Cave & Karst Science (ISSN 1356-191X)

• The most recent issue to be published was 50(3)
• For further information, please see Publishing/Despatch Schedule
• Database last updated on Sun, 18 Feb 2024 09:37:35 +0000

Contents of Cave & Karst Science 43(1)

This page may take a few seconds to load. Please wait ...

Cave and Karst Science (iv + 48pp) (PDF 20.7MB)        Individual articles may be available below

GUNN, John and David LOWE (eds.). (2016). Cave and Karst Science 43(1). Buxton: British Cave Research Association. ISSN 1356-191X. iv + 48pp, A4, with photos, maps and diagrams.
This issue has a cover date of 2016 (April) and was published in April 2016.

The Transactions of the British Cave Research Association

Front cover photo (page i) (PDF 430KB)     

by Rossparry.co.uk / Ian WRAY.
The Malham Cove waterfall, Sunday 06 December 2015, captured by a drone-mounted camera. (See editorial comment in this issue).

 

Notes for Contributors (page ii) (PDF 256KB)     

 

Contents (p1) (PDF 408KB)     

 

Editorial (p2) (PDF 203KB)     

by John GUNN and David LOWE.

 

Charlie Self (1951–2016) (p3) (PDF 280KB)     

by Graham MULLAN.
Obituary.

 

Calcite straw stalactites growing from concrete structures (pp4-10) (PDF 1.2MB)     

by Garry K SMITH.
In this paper, the term 'calthemite' is used to encompass the various concrete-, mortar- or lime-derived secondary deposits consisting primarily of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) that grow from man-made alkaline structures outside the cave environment. Calthemites are very similar in composition and form to speleothems in limestone caves, but in concrete-derived straws carbon dioxide (CO2) is a reactant as opposed to a product. The growth rates and corresponding drip rates of four stalactite straws growing beneath a concrete building were recorded over a ten month period. The major influencing factors determining calcite deposition were the supply continuity of leachate and the drip rate. Growth rates up to two millimetres per day were recorded. Minute calcite rafts were observed and photographed on the solution drop surface. Sporadic movement of rafts around the drop surface (induced by air movement), is identified as affecting straw diameter and wall thickness. Deposition of CaCO3 straws derived from concrete is usually associated with hyperalkaline solution (pH > 9) as opposed to the near neutral pH to mildly alkaline solutions (pH 7.5–8.5) that commonly deposit speleothems.
This study was first presented at the 30th Biennial Conference of the Australian Speleological Federation Inc.,21–26 June 2015, Exmouth, Western Australia.
Classification: paper.
Date: Received: 13 July 2015; Accepted: 27 January 2016.
Keywords: concrete, straws, calcium hydroxide, calcium carbonate, calthemite, stalactite, pH, hyperalkaline, leachate.

Bibliograph: SMITH, Garry K. (2016). Calcite straw stalactites growing from concrete structures. Cave and Karst Science 43(1), pp4-10.

 

The mapping of Cango Cave, Oudtshoorn, South Africa (pp11-16) (PDF 1.7MB)     

by Stephen A CRAVEN.
An account is given of the several surveys and surveyors of Cango Cave dating from 1815 to 1978.
Classification: paper.
Date: Received: 14 December 2015; Accepted: 25 January 2016.
Keywords: Cango Cave, Polemann, Thom, Luttman-Johnson, Blacquiere, Harris.

Bibliograph: CRAVEN, Stephen A. (2016). The mapping of Cango Cave, Oudtshoorn, South Africa. Cave and Karst Science 43(1), pp11-16.

 

Tufa deposits at Inchrory and Glen Suie, Moray, Scotland (pp17-20) (PDF 1.3MB)     

by Trevor FAULKNER and Vanessa BRAZIER.
This observational article discusses the environmental history of the previously-reported large inactive spring-line tufa deposit at Inchrory in Moray, Scotland. An active cascade tufa deposit that is forming in the adjacent Marl Burn and other local or possible tufa deposits are also reported, together with previously unrecorded cascade tufa deposits in Glen Suie.
Classification: paper.
Date: Received: 03 September 2015; Accepted: 11 January 2016.

Bibliograph: FAULKNER, Trevor and Vanessa BRAZIER. (2016). Tufa deposits at Inchrory and Glen Suie, Moray, Scotland. Cave and Karst Science 43(1), pp17-20.

 

Maze caves of the Northern Pennines, UK (pp21-36) (PDF 3.3MB)     

by Tony HARRISON.
Maze caves have been known for many years in the Yoredale Group limestones of the Northern Pennines. There are at least 9 network maze caves with plan lengths exceeding 1km and having more than 10 loops, all but one accessed only via redundant mine levels. Two are currently inaccessible due to mine collapses. All are remote from modern surface features such as active or inactive watercourses, have a common lithostratigraphical setting, and display morphologies characteristic of caves formed by a transverse hypogenic speleogenetic process. The present study indicates that this mode of speleogenesis is a widespread regional phenomenon throughout much of the Northern Pennines. It is suggested that the formation of these caves has been assisted by an enhanced aggressiveness in the dissolving waters because of the nearby presence of mineral veins containing galena and other sulphide minerals (potential sources of sulphuric acid), although other sources of aggressiveness related to the rise of deep fluids cannot be dismissed. A number of smaller mazes or networks in the Northern Pennines may also have hypogenic origins, but others appear to be epigenic floodwater mazes. All network maze caves in the region are characterized by dominant systematic joint sets, normal to the bedding and near vertical, with typical trends of northwest–southeast, north–south, and westsouthwest–eastnortheast.
An earlier version of this paper was presented at the British Cave Research Association Science Symposium at the University of Manchester, UK, on 31 October, 2015.
Classification: paper.
Date: Received: 03 September 2015; Accepted: 11 January 2016. Corrected online on 9 Sept 2016 (the version published on paper is correct).
Keywords: maze cave, network cave, hypogenic, geomorphology, joint trends, speleogenesis, Carboniferous, Northern Pennines.

Bibliograph: HARRISON, Tony. (2016). Maze caves of the Northern Pennines, UK. Cave and Karst Science 43(1), pp21-36.

 

The visit of William Guybon Atherstone to Cango Cave, South Africa, in December 1852 (pp37-40) (PDF 888KB)     

by Stephen A CRAVEN.
This paper describes the 1852 visit to Cango Cave of William Guybon Atherstone.
Classification: paper.
Date: Received: 28 November 2014; Accepted: 21 November 2015.
Keywords: Atherstone; Cango Cave.

Bibliograph: CRAVEN, Stephen A. (2016). The visit of William Guybon Atherstone to Cango Cave, South Africa, in December 1852. Cave and Karst Science 43(1), pp37-40.

 

The hydrology of an ephemerally flooded doline: Pwll-y-Felin, South Wales, UK (pp41-47) (PDF 13.0MB)   Open Access  

by Gareth FARR, Owen NAUGHTON, Sivachidambaram SADASIVAM, Rhian KENDALL, Jonathan SAVILLE and Alan BOWRING.
The first annual hydrograph from an ephemerally-flooded doline in the UK is described. Flood duration and volume were characterised by combining water-level data with a detailed topographic survey. Rapid surface runoff of Na–SO4-type water is derived from a localized topographic catchment. The inflow stream produced a 'flashy' hydrograph with maximum flood depths reaching 7m when the doline can contain 7,383 m3 of water. Flooding occurred over 161 of the 365 day study period, with an average flood depth of 2.4m. Stage dependent drainage properties suggested that water loss is greater when the flood depth is >3m, indicating that there may be additional drainage conduits at higher levels within the doline. A conservative estimate of 138 ML year is provided for net loss of water to the underlying aquifer. The vegetation shows some zonation potentially related to flood duration, with higher diversity in the marginal zone subject to the greatest fluctuation in water levels. The classification of Pwll-y-Felin and other small ephemeral karstic water bodies should be considered not only as geological landforms but as small karstic dependant wetlands. Under-recording of small, isolated temporary water bodies is of concern to international conservation bodies. The methodology presented can help to characterize the hydrology of ephemerally flooded dolines and could be used better to understand karst dependent habitats, recharge in karst aquifers, water budget calculations and to improve management and regulation in karst aquifers.
Classification: paper.
Date: Received: 17 December 2014; Accepted: 08 February 2016.
Keywords: karst hydrograph, wetland, temporary pool, stream sink, recharge.

Bibliograph: FARR, Gareth; Owen NAUGHTON, Sivachidambaram SADASIVAM, Rhian KENDALL, Jonathan SAVILLE and Alan BOWRING. (2016). The hydrology of an ephemerally flooded doline: Pwll-y-Felin, South Wales, UK. Cave and Karst Science 43(1), pp41-47.

 

Correspondence: Graffiti in Speedwell Cavern's Cliff Passage (p48) (PDF 378KB)     

by John CORDINGLEY.
Classification: Forum.

 

Corrigenda (p48)  For download see previous item

by Kate E NEWTON, Ian J FAIRCHILD and John GUNN.
Correction to: Rates of calcite precipitation from hyperalkaline waters, Poole's Cavern, Derbyshire. In C&CS Vol 42(3).
Classification: Forum.

 

Research Fund and Grants (page iii) (PDF 231KB)     

 

Back cover photos (page iv) (PDF 373KB)     

by Jim BUNTING and John BROWN.
The Malham Cove waterfall, Sunday 06 December 2015. See Contents page for captions. (Photographs by Jim Bunting and John Brown).