Hypogenic caves, linked to carbonate rock dissolution due to CO₂- and H₂S-rich ascending deep waters, represent more than 10% of karstic networks worldwide; a proportion that increases as these systems are better constrained. However, interaction between hypogenic and epigenic processes is still poorly understood, especially since the subsequent invasion of surface water often obliterates the morphological and mineral markers of hypogenic activities. The Ariège Valley (French Pyrenean foothills) hosts significant karstic networks epigenically reworked by several episodes of glacier meltwater penetration during the successive coverage of Quaternary icefields. Among these karstic systems, the Vapeur and Ermite caves were probably initiated by a hypogenic component during the Miocene. In particular, multiple-S, Sr, H, C, and O isotopes of thermo-mineral waters and calcite-sulfate speleothems confirm that hydrothermal fluids reached the caves, and subsequently interacted with Quaternary glacial epigenic phases. Deep fluids conveyed CO₂ and H₂S, both produced from the thermochemical reduction of Triassic evaporites at depth. H₂S oxidation and CO₂ hydration in the cave atmosphere, above the water table, created sulfuric and carbonic acids responsible for an intense karstification. Interpretation of isotopic data, together with a geomorphological, mineralogical and textural study of cave minerals, allow us to propose a speleogenetic model in which the respective impact of epigenic and hypogenic processes was driven by base-level changes during successive Quaternary glacial/interglacial epochs: (i) during glacial periods, invasion of glacier meltwater within the karst led to the dilution of the hydrothermal water, and was responsible for an “epigenic mechanical-dominant” speleogenesis through water-related abrasion; (ii) interglacial epochs were marked by base-level drops and the establishment of a vadose domain in caves, favoring the widening of karstic conduits through carbonic and sulfuric acid condensation-corrosion during thermal water degassing. This “hypogenic chemical-dominant” speleogenesis was active until a new advance of glaciers, and this cycle occurred several times.

低产洞穴，与由于CO _2-和H ₂引起的碳酸盐岩溶解有关富含S的上升深水，占全球岩溶网络的10％以上；随着这些系统受到更好的约束，该比例将增加。但是，关于亚生过程和表观生化过程之间的相互作用仍然知之甚少，特别是因为随后对地表水的入侵经常消除了亚生活动的形态学和矿物标记。在第四纪冰原的连续覆盖期间，Ariège谷（法国比利牛斯山麓地区）拥有重要的岩溶网络，这些岩溶网络在表观上因冰川融水渗透的几次事件而被改造而成。在这些岩溶系统中，Vapeur和Ermite洞穴可能是由中新世期间的一个次生成分引发的。特别是多个S，Sr，H，C，矿物热水和方解石-硫酸盐蛇鞘石的O和O同位素证实，热液流到达了洞穴，随后与第四纪冰川表观生相相互作用。输送CO的深层流体₂和H ₂ S都由深部三叠纪蒸发物的热化学还原产生。在地下水位上方的洞穴大气中，H ₂ S的氧化和CO _2的水合作用产生了硫酸和碳酸，导致强烈的岩溶作用。同位素数据的解释，再加上洞穴矿物的地貌，矿物学和质地研究，使我们能够提出一个造山学模型，其中表生和下生过程的各自影响是由连续第四纪冰川/间冰期的基础水平变化驱动的： （i）在冰川期，岩溶内的冰川融水的入侵导致了热水的稀释，并导致了通过与水有关的磨损实现“表观机械优势”的成虫作用；（ii）冰川间期的特征是碱位下降和在洞穴中形成渗流区，这有利于热水脱气过程中碳酸和硫酸的凝结腐蚀导致岩溶导管的拓宽。这种“低化学性占主导地位”的成虫作用很活跃，直到冰川出现新的进展，并且该循环发生了数次。