Keyhole Cave EarthCache
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The Keyhole Cave is located a few miles outside of Lebanon, VA on Hwy 71. It is a short hike down to the Cave but a huffy, uphill return. Park on the Sykes property at the below given coordinates.
First of all, we want to thank Mr. Clint Sykes for his permission to visit and list the Cave. Please be advised that while we have permission, those of you who visit this cache, you do so at their own risk. We know it does not need to be said but as always, leave the area better than you found it. Please shut and fasten gate when going to and returning from the Cave. Whlie you may, you do not have to enter the Cave to complete this EarthCache! A visit to the entrance will allow the cacher to enjoy the site and answer all questions. Again, we cannot thank Mr. Sykes enough for sharing this beauty. Seldom does one meet such a friendly neighbor who is so willing to share this kind of a geological gem.
Before we talk specifically about the Keyhole Cave lets briefly look at how limestone caves are formed and their relationship to karst topography.
Cave Formation and the Karst Environment
Limestone caves are formed by erosion. As rainwater falls through the atmosphere, it absorbs CO2, creating carbonic acid. This slightly acidic rainwater erodes limestone. Flowing water above or below the surface, which has become slightly acidic dissolves the calcium in limestone to form caves. After the water has receded (lower water table) pockets and/or rooms are exposed. After the ‘room’ is formed and the water receded, the rainwater that has percolated through the ground drips off the roof of the cave, some of the calcite from the limestone is deposited and this eventually forms a stalactite. Where it hits the floor of the cave it becomes a stalagmite. Unfortunately if the Keyhole Cave once had either stalactites or stalagmites they are not present today. Maybe in unexplored regions, they can still be found, but as we said before, it is not necessary to enter the Cave to complete the find of this EarthCache.
Karst Topography and Cave Formation *
A point of confusion regarding caves is that many people think since most limestone caves are found in a karst environment then limestone and karst caves are one in the same. That is not correct. There are both, limestone caves that are not karst caves, and karst caves which are not in limestone. Most people use limestone and karst caves synonymously. Why? It is because the vast majority of the caves on earth are limestone karst caves! Karst caves are formed by water solution in ANY water-soluble rock, not just limestone. Among the other substances and rocks that are soluble and form karst caves are: ice, salt, gypsum and even quartzite and granite. All of these type caves are called karst caves. For the record, the Keyhole Cave is a karst limestone cave.
At this point you may be asking, why are there so many karst limestone caves? The answer is rather easy: limestone is a very common rock and the forming of karst in soluble rock is also very common. Limestone is a very common sedimentary rock, formed by the remains of all kinds of animals. The other soluble rocks need special climates for their forming. Limestone is produced nearly everywhere in the World. After the exposure of the limestone, it is subject to weathering which typically means the development of an Karst area. By the way, an acceptable definition of a karst topography or environment is, “a landscape shaped by the dissolution of a layer or layers of soluble bedrock, usually carbonate rock such as limestone or dolomite but not exclusively limestone or dolomite.” Often karst regions display distinctive surface features such as sinkholes or dolines being the most common. See the above paragraph. There are several large sink holes close to the Keyhole Cave as well as the nearby Bundy Cave.
The Keyhole Cave
Just Inside
Other than its beauty, there is not a lot known about the history of the Keyhole Cave. Most of what is known is word-of-mouth and not written. Because of the very unique entrance, the Cave could give protection from large carnivores and human enemies to all who entered. The only difficulty is while humans, one at a time entered the cave, their horses that probably had to remain on the outside were exposed to whatever that may mean harm. When we mention ‘unique entrance’ this is no exaggeration. Unlike the massive, triangular opening of the Bundy Cave, the opening into the Keyhole Cave is shaped like a keyhole with the wider part at the top and a very narrow passage at the bottom. The lower passage way is serpentine and narrow with tight squeezes for all! Just a few dozen feet back on the outside of the Cave, makes it readily apparent how the Cave got its name. The best photo site is here. Little is known about the exploration of the Keystone Cave but according to the owner, it has been entered many times and there are deep passages beyond the initial room found just past the entrance. There are no bats known to inhabit the Cave.
Inside: I Call This, The Hornet's Nest
In order for you to claim a find of the Keystone Cave you must complete the following: 1. Answer these questions. A. Measure the entrance at the very bottom of the passageway, B. Estimate the vertical height of the Cave opening., C. Is there a spring flowing into or out of the Cave? 2. Post a photo with the Cave entrance in the background. While we would like it, your face does not necessarily have to be in the picture. All pets are acceptable models for the photo. Just don’t turn them loose. If they enter the Cave, you may never see them again!
* Diagram courtesy of Natural Resources Canada
This Earthcache was approved by the Geological Society of America
| We have earned GSA's highest level: |
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Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Unir lbh tbg n Xrl ynetr rabhtu?
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