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Geologic Constraints And Speleogenesis Of Cova Des Pas De Vallgornera, A Complex Coastal Cave From Mallorca Island (Western Mediterranean), Joaquín Ginés, Joan J. Fornós, Angel Ginés, Antoni Merino, Francesc Gràcia

International Journal of Speleology

The flat areas of eastern and southern Mallorca host a remarkable coastal karst, where Cova des Pas de Vallgornera stands out due to its length (more than 74 km) and its special morphological suite. The pattern of the cave is quite heterogeneous showing sharp differences produced by the architecture of the Upper Miocene reef: spongework mazes and collapse chambers dominate in the reef front facies, whereas joint-guided conduits are the rule in the back reef carbonates. Regarding the speleogenesis of the system, a complex situation is envisaged involving three main agents: coastal mixing dissolution, drainage of meteoric diffuse recharge, and …