SUCHONG FIELD SINK

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 06/01/2018

An insurgence (sink) entrance without explainable shape and dimensions faces an unknown direction and gives access to what appears to represent a cryptokarst (buried karst) drainage system, of which the accessible 65 m consistst of a couple of rejuvenated and comparatively small sized series stream cave passages in limestone, which are interconnected by subsoil conduits that run between buried karst pinnacles (note 1). ETYMOLOGY: The Khasi -ka pynthor kba- is a paddy field (BLAH, E 2007: 213) but the meaning of the Synteng expression -suchong- remains unexplainable. Is this actually a filed called Suh Chong, Suh Jong, Suh Jom or even Suh Jung? (note 2). SITUATION 1: At the level of the -ka pynta- (a level country) on the river terrace above the orographic right (west) bank of the Litang River in the Suchon quadrangle (N25°17': E92°32' to N25°18': E92°33'). SITUATION 2: According to an anonymous contributor to Brown et al. (2008 Mss: Meghalaya 2008 diary, Thursday 14th February, the so-called Suchong Field lies in an unexplainable distance direction upstream from where the road down from Tangnub reaches (note 3) the Litang Valley.APPROACH: According to Arbenz, T (2008 Mss -Fieldbook- page 95), the Suchong Field Sink is best reached from Tangnub village from where one is best adviced to follow the 4WD track that runs generally south-west downhill to the Wah Sapoh (note 4), one item called Lyngtah (missing GPS position) and a certain Litang ford (missing GPS position) in one Suchong area. Cross the river and stay on a track in a direction across hills, which lie some 100 or 200 m from the Litang River. Watch out for a small farm near the cave entrance's GPS position (WGS84 N15°17'18”: E92°32'52”: 896 m asl). The cave entrace lies in front of the farm. CAVE DESCRIPTION 1: Modified after Arbenz, T (2008 Mss -Fieldbook- page 95) and Arbenz, T (2008.12.23 Mss: Re Suchong Field Sink): An insurgence cave passage consisting of a 65 m long, small, and muddy cav passage that starts in the soil beneath a paddy field, is enterable for a distance of 65 m and penetrates a small sized and muddy cave passage, partly developed in massive limestone but in other parts running beneath a soil ceiling. CAVE DESCRIPTION 2: Brown et al. (2008 Mss: Survey Summary) decided that the 60.97 m long Suchong Field Sink is an 80 m long small muddy cave below a paddy field (Brown et al. 2008 Mss: Meghalaya 2008 diary, Thursday 14th February)., the so-called Suchong Field lies in an unexplainable distance direction upstream from where the road down from Tangnub reaches (note 3) the Litang Valley.APPROACH: According to Arbenz, T (2008 Mss -Fieldbook- page 95), the Suchong Field Sink is best reached from Tangnub village from where one is best adviced to follow the 4WD track that runs generally south-west downhill to the Wah Sapoh (note 4), one item called Lyngtah (missing GPS position) and a certain Litang ford (missing GPS position) in one Suchong area. Cross the river and stay on a track in a direction across hills, which lie some 100 or 200 m from the Litang River. Watch out for a small farm near the cave entrance's GPS position (WGS84 N15°17'18”: E92°32'52”: 896 m asl). The cave entrace lies in front of the farm. CAVE DESCRIPTION 1: Modified after Arbenz, T (2008 Mss -Fieldbook- page 95) and Arbenz, T (2008.12.23 Mss: Re Suchong Field Sink): An insurgence cave passage consisting of a 65 m long, small, and muddy cav passage that starts in the soil beneath a paddy field, is enterable for a distance of 65 m and penetrates a small sized and muddy cave passage, partly developed in massive limestone but in other parts running beneath a soil ceiling. CAVE DESCRIPTION 2: Brown et al. (2008 Mss: Survey Summary) decided that the 60.97 m long Suchong Field Sink is an 80 m long small muddy cave below a paddy field (Brown et al. 2008 Mss: Meghalaya 2008 diary, Thursday 14th February).