Limestone is slowly soluble in water. However, over millions of years large volumes of limestone are dissolved. Perhaps 25% of the 1700 foot thick Madison limestone has been removed. Madison limestone and Swiss cheese have one thing in common. They are both full of holes. Geological consequences of chemical dissolution of limestone. A very large collapse structure by Belt Butte. Panorama from the top of Belt Butte. Former caverns which have collapsed and are now filled. Three generations of cave formation. Spelunking to study a cavern which is currently open. (Tour of Dome Room in Lick Creek Cave.) Cave conservation. Local and regional flow of groundwater. The Madison limestone aquifer.
Terms defined and illustrated on the field trip include: karst, phraetic, vadose, speleothem, breakdown, lappies or solution domes, piezometric surface, hornfels, sill, laccolith, marble, normal fault.
This field trip was held 4 times in July and August of 1999. A guidebook was written for the
field trip participants.
References:
Berg, R.B., 1991, Field Guide to Belt Butte and Tiger Butte, in Baker, D.W. and Berg, R.B.,
Guidebook of the Central Montana Alkalic Province, Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology
Special Publication 100, p. 163-174.
Campbell, N.P., 1978, Caves of Montana. Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology Bulletin 105.
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