Montana Cave Geology and More...

This site provides access to cave related geology interpretrations and cave resource assessments for many Montana caves.  Cave geology interpretations were researched and written by Hans Bodenhamer.  Resource assessmenrts were developed by his students.  In the photo above Bodenhamer stands atop the exokarst of the north cirque of Silvertip Mountain, the most cave dense area in the state.  Although some of the caves on the mountain probably predate glaciation, the exokarst is a relatively recent geologic feature which developed after the most recent Pleistocene glaciation.  Had the exokarst developed before glaciation, karren would have been scraped away or filled in by glacial till. Check out the next pages for more cave geology and information on other cave resources.  Photo by Ron Zuber.