Understanding cave genesis along favourable bedding planes. The role of the primary rock permeability

Recent studies on the complex 3D geometry of large cave systems around the World allowed us to get statistical evidence of the inception horizon hypothesis. It clearly confirmed the idea that the development of karst conduits under phreatic conditions is strongly related to a restricted number of so called inception horizons. An inception horizon is a part of a rock succession that can favour the earliest cave forming processes (LOWE 1992).