Caves and Karst of the Upper Midwest, USA, 1st ed. 2021 Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin Cave and Karst Systems of the World Series

This book discusses the karst and pseudokarst of the Upper Midwest, USA, consisting of the states of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Illinois?the first regional synthesis in 40 years. Starting with an overview of the regional geology of what is largely glaciated fluviokarst and paleokarst developed on Paleozoic carbonates, but including other lithologies such as the St. Peter Sandstone and the Ft. Dodge Gypsum, the caves, springs, sinkholes, and karst hydrogeology of each state are described. Special attention is devoted to the region?s longest caves: Coldwater Cave, Mystery Cave, and the Minnesota Cave Preserve caves. Application of tools such as data loggers and LiDAR, with new conceptual models such as hypogenic speleogenesis, has been transformative here. Special topics include lead and zinc mining in the Driftless Area, vertebrate and invertebrate cave fauna near the Laurentide ice limit, the impact and policies of nutrient and herbicide intensive modern agriculture on karst, and paleoclimate studies. The discovery, exploration, institutional history of caving organizations, and show caves of the Upper Midwest, from the year 1700 onwards, are brought up to date. The top 10 historical paradigms of cave and karst science in the Midwest are reviewed. Perspectives on paleontology, archeology, and Native American rock art are included.

Discusses the environmental problems faced by modern society in these fragile landscapes, providing a guide to citizens and legislators

Serves as the first comprehensive book dedicated to karst of the Upper Midwest, USA, helping to bridge the gap in coverage between states with common borders

Presents the widened use of the word karst in areal and stratigraphic contexts, to help readers understand more generally about what it means to study karst

Outlines the reinterpretation of some widely held beliefs about Midwestern karst features

Describes some of the Midwest’s remarkable pseudokarst caves

Offers special sections on the detailed history of some of the topics covered