SPURT CAVE

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 06/01/2018

The about 1 m wide and 0.5 m high cave entrance on the northern side of an unroofed 2 m wide and 5 m high slot (Arbenz, T 2013.11.10 Mss ”Richard Hudson 2012.02.18” Spurt Cave 17.2.2012) was interpreted as a hole (ARBENZ, T 2012 Cave Pearls 1: 226) and gives access to about 125 m of accessible cave passages at two levels, one above the other, and the higher one is well decorated (ARBENZ, T 2012 Cave Pearls 1: 226) -- probably rather due to containing unspecified secondary calcite formations (speleothems) than because of being decked with -wells- (shafts sunken into the ground to obtain water, oil, or gas). Both cave passages descend generally NNE to a pool of water (sump), which marks the point beyond which the flooded parts of the cave continue not only unexplored in the phreatic zone but also constitutes an aqueous obstacle and the beginning of no way on (ARBENZ, T 2012 Cave Pearls, 1: 226) for cave visitors restricted to air-filled, vadose cave passages above the water table. EVALUTION 2013.11.10: Natural relict tunnel cave … Part of the relic drainage system of Lymmoh Canyon [Phud Lymoh] (Arbenz, T 2013.11.10 Mss ”Richard Hudson 2012.02.18” Spurt Cave 17.2.2012). ETYMOLOGY: No autochthonous, indigenous or locally known name has been identified for what Nicola -Nicky- Bayley or Richard Hudson created the more bombastice sounding Spurt Cave (note 1) instead of an adequate Squirt Cave (note 2) because of Commander Vijay Chhikara calling out “it spurts” when suddenly discovering a very small but powerful spring in the cave (Arbenz, T 2013.11.10 Mss ”Richard Hudson 2012.02.18” Spurt Cave 17.2.2012). SETTING: Hydrographically downstream of the –>Lymoh Canyon Cave (note 3) and not only rather in the upper reaches of the Phud Lymoh or Lymmoh Canyon (ARBENZ, T 2012 Cave Pearls 1: 213 map) than at the top of the Lymoh Canyon (ARBENZ, T 2012 Cave Pearls 1: 226; Arbenz, T 2013.11.10 Mss ”Richard Hudson 2012.02.18” Spurt Cave 17.2.2012) but also rather 33 m in a direct lin approximately north-east from the north-eastern Entrance 1 of the nine known entrances to the –>Lymoh Canyon Cave (note 4) than in an unspecified spatial relation just next to the Lymoh Canyon Cave or Krem Lymoh Canyon (ARBENZ, T 2012 Cave Pearls 1: 226) (Krem) Lymoh Canyon (ARBENZ, T 2012 Cave Pearls 1: 223) Krem Lymmoh Canyon (ARBENZ, T 2012 Cave Pearls 1: 31, 212, 213, 222, 223). SITUATION: On the north-east side of a slot which is 2 m wide by 5 m high and open to the sky on the north-west side of the canyon (ARBENZ, T 2012 Cave Pearls 1: 226). APPROACH: From the “bus Stop” on the Pala Road Junction (N25°24’36.9”: E92°34’59.5”) follow dirt road towards Kseh. Take a track off the first Junction (N25°24'49.8”: E92°35'24.0”) down towards the Kopili to a small farm (N25°24'47.5”: E92°36'03.9”). From here a well used footpath leads to a weir in the canyon. Follow the canyon upstream to the cave entrance at N25°24'27.8”: E92°35’51.0” (Arbenz, T 2013.11.10 Mss ”Richard Hudson 212.02.18” Spurt Cave 17.2.2012). CAVE DESCRIPTION 2013.11.10: A … slot (2 m wide and 5 m high, then open to the sky) on the true left of the side of the canyon gives access to a 1 m by 0.5 m hole on the right hand [north] side of the slot. The main passage is a basically a roomy hall, slightly down-sloping to a sump. Remarkably nice formations (especially small gours) make the cave a perfect setting for cave photography [of small rimstone dams]. Shortly after the entrance there is a high level passage turning off to the north and then to the northeast. It is a dry and well decorated gallery above the main chamber. It meets the lower main passage just at the sump (Arbenz, T 2013.11.10 Mss: Spurt Cave 17.2.2012). CAVE DESCRIPTION 2012.06.23: Sportsmen, who had found that a recreational penetration of this cave ends at a point where the cave commences to continue in the phreatic zone below the water table, preferred to lean on a delusion according to which the cave as such -- though it i only the air-filled and easily accessible segment -- ends in a sump (anonymous Brooks, S J 2012.06.23 undated Mss: Meghalaya 2012 Survey Summary Kopli.xls). CAVE POTENTIAL - prospects: Not only the flooded part(s) of the cave continue unexplored in the phreatic zone downstream of the first encountered sump but also, literally on top of that, The high level gallery has not been surveyed (Arbenz, T 2013.11.10 Mss: Spurt Cave 17.2.2012). Nevertheless, the official Outlook / Prospects (detailed list of possible continuations with location, chances and kind of obstacle – identify possible leads) were -interpreted- (brushed away) as if there were None (Arbenz, T 2013.11.10 Mss: Spurt Cave 17.2.2012).12.02.18” Spurt Cave 17.2.2012). CAVE DESCRIPTION 2013.11.10: A … slot (2 m wide and 5 m high, then open to the sky) on the true left of the side of the canyon gives access to a 1 m by 0.5 m hole on the right hand [north] side of the slot. The main passage is a basically a roomy hall, slightly down-sloping to a sump. Remarkably nice formations (especially small gours) make the cave a perfect setting for cave photography [of small rimstone dams]. Shortly after the entrance there is a high level passage turning off to the north and then to the northeast. It is a dry and well decorated gallery above the main chamber. It meets the lower main passage just at the sump (Arbenz, T 2013.11.10 Mss: Spurt Cave 17.2.2012). CAVE DESCRIPTION 2012.06.23: Sportsmen, who had found that a recreational penetration of this cave ends at a point where the cave commences to continue in the phreatic zone below the water table, preferred to lean on a delusion according to which the cave as such -- though it i only the air-filled and easily accessible segment -- ends in a sump (anonymous Brooks, S J 2012.06.23 undated Mss: Meghalaya 2012 Survey Summary Kopli.xls). CAVE POTENTIAL - prospects: Not only the flooded part(s) of the cave continue unexplored in the phreatic zone downstream of the first encountered sump but also, literally on top of that, The high level gallery has not been surveyed (Arbenz, T 2013.11.10 Mss: Spurt Cave 17.2.2012). Nevertheless, the official Outlook / Prospects (detailed list of possible continuations with location, chances and kind of obstacle – identify possible leads) were -interpreted- (brushed away) as if there were None (Arbenz, T 2013.11.10 Mss: Spurt Cave 17.2.2012).