Sediment studies in Joint Hole, Chapel-le-Dale, North Yorkshire, United Kingdom

Observation and analysis of the sediment covering an area of the floor in the main passage of Joint Hole, a flooded cave system in the Yorkshire Dales, has revealed a two-fold division of the deposits. The lower division of pale-coloured, clay grade, material consists of calcite and quartz. The upper division consists of sand, gravel and coarser grade material with clasts, both covered with and cemented by dark friable iron rich material. An origin as glacial rock flour associated with active glacier ice and washed into the cave is proposed for the clay grade material, whereas the overlying coarser material has been emplaced in the cave during a time of increased water flow, possibly associated with deglaciation.