Geological research
Geological research in caves s necessary mainly from the reason of cognition of complex natural settings of underground spaces (determining cave values), knowing the rules of natural processes from the viewpoint of an effective cave protection (especially hydrogeological, tectonic and stratigraphic settings), cognition of cave and surrounding territory genesis as well as from the viewpoint of safe movement of visitors in cave. The caves and abysses particularly often replace financially demanding geological drill holes.
The geological research of caves was accomplished in the past mainly within the speleological surveys and was reduced to description of rock environment and tectonic settings. During the recent years the Slovak Caves Administration provided for a stratigraphic-lithological research of the Domica Cave and Ochtinská Aragonite Cave, dating of cave sediments of various caves and observation of tectonic movements in selected caves. A geological research of the Bystrianska Cave was done in 2005.
