pavement karst

Pavement karst is a geological formation characterized by exposed, barren carbonate rocks that have undergone weathering and erosion by underground water. This type of karst terrain typically lacks surface streams and lakes, with features such as caves and sinkholes being common. Pavement karst often develops in high-latitude and alpine regions where glaciation has removed soil and weathered rock, exposing the bedrock to direct rainfall and meltwater. This process leads to differential solution, creating small landforms collectively known as karren, which include widened joints, runnels, and residual pinnacles. The term "karst" itself originates from the Karst region in Slovenia and is now used globally to describe areas with similar geological features resulting from the dissolution of soluble rocks like limestone.12