Caves and potholes in the Cingles d'Arbolí geological unit

The Cingles d'Arbolí are a karst relief unit located in the Prades sector, between Baix Camp and Priorat, within the Serralada Prelitoral. The catalogue records 18 cavities: 16 caves and 2 pits, with a total passage of 1132 m and a maximum depth of 28 m. The lithologies present are limestone, in 14 cavities, and sandstone, in 4.

Among the cavities most notable for passage length are the Coves del Rufino, with 430 m and five entrances at Arbolí; the Avenc dels Ossos, with 165 m of passage and 23 m of depth, with four entrances at Cingle Blanc; the Cova de l'Aleu, with 109 m at Cingle Blanc d'Arbolí, with 4 known entrances and an inventoried prehistoric site; the Cova del Cingle del Bodro, with 92 m on the left bank of the Siurana river; and the Cova de la Dou, with 77 m at Arbolí, of archaeological interest, discovered in 1934 and explored in 2014.

As for depth, the deepest cavities are the Coves del Rufino, with 28 m; the Avenc dels Ossos, with 23 m; the Cova de l'Aleu, with 18 m; the Cova de Porta-lloret, with 17 m and 72 m of passage on the left bank of the Siurana river, at Cornudella de Montsant, discovered in 1934 and excavated until 1952; and the Cova del Cingle del Bodro, with 11 m.