List of projects Ph. H”uselmann

This list of projects only contains the larger and possibly scientifically more important projects. The mapping of several caves is not mentioned here.

Projects done (chronological order)

- Cave Inventory of the Laubloch area (1991-1998): The aim of the project was to get the inventory, which was published in 2000. Some results could be incorporated into the PhD thesis. (In collaboration with the HRH)

- Remapping of St. Beatus Cave (1993-1996): The aim of the project was to get an accurate map of St. Beatus Cave. During the mapping work, the geomorphology of the cave and her sediment contents were investigated. This work led to the PhD, and a monography about St. Beatus Cave is published in 2004. (In collaboration with the HRH)

- Diploma (1994-1997): "Zur Geologie des Val Vergeletto (TI)": Observation and interpretation of the tectonic situation, petrography of the different rocks, estimations about pressure and temperature of the eoalpine metamorphosis (Microprobe analysis and thermobarometric calculations), fluid inclusion studies on primary inclusions in garnets. (Supervised by Martin Engi and Larryn Diamond)

- Hydrogeology (1996): Organisation and execution of a tracing experiment in the region St. Beatus Cave-Gemmenalp (Bernese Oberland) to delimit the catchment of St. Beatus Cave towards the one of the RÈseau Siebenhengste-Hohgant. (In collaboration with the HRH)

- PhD (1998-2002): "Cave Genesis and its relationship to surface processes: Investigations in the Siebenhengste region (BE, Switzerland)":

With investigations in St. Beatus Cave, the neighbouring B”renschacht and other caves, the paleogeography of the prealps in the Lake Thun region was retraced. This work needed mapping of caves as well as detailed sedimentological and morphological studies within the caves. The result is a precise spatial and temporal succession of the valley deepening during the last 400'000 years. In parallel, the tectonic history of the Beatenberg was investigated. (Supervised by Michel Monbaron, Pierre-Yves Jeannin, on the board: Christian Schl¸chter, Stein-Erik Lauritzen, and Jean-Jacques Delannoy).

- PostDoc (2002-2003): Dating of the upper cave levels at Siebenhengste by cosmogenic isotopes. This work gives indications about the age of the caves, the rate of valley incision and therefore of the geomorphic evolution, and of the erosion rates in the Helvetic border chain. (In collaboration with Darryl Granger)

- Dating of the Granier Cave system in France (2004-2006): An interesting test to see if the results from the Siebenhengste are similar to the ones from France. They are Pliocene in age! (In collaboration with Fabien HoblÈa).

- Dating of the Grotta Masera in Italy (2005-2006): The cave is thought to have Pliocene sediments that came into the cave after the Messinian crisis. The sediment is too old to be dated correctly, but fits within the framework presented. (In collaboration with Alfredo Bini). Publication pending.

- Dating of Quaternary deposits (2004-2005): We dated the G¸nz and Mindel type localities using cosmogenic nuclides! G¸nz is older than previously assumed. The results are encouraging, although the absolute results are not perfect. (In collaboration with Markus Fiebig).

- Sedimentology of Ciclovina Cave (2005-2007): Phosphate-bearing Ciclovina cave is one of the very interesting caves of Romania. A diploma work has set up to investigate the mode and the spatial and temporal relationship of sediments. Its results are published. (In collaboration with Bogdan Onac).

- Remapping of Hagl”tsch Cave (1995-2009): Hagl”tsch Cave, situated near the Hohgant, is an ancient phreatic cave. Its spring is supposed to have been located in the northern flank of the Eriz Valley. Its genesis is similar to the one of the Siebenhengste labyrinth. The remapping work should clarify the genesis of Hagl”tsch Cave and the supposed link to the Eriz valley. The mapping is finished, the final drawing is still in wait. (In collaboration with the HRH)

- Cave Inventory of the Innerbergli (1976-2010): This project is successively inherited from the late Philippe Rouiller and Thomas Bitterli. The field work is completed, the inventory is also published. (In collaboration with the HRH).

- Relative Chronology and Paragenesis of Humpleu Cave (2008-2010): Diploma student Giorgiana Soit investigated the morphology of Humpleu cave to assess where paragenesis was active. This information gave indications whether the passage size would be more related to paragenesis or to the amount of water. Paragenesis seems to be of utmost inportance in this old cave.

- Refinement of the St. Beatus chronology (2004-2011): The aim is be to refine the ages obtained in the PhD by using U/Th with TIMS (or ICP). This work is done on some stalagmites form Excenter (St. Beatus Caves). In addition to measurements of stable isotopes, the climatic evolution of several interstadials and interglacials should be retraced. The publication is out. (In collaboration with Christoph Sp–tl).

- Modelisation of speleogenesis I (2006-2014): The well-known "four state model" of Ford & Ewers (1978) does not fit well to reality, and Derek Ford himself states that the model does not predict effective fissure frequency. Our idea is that variations in discharge condition whether looping caves or water table caves are created. Modelizations should enlighten if this is true. YES IT IS! (In collaboration with Franci Gabrovsek and Philippe Audra).

Projects presently active:

- Plio-Pleistocene valley deepening in the Eastern Alps (2007- ): Cosmogenic dating of Austrian and Slovenian caves allows a better idea on valley deepening processes, tectonic activity, and speleogenesis. The data are here, now we have to write. (with Markus Fiebig, Lukas Plan, Peter Pointner, Philippe Audra, and Andrej Mihevc).

- Modelisation of speleogenesis II (2006- ): Time-dependency of transition versus equilibrium. The findings in B”renschacht (PhD) indicate that the transition from one speleogenetic phase to the other is already completed, but equilibrium is not reached yet. A modelisation, taking into account the water chemistry and discharge, should be able to answer how much time is needed to reach equilibrium. (In collaboration with Franci Gabrovsek and Philippe Audra).

- Modelisation of speleogenesis III (2006- ): Normally it is assumed that abrupt valley deepening followed by stable conditions lead to speleogenetic phases, while slow and continuous valley entrenchment would lead to meanders incising down. Is this really true or can we get speleogenetic phases under steady deepening conditions? Modelizations will enlighten that topic. (In collaboration with Franci Gabrovsek and Philippe Audra).

- Modelisation of speleogenesis IV (2006- ): In recent years, the apparent deep flow paths observed or inferred in some caves were explained by Darcian flow laws or changes in viscosity. Another alternative solution is to assume that the deep caves are either hypogenic in origin or represent drowned vadose caves (as p.ex. Vaucluse). Modelization should clarify when and where deep loops may occur. (In collaboration with Franci Gabrovsek and Philippe Audra).

- Remapping of Humpleu Cave, Romania (2001- ): Humpleu Cave is a subhorizontal cave of huge dimensions. The ongoing remapping project allowed already to distinguish a genesis in distinct phases. These phases are best expressed near the spring and melt into each other upstream. Therefore, the cave might be an interesting case study for the creation of speleogenetic phases during an (assumedly) slow continuous lowering of the valley floor. In addition, ancient hydrothermal activity as well as a truncation of the original catchment area is supposed. (In collaboration with Bogdan Onac)

- Cave Inventory of Traubach-Gopital (1996- ): This project is inherited from the late Thomas Bitterli. Once the inventory is completed, we hope to have much better insight into that specific area and to the processes which governed the speleogenesis. Specifically, it is hoped to get information about the landscape during the early phases, when an allogenic fluviokarstic evolution is presumed. Tectonic investigations are also planned. (In collaboration with the HRH)

Projects (at least temporarily) abandoned

- FlinCalcite (1998- ): Several calcite crystals of presumedly hydrothermal origin have been collected in caves from Switzerland and France. The aim was to test if the approach using fluid inclusions in cave calcites is generally promising. The results are mixed, the work in progress will clarify its uses and indicate when a sampling for FLINC work makes sense. (In collaboration with B.A. Hofmann & F. HoblÈa)

- Bacterial investigations (2006- ): In two caves of the Siebenhengste areas, in B”renschacht and Kaltbach cave, material of presumedly bacterial origin has been found. In order to investigate if this assumption is true, and to determine the species of bacteria (or algae etc.), a microbiologist is currently working with the mats. There are bacteria! Work in progress... (In collaboration with Tanja Shabarova / Annette Summers Engel)