2004-05-09 10:09:11 +01:00
|
|
|
<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN"
|
|
|
|
|
"http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd">
|
|
|
|
|
<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">
|
|
|
|
|
<head>
|
|
|
|
|
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content=
|
|
|
|
|
"text/html; charset=iso-8859-1" />
|
2004-05-05 19:39:28 +01:00
|
|
|
<title>GSAB: CTS ref. 78.2008 (in English translation)</title>
|
2004-05-09 10:09:11 +01:00
|
|
|
<link rel="alternate" lang="fr" href="../fr/782008.htm" title=
|
|
|
|
|
"Gouffre Ovni" xml:lang="fr" />
|
|
|
|
|
<link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href=
|
|
|
|
|
"../../../css/main2.css" />
|
2001-08-15 19:29:27 +01:00
|
|
|
</head>
|
|
|
|
|
<body>
|
2004-05-09 10:09:11 +01:00
|
|
|
<p style="text-align: center; font-size: 65%">
|
|
|
|
|
(<acronym>GSAB</acronym>) <b lang="fr"
|
|
|
|
|
xml:lang="fr">Spéalp</b> 2 (1978) pp 14-19</p>
|
|
|
|
|
<h1 lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">GOUFFRE OVNI</h1>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>The summer <acronym>GSAB</acronym> expedition to the <span lang=
|
|
|
|
|
"de" xml:lang="de">Totes Gebirge</span> has allowed the exploration
|
|
|
|
|
of this new cave of 565m depth. Certainly, it is a little eclipsed
|
|
|
|
|
by its two neighbours (<b lang="de" xml:lang="de">Kelli</b> and
|
|
|
|
|
<b lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">Empégadure</b>) but it remains no
|
|
|
|
|
less of an accomplishment for a young team, only just broken into
|
|
|
|
|
their first large-scale trip.</p>
|
2001-08-15 19:29:27 +01:00
|
|
|
<p>For the location and discovery details, see the report in
|
2004-05-09 10:09:11 +01:00
|
|
|
<b lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">Spéalp</b>
|
|
|
|
|
<acronym>GSAB-SSS</acronym> <a href="782012.htm">number 1</a>.</p>
|
2001-08-15 19:29:27 +01:00
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<h2>Description</h2>
|
2004-05-09 10:09:11 +01:00
|
|
|
<p>The entrance, a bedding plane unblocked because of a draught,
|
|
|
|
|
gives access to a series of short pitches, dry at the start, which
|
|
|
|
|
get bigger, deeper, wider and wetter. The first exploration of 1976
|
|
|
|
|
had reconnoitred to -200m to the base of a 40m pitch (<b>The Black
|
|
|
|
|
Hole</b>). The explorers of this year started on the descent of a
|
|
|
|
|
fine 60m pitch of constant shape, slightly sloping. At the bottom
|
|
|
|
|
of this is the only chamber of the cave : <b>The Galactic Hall</b>.
|
|
|
|
|
Here the cave splits into two routes, the active and the
|
|
|
|
|
fossil.</p>
|
2001-08-15 19:29:27 +01:00
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<h3>Active system</h3>
|
2004-05-09 10:09:11 +01:00
|
|
|
<p>Downstream from the chamber a drop leads to a small chamber
|
|
|
|
|
among boulders, the <b>Love Nest</b>. (No idea who ventured to call
|
|
|
|
|
it this[?]) Between the boulders a 20m pitch opens, immediately
|
|
|
|
|
followed by a 25m pitch. In fact, the last 25m of descent drops
|
|
|
|
|
between the walls of an immense aven to land on a flat gravel
|
|
|
|
|
floor. A diagonal chimney leads to a trickle of water.</p>
|
|
|
|
|
<p>A fissure marks the start of the <b>Anti-matter meander</b>,
|
|
|
|
|
where one immediately rejoins the underground stream. This has an
|
|
|
|
|
average flow of two litres per second but quite rapidly increases
|
|
|
|
|
to 10-15 litres per second in flood. The first part of the meander
|
|
|
|
|
is straight and interrupted by 3 small pitches and two drops. At
|
|
|
|
|
the top of the first, in the roof, is the connection with the
|
|
|
|
|
fossil system. Quickly, the meander becomes less amenable: high and
|
|
|
|
|
narrow, it is plastered with mud (the anti-matter) which makes
|
|
|
|
|
progress quite arduous. Three pitches of 5, 14 and 10, punctuate
|
|
|
|
|
progress. This last, followed by a drop of 3m, gives access to a
|
|
|
|
|
section of passage blocked by clay. At the end of this, the stream
|
|
|
|
|
disappers into a fissure with tight impenetrable bends. The passage
|
|
|
|
|
is continued by a quite large fossil branch. After some 50m, the
|
|
|
|
|
draught goes into an earthy hole, the start of a big pitch of 70m
|
|
|
|
|
in several stages.</p>
|
|
|
|
|
<p>Halfway down, the pitch is rejoined by the stream which is
|
|
|
|
|
avoided by a parallel fossil pitch. There immediately follows
|
|
|
|
|
another pitch of 55m, totally wet and characterised by an
|
|
|
|
|
elliptical cross-section and constant slope. At the bottom, the
|
|
|
|
|
water is engulfed by a fissure about three metres long, followed by
|
|
|
|
|
a tight meander which we haven't pushed.</p>
|
2001-08-15 19:29:27 +01:00
|
|
|
<h3>Fossil system</h3>
|
2004-05-09 10:09:11 +01:00
|
|
|
<p>Upstream from the Galactic Hall, a window some metres high gives
|
|
|
|
|
access to a good-sized passage (3x3m on average), the <b>Little
|
|
|
|
|
Green Men's passage</b>. One comes up against a climb of 3m at the
|
|
|
|
|
base of which the trickle of water is lost into a meander cut below
|
|
|
|
|
the fossil passage (see below). After a narrowing and a climb, the
|
|
|
|
|
passage ends in boulders between which it is still possible to
|
|
|
|
|
penetrate for a dozen metres.</p>
|
2001-08-15 19:29:27 +01:00
|
|
|
<p>Back in the meander below the fossil passage: this ends at the
|
2004-05-09 10:09:11 +01:00
|
|
|
<b><span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">Gomette</span> pitch</b>
|
|
|
|
|
(discovered by the <span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">Gaumais</span>), a
|
|
|
|
|
60m pitch, spray-lashed in its lower part by "the wee-wee". At the
|
|
|
|
|
base of this pitch is the beginning of the <b>Mutants' meander</b>.
|
|
|
|
|
This is a passage for masochists <span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">par
|
|
|
|
|
excellence</span>: at the bottom, tight and suit-snagging. It ends
|
|
|
|
|
in a series of climbs and a 30m pitch joining the active
|
|
|
|
|
system.</p>
|
2001-08-15 19:29:27 +01:00
|
|
|
<h2>Geology</h2>
|
|
|
|
|
<h3>General</h3>
|
2004-05-09 10:09:11 +01:00
|
|
|
<p>From the geological point of view, the <span lang="fr" xml:lang=
|
|
|
|
|
"fr">Gouffre Ovni</span> is a typical example of the karstic
|
|
|
|
|
phenomena of the massif, and likewise of the greater part of the
|
|
|
|
|
karst of Austria. There isn't a zone of pitches leading to a
|
|
|
|
|
master-cave on an impermeable bed (of the Pyrenean type) nor tight
|
|
|
|
|
vertical caves (of the <span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">Vercors</span>
|
|
|
|
|
or <span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">Chartreuse</span> type). The
|
|
|
|
|
primary factors in the formation are the intense orogenic
|
|
|
|
|
fracturing combined with a very wet climate and heavy snow-falls
|
|
|
|
|
since the start of the era.</p>
|
2001-08-15 19:29:27 +01:00
|
|
|
<p>These caves generally open by virtue of the simple form of the
|
2004-05-09 10:09:11 +01:00
|
|
|
discontinuities in the limestones (joints, bedding-planes). Then
|
|
|
|
|
they enlarge more and more by following the larger-scale phenomena
|
|
|
|
|
(faults, master-joints). The master-cave, when it exists, is
|
|
|
|
|
generally only short and near the resurgence.</p>
|
|
|
|
|
<h3 lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">Gouffre Ovni</h3>
|
|
|
|
|
<p>The entrance is in a bedding plane open for about two metres.
|
|
|
|
|
There follows a series of pitches, quite small, formed in a quite
|
|
|
|
|
sinuous joint and enlarged on bedding planes and very strong
|
|
|
|
|
[<span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">pendage</span> - dictionary failure]
|
|
|
|
|
in this zone. At about -200m, the influence of another factor
|
|
|
|
|
starts to be felt. The pitches become bigger and bigger and the
|
|
|
|
|
walls cleaner and cleaner. This section is characterised by a fault
|
|
|
|
|
running roughly East-West (see figure 1).</p>
|
|
|
|
|
<div class="centre"><img alt="fig. 1, 3k gif" width="512" height="128" src=
|
|
|
|
|
"../ovnif1.png" /></div>
|
|
|
|
|
<p>This fault controls the major part of the formation of the cave.
|
|
|
|
|
In effect, the course of the cave is hollowed out of different
|
|
|
|
|
levels of this fault. (figure 2)</p>
|
|
|
|
|
<div class="onleft">
|
|
|
|
|
<img alt="fig. 2, 3k gif" width="275" height="385" src="../ovnif2.png" />
|
|
|
|
|
<p class="caption"><b>Figure 2: Plan of
|
|
|
|
|
the fault</b></p></div>
|
2001-08-15 19:29:27 +01:00
|
|
|
<ul>
|
2004-05-09 10:09:11 +01:00
|
|
|
<li>1st The Zorglub pitch and the Father Christmas chimneys.</li>
|
|
|
|
|
<li>2nd The Galactic Hall and the first third of the Little Green
|
|
|
|
|
Men's passage (the other two thirds lie on bedding planes).</li>
|
|
|
|
|
<li>3rd The pitch to pass [?] the time and the <span lang="fr"
|
|
|
|
|
xml:lang="fr">Gaumette</span> pitch with the Mutants' meander.</li>
|
|
|
|
|
<li>4th The major part of the Anti-matter meander (the unwedging of
|
|
|
|
|
this part [?]) by connection with the rest (plan) is [complete
|
|
|
|
|
translation failure - something about the fault being broken
|
|
|
|
|
?]</li>
|
2001-08-15 19:29:27 +01:00
|
|
|
</ul>
|
2004-05-09 10:09:11 +01:00
|
|
|
<p style="clear: both">Following the large part of the Anti-matter meander, a
|
|
|
|
|
very narrow zone marks the junction with a second fault orientated
|
|
|
|
|
<acronym>SE-NW</acronym> which controls the rest of the cave. [next sentence is
|
|
|
|
|
real gobbledegook to me unless there is a misprint in the french ?] One rotted
|
|
|
|
|
to believe conspicuously the survey, which concerns a meander in a joint seen
|
|
|
|
|
its sinuosity [???]. In fact, the straight part and space of this fault is
|
|
|
|
|
impracticable because it overhangs continually a perpendicular of 6m whence the
|
|
|
|
|
lips are sloping and muddy. One is therefore obliged to borrow the bottom in
|
|
|
|
|
[<span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">surcreusement</span> - what a time for a
|
|
|
|
|
dictionary failure !]. More unwavering [lots of alternative translations for
|
|
|
|
|
this word - none make much sense] by an unhooking where the stream destroys
|
|
|
|
|
itself [sinks ?]. The passage continues in the same direction always controlled
|
|
|
|
|
by the jointing/faulting. The zone of pitches which follows develops equally
|
|
|
|
|
in the lower part of the fault; [<span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">elle ait</span>
|
|
|
|
|
is the present subjunctive of <span lang="fr" xml:lang= "fr">avoir</span> -
|
|
|
|
|
what the fuck does present subjunctive translate as ?] well what/as/who/as/how
|
|
|
|
|
has the appearance of a forced conduit [phreatic passage/lift ?]</p>
|
2001-08-15 19:29:27 +01:00
|
|
|
<h3>Possibilities for continuation</h3>
|
2004-05-09 10:09:11 +01:00
|
|
|
<p>As one the remark to the observation of the survey, the main
|
|
|
|
|
passage continues unexplored. It appears that [present subjunctive
|
|
|
|
|
of to be] in the presence of a simple phenomenon of regression and
|
|
|
|
|
so logically one should find another series of fossil pitches
|
|
|
|
|
dropping to the base level. (figures 3 and 4)</p>
|
|
|
|
|
<div class="center">
|
|
|
|
|
<img alt="Fig. 3 - 5k gif" style="border: 2px solid black" width="460" height="480" src=
|
|
|
|
|
"ovnif3.png" />
|
|
|
|
|
<img style="border: 2px solid black" alt="Fig. 4 - 3k gif" width="320" height="340" src=
|
|
|
|
|
"ovnif4.png" />
|
|
|
|
|
</div>
|
|
|
|
|
<p>The strength [power, force ?] of the <span lang="de" xml:lang=
|
|
|
|
|
"de">Dachsteinkalk</span> (granular Jurassic limestone) lies next
|
|
|
|
|
to the 700m from the entrance. [??]</p>
|
2001-08-15 19:29:27 +01:00
|
|
|
<h3>Meteorologie</h3>
|
2004-05-09 10:09:11 +01:00
|
|
|
<div class="onright">
|
|
|
|
|
<img alt="fig. 5 - 2k gif" width="265" height="435"
|
|
|
|
|
src="../ovnif5.png" /> <p class="caption"><b>Figure 5:
|
|
|
|
|
Diagram of the draughts at the principal points of
|
|
|
|
|
perception:</b></p></div>
|
|
|
|
|
<p>As we have already said, there is a strong draught which drew
|
|
|
|
|
our attention to Ovni. This draught was blowing in a hot period
|
|
|
|
|
(summer) [so] we logically [expected] to find the presence of an
|
|
|
|
|
intermediate entrance. Seeing the strength of the cold draught
|
|
|
|
|
[<span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">chassé</span>], the existence
|
|
|
|
|
of an upper entrance is fairly certain. Prospecting on the hillock
|
|
|
|
|
above the entrance didn't yield results. It concerns there of an
|
|
|
|
|
objective to see again because the vegetation and the snakes didn't
|
|
|
|
|
permit us to operate an efficient search pattern.</p>
|
|
|
|
|
<p>The junction with this higher entrance must be at the level of
|
|
|
|
|
the Little Green Men's passage; either by the wet chimney at the
|
|
|
|
|
bottom of the 1st fault or in the roof of 2/3, there where the
|
|
|
|
|
draught is lost. For the other part, the presence at the bottom of
|
|
|
|
|
another strong draught, suggests a lower entrance, probably a
|
|
|
|
|
fossil resurgence. Nevertheless these are only suppositions, the
|
|
|
|
|
caprices of a draught are very difficult to deal with.</p>
|
|
|
|
|
<h3 style="clear: both">Conclusions</h3>
|
|
|
|
|
<p>One sees from this brief analysis of the cave that the chances
|
|
|
|
|
of a continuation aren't minimal. Now this cave isn't extremely
|
|
|
|
|
difficult of access or of exploration. The work [god knows - rotted
|
|
|
|
|
to be there mend] very soon, but it is nevertheless a secondary
|
|
|
|
|
objective compared with other Austrian possibilities.</p>
|
|
|
|
|
<p lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">G Feller <acronym>GSAB</acronym></p>
|
2004-04-29 16:24:54 +01:00
|
|
|
<hr />
|
2001-08-15 19:29:27 +01:00
|
|
|
<!-- LINKS -->
|
2011-06-01 09:55:49 +01:00
|
|
|
<ul id="links">
|
2004-04-29 16:24:54 +01:00
|
|
|
<li><a href="../index.htm">GSAB articles list</a></li>
|
2004-05-09 10:09:11 +01:00
|
|
|
<li><span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">Gouffre Ovni</span> : <a href=
|
|
|
|
|
"../../../noinfo/1626/122.htm">description</a>, in English</li>
|
2005-06-12 12:31:07 +01:00
|
|
|
<li><a href="../../../1626/index.html">Overview</a> of area 1626,
|
2004-05-09 10:09:11 +01:00
|
|
|
and index to caves</li>
|
|
|
|
|
<li>Back to <a href="../../../index.htm">Expedition Intro
|
|
|
|
|
page</a></li>
|
2004-04-30 22:56:57 +01:00
|
|
|
<li><a href="../../../../index.htm">Back to CUCC Home page</a></li>
|
2004-04-29 16:24:54 +01:00
|
|
|
</ul>
|
2001-08-15 19:29:27 +01:00
|
|
|
</body>
|
|
|
|
|
</html>
|
