Karsts des calcarénites de la carrière du Romont (Eben – Belgique)

Th e quarry of Romont (Eben/Bassenge, near the Belgian-Dutch border) intersects many endo and exokarsts developing essentially in coarse chalk (calcarenites) of the Maastricht Formation (Upper Cretaceous). It is an appropriate place to study deep and superficial karstification in highly porous rocks. Th e porosity partially inhibits the further development of closed caves (endokarsts) aft er they dewatered. Caves are later fi lled-up by collapsing or when they are cut by solution pipes (exokarsts), and thus partially sealed and preserved in a soft lithology. Th ese solution pipes are generated under river gravels and can go tens of meters deep through calcarenites.