The creation of Cerovac caves is connected with the hydrogeological and geomorphological development of Gračačko polje, massif Crnopac and Zrmanja canyon. The waters that now plunge into Gračačko field (Otuča and Žižinka) have an underground flow and emerge to the surface through springs on the south side of Crnopac massif, in the valley of Zrmanja. Underground karst canals are formed by erosion corrosion activity of these watercourses. The relative altitude difference of Crnopac and Gračačko field has significantly changed in the last couple of millions of years. A former subterranean river created canals of Gornja Cerovac cave (and probably older ones on a higher level) with its corrosion and erosion activity. Due to the tectonic rise of Crnopac, subterranean waters plummeted to lower levels while the inactive canals were elevated to higher altitudes and above the level of the recently active, subterranean watercourses. The canals of the upper platform of Gornja cave, then the canals of Srednja cave and Donja cave and finally the lower levels of Gornja Cerovac cave were formed in this way. Subsequently, so-far the lowest known platform, lost its hydrogeological function of a karst conduit. Several precipices by the edge of Gračačko field now have this function. Cerovac caves represent several generations of caves in the subterranean part of Crnopac karst system. They are not active today and their functions were adopted by precipices by the south edge of Gračačko field on a lower altitude of about 550 meters. In the zone of 500 to 650 meters altitude, besides the canals of Cerovac caves, there is also the largest part of canals of the shaft Munižabe and a large part of canals that belong to the cave system Crnopac whose entrances are in the higher parts of Crnopac massif.

Altitude differences of Cerovac caves (GC1- Upper platform of Gornja cave, DC- Donja cave, GC2- Lower platform of Gornja cave; made by N. Bočić)