DAM, Mawsynram (Krem)
25.297200,91.589400
Description
A cave entrance of unknown shape, which faces north-north-east and is an estimated 30 m across, once was regarded as »impressive« (BROOKS & SMART 1995: 29) and contained in November 1992 and in February 1994 a relatively »large pool of water« (unidentified largeness) and drains an relatively »sizable stream« (unidentified size, unidentified name) from a relatively »large blind valley« (unidentified largeness) in the open air to an underground water course in a cave which consists mainly of one relatively very large river passage leading to »… a roof collapse where daylight can be seen. Side passages exist in the form of a complex maze of cave passages [Oh Gawd] and oxbows [bypasses] to the side of the main passage« (BROOKS & SMART 1995: 29-30). There are no significant calcite formations within the known parts of this cave, which is formed in arenaceous Langpar Limestone (note 1) of Upper Cretaceous (Danian) age, which, at a first glance, looks as if it were a sandstone (note 2). ETYMOLOGY: The Khasi adjective "[ba] dam" (SINGH, N 1906: 64) or "[ba] dum" (SINGH, N 1906: 74) is synonymous with "ba iong" (black), "ba iong-ngit" (pitch dark) and was not only translated as »dark; ignorant« (SINGH, N 1906: 74) or »black; dark; dismal; enigmatical; gloomy; ignorant; impenetrable; indistinct; murky; obscure; stygian; tenebrous« (SINGH, N 1920: 46, 107, 129, 154, 203, 231, 235, 249, 331, 345, 502, 522) but also as »black; blind; inert; murky« (BLAH, E 2007: 31, 148, 195). SITUATION: The cave entrance to Krem Dam lies at the downstream end of a blind valley about a kilometre or two approximately east from the village of Mawsynram (± 250 m N25°17'50”: E091°35'10”: 1401.5 m asl WGS84). No autochthonous, indigenous or locally known name has been identified for the stream which sinks into the cave (insurgence) with an impressive cave entrance (estimated 30 m across) illuminating an approximately »large« pool of water without identified size. CAVE DESCRIPTION 1994: From the cave entrance, the cave passage straight on heads into the hill in a south-westerly direction for over 400 m. At a distance of 120 m from the cave entrance, an approximately »short« (sic!) climb up west, which, in cases is one or the other self-centered person's »right« (note 3), gains not only a ledge and a window but also a dry walking and a wet crawling sized cave passage, the so-called »Histo Crawl« which is rather a Hysto Crawl (note 4) and runs parallel to the main cave passage and rejoins the streamway after some 150 m. At 400 m into the cave, the streamway turns abruptly to the west (right) and sort of »a large« junction is met. The way on lies ahead via an approximately »large oxbow« (bypass) passage that rejoins the streamway after some 70 m. To a so-called »right« (without orientation) of this »oxbow« is a complex maze of interconnected and mainly walking-sized cave passages. Following the streamway to one or the other »right« (without identified direction) reaches a T-junction. »Left« (sic!) is choked but right leads up via a short tightish climb to a chamber with two ways on. Down through boulders leads to a sump whilst up leads to a small chamber containing sort of »a large« bat population. At the far end of this bat chamber a short climb down leads to a rift passage into a loose boulder ruckle with numerous small ways on none of which have been pushed to what was understood to represent a definite conclusion. Following the main cave beyond the sports caver's »oxbow« (bypass), the streamway changes in size, gets lower and wider, continues for another 200 m and meets sort of a relatively »large« roof collapse. Here, the cave passage turns abruptly south-east and runs, gradually diminishing in size, for another 200 m before it leads to a relatively »large« area of collapse and a thin rift in the roof where daylight enters (note 5). CAVE DESCRIPTION 2005: »For a sandstone cave, it is quite large, measuring 2022 m. A sizeable stream running down the valley enters the impressive entrance measuring about 30 m across. It consists mainly of one large river passage with side passages in the form of a complex maze of passages« (KHARPRAN DALY 2005 s.a.). CAVE POTENTIAL: There are not only unspecified »numerous ways on« expressively pointed out, of which »none … have been pushed to a definite conclusion« (BROOKS & SMART 1995: 29), but also the unsolved question how water sinking into such a dark cave does resurge into relatively broad daylight. CAVE LIFE: Unspecified bats (Chiroptera) and what was identified as fungi: Anonymous (most likely Christopher M. Smart) points out that »in several of the caves we visited [during November 1992 in Meghalaya] a lichen like white roof fungus, apparently ghosted or beaded with droplets of condensation was conspicuous. In Krem Dam, as in other caves [cfr. –>Jynniaw Cave 1], this was always found close to an entrance. It is possible that this is related to Actinomycetes of the genus Streptomyces existing in intimate biological association with the fungus Fusarium« (BROOKS & SMART 1995 appendix 1: v). »We also found frogs [Amphibia: Anura] in Krem Dam … only in close proximity to entrances« (C. M. Smart in: BROOKS & SMART 1995 appendix 1: ii).
NOTE 1: Christopher M. Smart interpreted the arenaceous limestone, in which Krem Dam and Krem Mawjymbuiñ have developed, as »calcareous sandstone« though his own chemical analysis of a rock sample collected from »the wall at the entrance of Krem Mawjymbuin« proofed that this specimen contained only about one third (34.2%, 33.6%) in weight of insolubles: »Under the hand lens, the specimen exhibited a fragmental texture with a high degree of compactness. Despite this compactness the rock was comparatively soft. A 0.03 mm thin section … was examined using a polarising petrological microscope. The fine grained groundmass was immediately evident with a few medium grained (0.25 mm to 1 mm) clasts. Sorting was observed to be good to very good but there was no preferential orientation of the mainly sub-angular grains. With the analyser out, the rock appeared to predominately consist of colourless and mainly low relief minerals. The phenomenon of twinkling, alternating strongly marked and slightly marked borders, with rotation of the polariser served to indicate the presence of calcite. With the analyser in, the colourless minerals seen before were identified as quartz« (BROOKS & SMART 1995 appendix xiv).NOTE 2: »This cave is formed entirely in a calcareous sandstone and it is believed to be the largest sandstone cave in the Indian Sub-Continent« (BROOKS & SMART 1995: 30). NOTE 3: Directions such as "left" and "right" could be misleading depending on which way one was facing. NOTE 4: This "histo" reflects a hysterical (deriving from or affected by uncontrolled extreme emotion) approach to bats far from home which is triggered by great tales about Histoplasmosis, the name of a group of diseases resulting from inhalation of the spores of Histoplasma capsulatum, the imperfect state of a fungus of the Ascomycotina (*). It occurs in soil, including that with a high nitrogen content such as from the guano of bats and birds. It has been recorded from over 50 countries around the world, with a high incidence of a positive reaction to skin tests in some areas. It has been associated with caves, particularly in the New World and Africa. It has been recorded rarely in Europe and the Middle East (records from Romania, Cyprus, and Israel), Asia (records only from Malaysia), and Australia. It is found principally in dusty bat caves. It may frequently give rise to mild respiratory disorders and is rarely fatal. A simple precaution is the use of a respirator or mask that can remove particles as small as two microns in diameter. * SCHWARZ, J (1981): Histoplasmosis.- Praeger Special Studies (New York: Praeger Publishers). SACKS, J J; AJELLO, L & CROCKETT, L K (1986): An outbreak and review of cave-associated Histoplasmosis capsulati.- Journal of Medical and Veterinary Mycology, 24, 313–327. NOTE 5: Chink (noun, English), a narrow opening or crack, typically one that admits light; a narrow beam or patch of light admitted by such an opening (New Oxford American Dictionary 2005, 2nd edition). Origin (mid 16th century), related to chine.
Documents
Bibliography 26/03/2016History
EXPLORATION HISTORY: 1992.11.14: Simon J. Brooks, Christopher M. Smart, Rob Harper and Helen Harper, who had been chauffeur-driven by »a local taxi driver, by the name of Mr. Noro« (BROOKS & SMART 1995: 9) from Shillong to Mawsynram, »visited, explored, surveyed and photographed Krem Dam« (BROOKS & SMART 1995: 13) to a degree yielding a "survey" (total sum of survey leg lengths) and a basic cave survey (cave plan) lacking details. 1994.02.09: Rob and Helen Harper »investigated« (strolled around) the »countryside above Krem Dam looking for other caves« (BROOKS & SMART 1995: 20). Christopher M. Smart and Boycott, Antony 'Tony' or »Chris and Tony returned to Krem Dam to do some photography and in the process find new passage beyond a boulder choke« (BROOKS & SMART 1995: 20). 1994.02.10: Christopher M. Smart, Boycott, Antony 'Tony', Rob and Helen Harper a.k.a. »Tony, Rob, Helen and Chris … explored and surveyed [sports caver standards: To a degree yielding a "survey" (a sum of survey leg lengths) but no cave survey / cave plan] 500 metre of passage beyond boulder collapse« (BROOKS & SMART 1995: 20).
Caves nearby
| Distance (km) | Name | Length (m) | Depth (m) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.9 | MAWJYMBUIÑ, Mawsynram (Krem) | ||
| 0.9 | MAWSYNRAM CAVE (Kharpran Daly 1999) (aa -) | ||
| 1.4 | RIDA (Krem) | ||
| 2.8 | MAWSYNRAM - Jathang (Spring near) | ||
| 3.1 | KYNTURSNIANG (Krem hajan) | ||
| 3.4 | PHUD JASIM, 1st (Krem) | ||
| 3.4 | PHUD JASIM, 2nd (Krem) | ||
| 3.5 | MADURI (Krem) | ||
| 3.5 | PURI (Krem) |