Resumen de Cave development within a paleosol breccia in the dolomitized Seroe Domi Formation, Aruba, Lesser Antilles
Jonathan Sumrall, Jeanne L. Sumrall, Ryan W. Travis
Payoff Cave, found within dolomitized sections of the Seroe Domi Formation on Aruba, provides a set of diagenetic observations unique to island karst. Paleosol breccia found as wall and ceiling rock and as bedrock pillars within Payoff Cave was determined to be low-Mg calcite in mineralogy with clasts of dolomitized host limestone. Payoff Cave is interpreted to be a flank margin (FM) cave based on morphologic features. The relevant diagenetic history of this section of the Seroe Domi is: (1) dolomitization and initial cave formation, (2) collapse and paleosol breccia formation within the initial cave, (3) reoccupation of the mixing zone to form a new FM cave within the more soluble calcitic paleosol breccia, and (4) cliff retreat and exposure of Payoff Cave as found today. Dolomitization, karstification, and the presence of a paleosol breccia combine in a complex diagenetic history on Aruba.
