Field Site - geology and regional setting

The Kane Caves are located in the Bighorn Basin near Lovell, Wyoming, approximately 130 km east of 
Yellowstone National Park and 120 km north of Thermopolis, both areas known for geothermal activity. 
The Bighorn Basin contains extensive oil fields and thermal and non-thermal springs that discharge along 
the flanks of the basin. Anomalous thermal gradients of groundwater temperatures have been recorded 
throughout the region, as well. The Bighorn Basin is also known for karst development within the Madison 
Limestone. While most caves have had epigenic development, there are several caves that formed from 
a hypogenic speleogenesis, including the caves in this study. Across the Bighorn Basin near Cody, and 
near Jackson Hole, there are additional caves associated with possible sulfuric acid formation.

Location map of Kane Caves in  the Bighorn Basin. Map modified  from Egemeier (1981). The Kane  Caves System consist of several  caves, including Lower Kane, Upper  Kane, Hellspont, and Salamander  Caves.  All of the caves of the map are  managed by the Bureau of Land  Management, and permission  needs acquired to explore any  of them.              Geologic map of area

There are several hypotheses regarding the origin(s) of hydrogen sulfide in the Bighorn Basin. One 
suggests that the hydrogen sulfide is from deep-seated volcanism, similar to Yellowstone. However, it 
is not known whether the Yellowstone hotspot migration has extended far into the Bighorn Basin. Another 
hypothesis for the origin of hydrogen sulfide is from oilfield brine solution migration, resulting in a similar 
cave formation mechanism to those caves in the Guadalupe Mountains, New Mexico and Texas (Hill 
1996). The sulfide is most likely generated by sulfate-reducing bacteria in the deep basinal waters.  
Based on previous work, the areas with the highest sulfide concentrations are centered in small 
anticlines, such as Little Sheep Mountain and the anticlines near Thermopolis.  Presumably, sulfide 
can rise up at these structural features, where it can mix with meteoric waters and become oxidized. 

Last updated: 07/13/09. Images, maps, and other original material copyrighted by Annette Summers Engel, Baton Rouge, LA, USA.