant feature of the Secret Caverns / Benson system appears to be the large number of aligned domes that parallel the main passage (figure 2 and 3). We believe that these may have formed as a result of paleostream piracy or contact sink development. N '%60 R? &+3 1&-8',% 2& &:.-2&1'1 - 120+ .'0:@ 1 160 120+ 207*1 *-,% 9.-1 *'+12-, 1> (-',21 ', 2& 160 8'** .'02 2& 120+ 820@ &'1 *1 2- -+ 0--+ -0+3-,1 ',1' 2& 7@ &'1 8-6* 9.*', 2& -+1 ', 2& 7 ',% ', *',@ &'1 '+% '1 ',20&,%* 8'2& '%60 S 1 &:.-2&1'1 -0 7*-.+,2@ '%60 S? &+3 1&-8',% 2& &:.-2&1'1 - -,22 1',)1 1 2& 820 06,1 -! 2& *11 1-*6* *)0% *'+12-, , -,2- 2& +-0 1-*6* -:+,1 *'+12-,@ 1 2& 120+1 -+ ', -,22 8'2& 2& -:+,1 *'+12-,> '2 ",1 (-',21 ', 2& 0-) , %-1 6,0%0-6,@ & -+1 ** *', 6. *-,% 2& 7 .11% 61 2& 10.+,2 -7 %0-6, '1 8&0 ** 2& 120+1 -+ ', -,22 8'2& 2& -:+,1 , -+1 .'02 : 2& 7@ &'1 '+% '1 ',20&,%* 8'2& "%60 R 1 &:.-2&1'1 -0 7*-.+,2@ Atypical Cavern Development of the Secret-Bensons Cave System in the Manlius Formation, Schoharie County, NY KEEFER, Scott A, Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, SUNY College at Oneonta, Science Building 1, Ravine Parkway, Oneonta, NY 13820 BRUNSTAD, Keith A, Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, SUNY College at Oneonta, Science Building 1, Ravine Parkway, Oneonta, NY 13820 STANDER, Edward, J, Department of Sciences, SUNY College at Cobleskill, Wheeler Hall, 106 Suffolk Circle, Cobleskill, New York 12043 '%60 T? &+3 1&-8',% 2& %*'* 7, , 1&0',% -! 2& *)0% *'+12-, 10.+,2@ 1 2& %*'0 +-71 -70 2& 0> '2 .61&1 %*'* 3** -8, ',2- 2& 7 , "**1 2& -+1@ 60',% 2&'1 %*'* .0'- 2& 820 ', 2& 7 1*-8> *7',% *'2 .-1'21 -, 2-. - 2& 1'+,2@ -80 2& , - 2& %*'* +9> 2& 820 ', 2& 7 %',1 2- ',01 ', 7-*6+ , 7*-'2:> 0-',% 2& '*',% 8&'* ',% ',.* - 0+-7',% 2& *'2 -70 1'+,2@ &'1 * 2- 2& *1 .&03 261 -6, ', 2& 6..0 .-03-,1 - 2& 7@ 1 2& %*'0 *71> 2& 820 +-71 2&0-6%& 2& 7 0-',% ,: *'2 '2 , %2 6,0@ '%60 U? &+3 1&-8',% 2& 7,26* %*'* 0202> , 2& .01,2 : *,1.@ & %-+-0.&-*-%: &1 &,%> , 2& -+1 0 13** "** ', 8'2& %*'* 3**@ & 02 70,1 820** &1 ,8 1-60> 8&'& &1 0- -8, 2&0-6%& 2& 1'+,2 , -., 6. 2& 7@ *'2 0+,,21 13** 0+', -, 2& 8** 8'2& %*'* 1'+,2@ +**0> ,80 -,2+.-00: 0 .11%1 9'12 ,-8 1 2& 820 &1 -6, ,8 #-8 0-621@ & 02 70,1 .-, '1 2& , - ML)+ 18+. 8 0-+ 2& ,-02&@ & 7 820 &1 026, 2- 2& 7 #--0 1 +-7',% 820 , 2& -++0'*';3-, - 2& 7 ) ', 2& MUOLA1 &1 972 +-12 - 2& 1'+,2@ '%60 Q? &+3 1&-8',% 0701 7*-.+,2 - 2& 7 .11% ',*6',% .16-E.&03 &7'-0@ -3 2& 7 13-, 1&-8, -0+1 *-,% , ,*0% (-',2 8&'& '1 2&, "**> -70> 820 0- 2& *'+12-, -7> 6,3* 2& 7 '1 972 *20 -,@ Figure 1. (Bottom left) View of the Cobleskill/Schoharie quadrangle showing measured joint sets at 4 locations. The red triangle represents the three points where elevation was measured for strike-dip. For the rose diagrams, n=3. Figure 2: Cave map showing different geologic formation and features. Red circles show dome rooms. Green circles show occluded domes. RESULTS E-',2 121 70: 1*'%&2*: 28, & *-3-,@ E160+,21 + 2 2& 2&0 *-3-,1 1&-8 120') - UL< 12 , '. - 6 1-62&@ E07 *: , 0&:2&+'21 -6, ', 2& 7 &7 *:01 +'**'+201 2&')@ E2 81 *1- ,-2 2& 7 #--0 0-.. $0 & -+ 0--+@ E+**0 .11%1 0 0 .11%1 2- 2& +', -,6'2@ E,: 1+**0 .11%1 0 '2&0 206,2 : %*'* 3** -0 &-)@ E0% +-6,21 - %*'* 3** 0 13** .01,2 ', 2& 7@ E-+ -+ 1&. .11%1 0 "** 8'2& 3**@ EETT 1+.*1 1&-8 2& *'+12-, 2 .11% &'%&2 '11-*7 OLX 120 2&, *'+12-,1 - 2& 7 #--0@ DISCUSSIONS AND CONCLUSIONS E2 1+1 (-',21 - ,-2 &7 +(-0 '+.2 ', 2& 1&. , '03-, - 2& 7@ E20') , '. '03-, *1- - ,-2 1+ 2- -,20-**',% 2& 7 '03-,@ E07 *: , 0&:2&+'21 0 *) 1'+,21> 1- '21 .-11'* 2&'1 7 81 "** 8'2& 820 8'2& ,- -62*2> -0 2& -62*2 81 %*'* *) &-&0'@ E-+1 ',#69 - 820 021 +'9',% -00-1'-, ', 2& 7 *',% 2- +-0 %%011'7 82&0',%D0-1'-, - 2& *'+12-,@ E+**0 .11%1 0 -6, 2- *',) 2- 160 2601 -7 %0-6, , 0 37*: 20,1.-03,% 820 -8,80@ E+** .11%1 , -+1 & 3** -0 ', : %*'01 -0 20,1.-02 3** ',2- 2& 7 : 120+1 , "** 2&+1*71@ E01, - %*'* 3** 1&-81 -,1-*'3-,> , +-0 01'12,2 2- 0-1'-, E+** 0 .11%1 1&-8 1'%,1 - .*-)012 , 2&2 2& 7 ' ,-2 -0+ ** 2 -, 62 ', 12%1@ E7', - 1&'* %*'* 3** *',% 2- , 6..0 .&03 .11% 1&-8 2&2 2& 7-1 ,:-, -0+ "012> + "**> 2&, -0+ 2& .&03 13-,@ Figure 3. (Top) Map view of Secret Caverns (Mylroie, 1977) with added passages (2012). Profile below from lines X-X’ showing domes, ceilings, floor and ash layer. Letters on profile correspond to lettered pictures above (A-D). Red circles indicate dome locations. *Original measurements done by Mylroie were done in feet. A H (m) Ceiling Ash Layer Floor Unexplored Ceiling Ash Layer Floor Floor Unexplored FOR+G (m) H H H H H FOR+G METHODOLOGY ,1' 2& 7> 0-,,'11, 20'.1 80 + 2- ", ,: '13,%6'1& 2601 - 2& 71 7*-.+,2@ & 7 81 .0-"* +.. 61',% *73-, 2 0-+ 28- 0',3" +-* SRL *3+201> 602 2- Y MC F8&, -002 -0 0-+20' 70'3-,1G 0-+ 2& 6.120+ 02 70,1 ,20, 2- 2& 820**@ , - 2& *3+201 81 .* 2 2& 160 1 -,20-*> 8&'* 2& -2&0 81 0-6%&2 2&0-6%& 2& 7 2- +160 #--0> '*',%> , '13,2 1& *:0 *73-,@ +. + : *+0 , :*0-' FMUSSG 81 61 ', -,(6,3-, 8'2& 2& *73-,1 -6, ', 2& 7 2- +) .0-"* 7'8 - 2& .11%@ & +. ',*6 #--0 , 1& *:0 *73-, 2 8'2& 1-+ 13+2 &'%&2 +160+,21 6 2- ',-,1'12,: - '*',% 9.-160@ 1',% 2& .2& 0-+ 2& -:+,1E,*'61 -,22 2- 2& 1& *:0 8'2&', 2& 7> 8 0 * 2- ", 2& 1+ 8'2&', 2& ETT -620-. 812 - 9'2 NO@ & ETT B#--0C 1+.* 81 2), 8'2& ,-2&0 -+.0* *:0 -7 ..0-9'+2*: M +20 -7 , 0-6%&2 ) 2- 2& * 2- 212 -0 1-*6'*'2:@ & 1+.* 81 .* ', Q +-*@ *@ (-0 (-',2 121 , -0',23-, 80 +160 6,0%0-6, 61',% 06,2-, ORL< .-)2 20,1'2@ &'1 1+ +2&- 81 61 ', 2& 01 -621' 2& 7 ',*6',% > -*';;' 600: FG> @ & 2 81 2&, .*-5 -,2- -60 /6* 0 0-1 '%0+1 2- 1 *-* &,%1 ', (-',2 -0',23-,@ 20') , '. 80 -6, 61',% 0+', RN 6,'2> , 2& 0',3" *3+201 2 2&0 -7E%0-6, *-3-,1 F> > G 8&0 2& -:+,1E,*'61 -,22 81 9.-1@ FURTHER RESEARCH E'-+20' 3,% -, 7 -0+3-,1 -0 92 3+ - .-1'3-, , -00*2 8'2& %*'* 7,@ ED1'137'2: +160+,21 -, 160 2- *-2 60' 120+1> 160 161',> 1',)1@ EO +. 7 61',% ',--0 '> *3+20> , -+.11@ ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS E6,, 0> 0+: 0+'&') -0 &*.',% 8'2& "* 0-,,'11, E-0% &8 F,'-, -**%G -0 &*.',% 8'2& 7 1607:> 1206260> , -0+3-, E02 , % *+0> -&, :*0-' -0 %6',> .07'-61 8-0)> , 7' E+'*: 7'1 , 2& -*)1 2 2& , 02 70,1 -0 7 ,20, .0+'11'-, E2&: )0 , 2& %0,2 -++'5 -0 &*.',% 61 8'2& 7 %0 11'-, -@ MOEE--2&I QO M@ 012 10& , 2& 612',* 1 , ,%+,2 - 012 /6'01 F-1201G 6,:> NO 0& NLMP? T?LL EMN?LL -**% 2 ,-,2 :> 0& NR> NLMP
ABSTRACT: A thin band of Late Silurian-Early Devonian rock stretches from the western part of New York State to the Hudson-Mohawk region, and extends southwards to Poughkeepsie. Secret Caverns, located 25 miles from Albany, is a nearly straight vadose-phreatic passage oriented 45° to the regional dip - without obvious structural or sedimentological control. The purpose of the study lay in defining the forces responsible for cavern development. Possible reasons for the observed trend of the cave were: 1) preferred water flow along existing joint sets 2) a fault running through the cave 3) a sedimentological confining layer 4) surficial geomorphological controls We currently believe that Secret Caverns may have formed as a result of surficial processes. Joint patterns in the vicinity (figure 1) do not parallel the stream passage, although there is some evidence that the entrance vadose passage may be joint controlled. Both thrust and normal faults are present in the region, but neither have been observed within the cave proper. Layers noted beneath the caverns floor were tested for solubility differences, and were found to be slightly less soluble, although not enough to act as a foci for cavern development. In the end, the most significant feature of the Secret Caverns / Benson system appears to be the large number of aligned domes that parallel the main passage (figure 2 and 3). We believe that these may have formed as a result of paleostream piracy or contact sink development.
Atypical Cavern Development of the Secret-Bensons Cave System in the Manlius Formation, Schoharie County, NY KEEFER, Scott A, Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, SUNY College at Oneonta, Science Building 1, Ravine Parkway, Oneonta, NY 13820
BRUNSTAD, Keith A, Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, SUNY College at Oneonta, Science Building 1, Ravine Parkway, Oneonta, NY 13820 STANDER, Edward, J, Department of Sciences, SUNY College at Cobleskill, Wheeler Hall, 106 Suffolk Circle, Cobleskill, New York 12043
Figure 1. (Bottom left) View of the Cobleskill/Schoharie quadrangle showing measured joint sets at 4 locations. The red triangle represents the three points where elevation was measured for strike-dip. For the rose diagrams, n=3.
Figure 2: Cave map showing different geologic formation and features. Red circles show dome rooms. Green circles show occluded domes.
RESULTS
DISCUSSIONS AND CONCLUSIONS
Figure 3. (Top) Map view of Secret Caverns (Mylroie, 1977) with added passages (2012). Profile below from lines X-X’ showing domes, ceilings, floor and ash layer. Letters on profile correspond to lettered pictures above (A-D). Red circles indicate dome locations. *Original measurements done by Mylroie were done in feet.
