PATTERN AND ANTIQUITY OF SINKHOLES ALONG AN ALLUVIATED KARSTIFIED VALLEY: FRIARS HOLE, WEST VIRGINIA.
Abstract
Along the valley floor a series of limestone inliers are exposed, where streams sink into an extensive cave system. Once abandoned by sinking streams, the alluvial flood-plains which shroud the limestone are progressively dissected by sinkhole development. Solution sinkholes have developed away from the valley sides, while suffosion sinkholes have developed close to the valley margins. It has been possible to correlate valley abandonment with underground passage development, and hence the antiquity of the sinkholes has been established.