CHITRAKOOT CRATOR

Location

»In addition to caves in the area, large crator [sic! qua: crater] or well-like structures [note 1] are also noted to occur, their origin presently being controversial« (Ravi Prakash in: CRAVEN, S A 1969: 27-28). Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 28/02/2016

NOTE 1: When visiting the Kamadgiri kshetra or –>Chitrakoot (Chitrakut) area, the only »crator or well-like structures« (closed depressions: dolines, US English: sinkholes) that I have seen were abandoned water reservoirs. In my opinion, the occurrence of closed depressions such as dolines or sinkholes is unlikely in the hilly part of the area because the limestone or dolomite is too impure to allow fast solution. The alluvial "plain", however, is dissected by relatively recently incised glens, and there might occur subsidences caused by piping processes. Finally there are, of course, shallow pools in the riverbed of the Mandakini, which dedicated priests are tempted to interprete as bottomless abysses. Piping: Formation of a passage by water under pressure in the form of conduits through permeable materials when the hydraulic head exceeds a certain critical value (MONROE, W H 1970 / 1972: 14). A process whereby a cavity or small conduit is developed in an unconsolidated soil due to progressive sediment removal by seepage water. The cavity develops headwards, as the fines are removed first and the coarser material is then washed out of the growing cavity (LOWE & WALTHAM 1995: 28). Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 28/02/2016