Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons™

Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

1998

International Journal of Speleology

Articles 1 - 16 of 16

Full-Text Articles in Physical Sciences and Mathematics

The Cave Exploration Group Of East Africa And Volcanic Caves In Kenya, Michael Declan Kennedy Jan 1998

The Cave Exploration Group Of East Africa And Volcanic Caves In Kenya, Michael Declan Kennedy

International Journal of Speleology

This paper looks at the history of the Cave Exploration Group of East Africa with special reference to the exploration of volcanic caves. It demonstrates that the group has concentrated on two main areas, the Chyulu HiIls and Mt. Suswa, although other areas have also been studied. The Cave Exploration Group of East Africa has had to cope with various problems. The most important of which are related to the socio-economic conditions of a developing country. These problems have not prevented the group from making a valuable contribution to vulcanospeleology.

Go to article

"Hades" - A Remarkable Cave On Oldoinyo Lengai In The East African Rift Valley, Gordon J. Davies Jan 1998

"Hades" - A Remarkable Cave On Oldoinyo Lengai In The East African Rift Valley, Gordon J. Davies

International Journal of Speleology

Oldoinyo Lengai is the world’s only active carbonatite volcano, situated in northern Tanzania within the Eastern Rift Valley, al 2.751 degrees S, 35.902 degrees E. It forms an isolated symmetrical cone at the southern end of Lake Natron, with a summit elevation of 2,890 m (9,480 ft). Periodic eruptions of ash and lava have been recorded since about 1880, and with increasing precision during this century since 1904. In 1990 a routine expedition to monitor activity levels at the summit led to the discovery of a remarkable cave located in the crater floor, filled with numerous long delicate pale yellow …

Go to article

Lava Caves Of Grande Comore, Indian Ocean: An Initial Reconnaissance, September 1997, Gregory J. Middleton Jan 1998

Lava Caves Of Grande Comore, Indian Ocean: An Initial Reconnaissance, September 1997, Gregory J. Middleton

International Journal of Speleology

What are believed to have been the first speleological investigations in the Comoros Islands were carried out on Grande Comore island between 7 and 13 September 1997. A number of caves were located with the help of local informants and the more significant ones surveyed. Exploration of some caves was not able to be completed. The potential for further significant discoveries is believed to be high.

Go to article

Lava Caves Of The Republic Of Mauritius, Indian Ocean, Gregory J. Middleton Jan 1998

Lava Caves Of The Republic Of Mauritius, Indian Ocean, Gregory J. Middleton

International Journal of Speleology

In their Underground Atlas, MIDDLETON & WALTHAM (1986) dismissed Mauritius as: “very old volcanic islands with no speleological interest”. Recent investigations indicate this judgement is inaccurate; there are over 50 significant caves, including lava tube caves up to 687 m long (one 665 m long was surveyed as early as 1769) and 35 m wide. Plaine des Roches contains the most extensive system of lava tube caves with underground drainage rising at the seashore. Notable fauna includes an insectivorous bat and a cave swiftlet (Collocalia francica), the nests of which are unfortunately prized for ‘soup”. The caves …

Go to article

The 1981 Eruptive Fissure On Mt. Etna: Considerations On Its Exploration And Genesis, Angelo Leotta, Marco Liuzzo Jan 1998

The 1981 Eruptive Fissure On Mt. Etna: Considerations On Its Exploration And Genesis, Angelo Leotta, Marco Liuzzo

International Journal of Speleology

This paper is targeted to an analysis of features common to various fissure caves on Mt. Etna, Sicily. The Authors report the preliminary results of the exploration carried out in the 1981 eruptive fissure, the technical problems met during the exploration, the flow trends and the different courses of the molten material inside the fissure, the particular morphologies. A genetic model is proposed, different from those characterising the lava tube cave genesis, and links are suggested between the various fissures and the main tectonic stress systems operating on Mt. Etna, as well as the morpho-structural conditions of the volcanic edifice …

Go to article

Overview Of The 8th International Symposium On Vulcanospeleology, William R. Halliday Jan 1998

Overview Of The 8th International Symposium On Vulcanospeleology, William R. Halliday

International Journal of Speleology

In February 1998 the 8h International Symposium on Vulcanospeleology was hosted by CEGEA (Cave Exploration Group of East Africa) in Nairobi, Kenya: it was attended by 16 scientists coming from 4 continents. Pre- and Post- Symposium excursions allowed the participants to have an overview on the most important and famous volcanic cave of that area.

Go to article

Lave Caves Of Kilimanjaro. Mawenzi Lava Tubes, Clive Ward Jan 1998

Lave Caves Of Kilimanjaro. Mawenzi Lava Tubes, Clive Ward

International Journal of Speleology

This is the first short report on the exploration of lava tubes in the upper part of Kilimanjaro. The area seems to be extremely interesting from vulcanospeleological point of view.

Go to article

Guano Mining In Kenyan Lava Tunnel Caves, Jim W. Simons Jan 1998

Guano Mining In Kenyan Lava Tunnel Caves, Jim W. Simons

International Journal of Speleology

Commercial mining of bat guano for agricultural fertilizer only became possible in Kenya through discovery of major deposits in the lava tunnel caves of Mt. Suswa and the North Chyulu Hills in the early 1960’s. This paper provides historical information leading up to the guano mining, describes the cave deposits, outlines the mining under-takings, and provides information on the guano producing bats and insect faunas. The results of guano analyses, details of the tonnages extracted and sold to recipients between 1966 to 1984, and some benefits which resulted from its use on crops are given. A brief outline of attempts …

Go to article

Hollow Volcanic Tumulus Caves Of Kilauea Caldera, Hawaii County, Hawaii, William R. Halliday Jan 1998

Hollow Volcanic Tumulus Caves Of Kilauea Caldera, Hawaii County, Hawaii, William R. Halliday

International Journal of Speleology

In addition to lava tube caves with commonly noted features, sizable subcrustal spaces of several types exist on the floor of Kilauea Caldera. Most of these are formed by drainage of partially stabilized volcanic structures enlarged or formed by injection of very fluid lava beneath a plastic crust. Most conspicuous are hollow tumuli, possibly first described by Walker in 1991. Walker mapped and described the outer chamber of Tumulus E-1 Cave. Further exploration has revealed that it has a hyperthermic inner room beneath an adjoining tumulus with no connection evident on the surface. Two lengthy, sinuous hollow tumuli also are …

Go to article

Sheet Flow Caves Of Kilauea Caldera, Hawaii County, Hawaii, William R. Halliday Jan 1998

Sheet Flow Caves Of Kilauea Caldera, Hawaii County, Hawaii, William R. Halliday

International Journal of Speleology

Terminal lobes of sheet flows of pahoehoe lava sometimes form three-dimensional nests, initially separated by partitions consisting of accreted "skins” of each lobe. Melting breaks down these partitions, forming a uniform flow unit. In Kilauea Caldera we have found and mapped sizable drained cavities in low-slope sheet flows. Their general pattern includes three-dimensional nests, with partially melted septa evident in some examples. Christmas Cave is the most extensive found to date, with 632 meters surveyed on two levels. It is located at the lower end of an inflated sheet flow tongue which underwent local deflation as a result of drainage …

Go to article

Volcanic Caves Of East Africa - An Overview, Jim W. Simons Jan 1998

Volcanic Caves Of East Africa - An Overview, Jim W. Simons

International Journal of Speleology

Numerous Tertiary to recent volcanoes are located in East Africa. Thus, much of the region is made up volcanic rock, which hosts the largest and greatest variety of East Africas caves. Exploration of volcanic caves has preoccupied members of Cave Exploration Group of East Africa (CEGEA) for the past 30 years. The various publications edited by CEGEA are in this respect a treasure troves of speleological information. In the present paper an overview on the most important volcanic caves and areas are shortly reported.

Go to article

Tectonic Caves Of Solai In The Kenyan Rift Valley, Robert A. Davis Jan 1998

Tectonic Caves Of Solai In The Kenyan Rift Valley, Robert A. Davis

International Journal of Speleology

Tectonic caves at Solai, Kenya, were explored in 1970. These lie in a complex geological area of the Great Rift Valley in columnar-faulted ignimbrite. Fissures are presumed to have been widened by later tectonic activity -e.g. the major earthquake of January, 1928. The caves and exploration are briefly described. Questions of formation, drainage and possibilities of steam reservoirs are discussed.

Go to article

"Pit Craters", Lava Tubes, And Open Vertical Volcanic Conduits In Hawaii: A Problem In Terminology, William R. Halliday Jan 1998

"Pit Craters", Lava Tubes, And Open Vertical Volcanic Conduits In Hawaii: A Problem In Terminology, William R. Halliday

International Journal of Speleology

Almost from the 1849 publication of the term pit crater, volcanologists have disagreed about the parameters differentiating these features from other vertical volcanic structures. Kaluaiki is a jameo giving entry to Thurston Lava Tube in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Long-standing misidentification of it as a pit crater is an example of misunderstandings arising from the lack of a clear definition of pit crater. In general, pit craters are unrelated to lava tube caves genetically, but two special cases are discussed. One probably is genetically related to a rift tube deep below the surface; the other is a complex of a …

Go to article

Lava Tube Remelt By Radiant Heat And Burning Gasses, Kevin Allred Jan 1998

Lava Tube Remelt By Radiant Heat And Burning Gasses, Kevin Allred

International Journal of Speleology

Some volcanologists assume that interior surfaces of hot lava tubes can commonly be remelted by burning gases and radiant heat. Pending further data, this appears to be unlikely.

Go to article

The Origin Of Tubular Lava Stalactites And Other Related Forms, Kevin Allred, Carlene Allred Jan 1998

The Origin Of Tubular Lava Stalactites And Other Related Forms, Kevin Allred, Carlene Allred

International Journal of Speleology

Tubular lava stalactites are often found in lava tubes. Field observations, sample analysis, and comparative studies indicate that these are segregations extruded during cooling from partially crystallized lava al about 1,070 - 1,000 °C. Retrograde boiling (gas pressure) within the lava provides a mechanism to expel the interstitial liquid. In addition to tubular lava stalactites, a variety of other lava features can also result, such as lava helictites, lava coralloids, barnacle-like stretched lava, runners, runner channels, and some lava blisters and squeeze-ups.

Go to article

Chemical Deposits In Volcanic Caves Of Argentina, Carlos Benedetto, Paolo Forti, Ermanno Galli, Antonio Rossi Jan 1998

Chemical Deposits In Volcanic Caves Of Argentina, Carlos Benedetto, Paolo Forti, Ermanno Galli, Antonio Rossi

International Journal of Speleology

During the last Conference of the FEALC (Speleological Federation of Latin America and Caribbean Islands) which was held in the town of Malargue, Mendoza, in February 1997, two volcanic caves not far from that town were visited and sampled for cave mineral studies. The first cave (Cueva del Tigre) opens close to the Llancanelo lake, some 40 kms far from Malargue and it is a classical lava tube. Part of the walls and of the fallen lava blocks are covered by white translucent fibres and grains. The second visited cave is a small tectonic cavity opened on a lava bed …

Go to article