EL KARST LITORAL EN EL LEVANTE DE MALLORCA

This thesis deals with the study of littoral karst in the eastern half of Mallorca island, by means of a cross-disciplinary approach that takes into account both the different aspects of its surface modelling and the singularities of the rich endokarst existing in this area. The subterranean phenomena in the island are studied from a genetical point of view, describing at the same time the differential characteristics of endokarst in the two natural regions involved in the studied area. The attention has been principally focused on the numerous cavities of the last mentioned karst region, which outstands due to the richness and peculiarities of its natural caves. The investigations have been specially addressed to analyze the interferences between endokarstic modelling and littoral dynamics, supplying new data about a very variegated subjects assemblage. The topics that are discussed cover from geochemical and speleogenetical aspects in coastal carbonate aquifers to abundant examples of mixed cavities which are karstic-marine, paying particular attention to the infillings existing in coastal caves.