ABSTRACT: Alpine karst systems at Crowsnest Pass, Alberta-British Columbia

CGRG Bibliography of Canadian Geomorphology
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Abstract

Crowsnest Pass is a deep E-W breach through a westerly dipping thrust plate of massive platform limestones that contains one major aquiclude stratum. Preglacial drainage was karstic, strike-oriented to the Pass in separate systems above and below the aquiclude. Alpine glacial cirque and trough valley entrenchment has disordered the aquifers. In different catchments there is now karst drainage down dip, against dip, aslant strike, or surface drainage. Karstic strike drainage survives where hydraulic gradients exceed 1:15. The aquiclude is breached at one side. Caves and other karst features are abundant at all elevations between the mountain crests and the floor of Crowsnest Pass. Passage fragments close to crest elevations rarely retain more than 100 m of gallery length. Larger fragmented cave systems at intermediate elevations may attain an aggregate gallery length of 5 km and a depth in excess of 300 m; these are fossil phreatic loop complexes which may channel small quantities of vadose invasion water today. Modern active cave systems, which are largely inaccessible, are known by their springs or function as flood overspill channels. Regional prediction of karstic flow in alpine terrains is problematic; simple model predictions are unlikely to apply

Bibliography of Canadian Geomorphology