Hidden Earth 2018

Caving in the Chalk

30 minute Lecture|Dr Andrew Farrant

Abstract

Caving in the Chalk.

The Upper Cretaceous Chalk of southeast England is not renowned as a major caving area, although it hosts numerous karst features including numerous stream sinks and some of the largest karst springs in the country. Yet just across the Channel, the Chalk does host several significant cave systems, and some impressive underground quarries. This talk will discuss the caves and karst of the Chalk, both in southeast England and in the Pays de Caux, Normandy, and highlight the reasons for the relative lack of Chalk caves in southern England.