Iron springs, environmental changes, accelerated weathering and cave development in quartz sandstone in the Blue Mountains, New South Wales, Australia: preliminary studies

Abstract

After a series of extreme weather events (drought, bushfires and floods), iron flocs were seen at ephemeral springs in quartz sandstone in the Blue Mountains National Park, New South Wales, Australia. Naturally burnt areas allowed better viewing of small sandstone caves. This paper discusses some of the processes operating within the quartz sandstone, leading to the attractive and unusual shapes, and how extreme weather led to the mobilisation and redeposition of iron minerals.