I am not a geologist but I have had a theory for the past 30 years about the passages in a large local cave system where the major cave passages follow underneath juniper-filled coulees on the surface. Pretty much where ever there is a shallow, juniper-filled coulee there is often a large cave passage underneath that runs parallel to it. I think that the junipers grow in the coulees because there is more water and that the coulees formed as the surface Madison limestone sagged plastically after the cave passages formed. With no solid base to support the surface only 30’ - 50' or so above the cave ceilings, I believe the surface limestone sagged and formed the coulees, the coulees provide drainage for surface water runoff, and the junipers grow where there is more water. In addition, I theorize that when a shallow coulee on the surface breaks into a walled canyon at its down-dip extent, the passage underneath ends at a rock collapse. I believe this is because the surface could no longer be supported by the void underneath. Over the millennia, the collapsed canyon’s soil and rock was washed into the nearby canyon gorge because there is more water flow on the surface than in the caves. The larger cave passages are about 100’ wide and are several hundred feet above the canyon gorge. The surface coulees are approximately the same width as the cave passages and best estimate are 4’ – 6’ feet below the surface plane.
Several of the old timers (some have passed on) think my theory is sound but we never had proof because no one took the time to do a surface survey. Now, with map digitizing and GE I can do the overlays with fair accuracy. I may still not have scientific proof, but I think I have pretty convincing anecdotal evidence.
Anyway, if you look at cave surveys overlaid on the surface my theory holds up pretty well even for smaller connections between large passages. One other thing I have noticed by using GE over the past several years is that quite often there are large round clumps of junipers, not always at a low spot. I have found overlay evidence that some of the round juniper clumps coincide with buddhas inside the caves similar to trees in the sinkholes in Minnesota.
Is there any scientific evidence or knowledge within the geology-trained group of cavers in the NSS that supports/disproves my theory? I have some of my cave friends that believe I am correct while others think I am not.