Journal of Cave and Karst Studies - ISSN 1090-6924
Volume 66 Number 2: August 2004

A publication of the National Speleological Society

Landform Differentiation within the Gunung Kidul Kegelkarst, Java, Indonesia
Eko Haryono and Mick Day

Abstract

The Gunung Kidul karst is the western part (65%) of the larger Gunung Sewu (Thousand Hills) karst area, which is generally considered a type example of cone- or kegelkarst (Lehmann, 1936). This classification is an over-simplification, however, in that the karst landscape within the Gunung Sewu is considerably differentiated in terms of landform morphology and genesis. In the Gunung Kidul, this differentiation is evident from aerial photographs, which provide basic information about landform patterns, including lineament information. These observations were confirmed by field investigation, which incorporated landform measurement and acquisition of lithological information. These detailed studies distinguish three Gunung Kidul karst subtypes: labyrinth-cone, polygonal, and residual cone karst. The labyrinth-cone subtype occurs in the central Gunung Kidul karst where hard, thick limestones have undergone intensive deformation. Polygonal karst has developed in the western perimeter on hard but thinner limestone beds. The residual cone subtype occurs in the weaker and more porous limestones (wackestones or chalks), despite considerable bed thickness.

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