APASELA
A series with a mix of danger and fun!
APASNA - Danger (Russian pronunciation)
VESELA - Fun (Russian pronunciation)
Grill 'n' Thrill
Grill cave is one of the many wonderful cave formations in the Bungonia National Park. In this earthcache you will learn about how this cave and others are formed and explore a magnificent subterran world!
The caves in Bungonia National Park, located in New South Wales (NSW), Australia, were formed through a process that took millions of years. Here's a simple explanation of how they were created:
1. Limestone Formation: The key ingredient for cave formation in Bungonia is limestone. Limestone is a type of rock that's made up of tiny particles of ancient marine organisms like shells and coral. The area used to be an ocean with these creatures but when the ocean dried out all of the creatures' skeletons and other bits of sediment settled and compacted to form the limestone.
2. Underground Water: Rainwater contains a small amount of carbon dioxide from the air, which makes it slightly acidic. When this rainwater seeps into the ground, it can dissolve the limestone over time. This process is called "chemical weathering."
3. Cave Formation: As the acidic water moves through the cracks and pores in the limestone rock, it slowly dissolves the rock, creating small cavities and passages. These initial cavities are often very small and can be as thin as a human hair.
4. Time and Flow: Over millions of years, the water continues to flow through these passages, dissolving more limestone and gradually making the cavities larger. It's like a very slow carving process by water.
5. Stalactites and Stalagmites: As the water drips into the cave from the ceiling, it leaves behind tiny mineral deposits. Over time, these deposits build up to form stalactites (hanging from the ceiling) and stalagmites (growing from the floor). This gives the caves their unique and intricate formations.
6. Cave Features: Along with stalactites and stalagmites, caves can have other features like columns, flowstones, and even underground rivers, all formed by the same process of water dissolving and depositing minerals.
So, in simple terms, the caves in Bungonia National Park were formed by water slowly dissolving the limestone rock over millions of years, creating underground spaces with beautiful and unique formations. It's a fascinating natural process that results in the stunning caves you can explore today.
WARNING!
This cave is known to have some CO2 deposits inside. If you are in CO2 for too long, you could suffocate! It is highly recommended to have a Butane Lighter to check for CO2, if the lighter turns on, great there's no CO2 in that area, but if the lighter fails to turn on that means there is excess CO2 and you should move quickly though that area! The CO2 deposits can spring up gradually or even within the space of a few cm! Be careful! Never go caving alone! Always have at least another person but the more, the merrier and safer! It is suggested not to go in rain as the cave could be very slippery or wash you downwards or fill up! Acidic water!
Apart from this Grill cave and caving in general is very dangerous, you shouldnt enter without proper caving gear even if you are not planning to go to the crawly bits! A helmet and many sources of light is a must! Please know your own limits and dont push them for a cache.
QUESTIONS!
You will need to visit the cave to answer all the questions, enter at the rusted gate (posted coords) and begin your descent into the bowels of the earth. When you are done, send all the answers to me, you are welcome to log the cache but if there is anything wrong I will contact you. For this earthcache, you will only need to go to the part where right after a steep staircase, there is a chain (not wire) blocking off a drop. Send answers 1-3 privately to me but attach the photo to your log.
I have been informed the cave is usually closed in December because of the bats.
1. What type of weathering has formed this cave, how is this evident in the cave and is this process still occurring to this day?
2. What is the main gas that joins with water to create "acidic water"?
3. What is the main type of rock these caves are made up of, and what type of rock is it (Sedimentary, Igneous, Metamorphic)?
4.After you go down 2 ladders and 2 staircases you MUST take a photo of yourself or something identifiable as you with the chain blocking off a drop. Be in front of this chain:
Photo courtesy of Loci612, thanks mate!
And you're done! Make sure to remember the way back so as not to get lost! Please don't deface the cave by writing your name, take only photos, and leave only footprints!
GLHF - GHHH