LABIT, Lumshnong (Lanong 1999) (Krem)
25.180800,92.381400
Description
An unspecified cave entrance (unidentified shape, unidentified dimensions, unidentified orientation, unidentified characteristics) was said to give access to a cave with a »large fossil« in a cave passage (Jarratt, A R 1999 Mss in: Sandford Mss: IB Logbook 99). SITUATION: At an unidentified location immediately north of Lumshnong village and in the area between the Krem –>Kotsati cave entrances of Krem poh –>Shnong and the Krem –>Synrang Liehwait / Krem –>Wah Labit. CAVE DESCRIPTION 1999a: The known part of the cave is a relatively »… large fossil passage [note 1], all branches end in [sic! qua: lead to beginnings of unexplored continuations represented by] boulder chokes« (Jarratt 1999 Mss in: Sandford Mss: IB Logbook 99). CAVE DESCRIPTION 1999b: »… huge tunnel like passages … The main passage bifurcates and a short gallery on the LH side pops out in a parallel tunnel. Several other fine passages lead off, all ending in boulder chokes. A couple of digs lead to grotty bits of cave not worth surveying« (Jarratt 1999.02.11 Mss "Cave Log" 8: 68). PROSPECTS: It takes an especially talented expedition caver to consider »bits of cave not worth surveying« which lie very, very close to the Liehwait Maze of Krem –>Kotsati. The morphological connection is beyond question and the physical likely.
NOTE 1: Since the cave is not entirely filled with massive rock but empty to a degree which allows even grown up expedition cavers to enter, Jarratt 1999 Mss probably wanted to refer rather to a relic cave passage (abandoned by flowing water) than to a fossil cave that formed when a carbonate succession was undergoing karstification but subsequently was buried and infilled by neptunian deposits (LOWE & WALTHAM 1995: 25). A relic cave is an abandoned, inactive cave segment, left when the water that formed it is diverted elsewhere, normally due to rejuvenation, continuing cave development and increasing karstic maturity. Relic phreatic passage segments are abandoned in the vadose zone, where they may remain dry, retaining a typical phreatic morphology, or be invaded and modified to a keyhole profile by new streams (LOWE & WALTHAM 1995: 30)
History
EXPLORATION HISTORY: 1999.02.10: Boycott, Antony 'Tony', Anthony 'Tony' R Jarratt, Tom Chapman and Brian D. Kharpran Daly, guided by Alfred Lanong, reconnoitered and commenced to survey. 1999.02.11: Boycott, Jarratt, Kharpran Daly and Thilo Müller surveyed, mapped and thereby explored, fully videoed once and for all by Fraser W. Simpson and assisted by Alfred Lanong, Naphang Rymbai, Baltis Patwat, Ko Moolieh and scores of kids. Anthony 'Tony' R. Jarratt (1999.02.12 Mss "Logbook" 8: 68) reports to have »discovered« on 11th February 1999 in »Krem Labbit (Lumshnong) … 500 m of large pleasant passage« (mcra.org.uk/logbooks/?dir=jrat accessed 2008.12.05). 1999.02.12: Boycott and Jarratt returned to attempt sorting sort out the usual confusion of survey data.
Caves nearby
| Distance (km) | Name | Length (m) | Depth (m) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | LABIT, Lumshnong (Jarratt 1999) (Krem) | ||
| 0.1 | Scorpion Cave | ||
| 0.2 | DIENGJRI, Lumshnong, 3 (Krem) | ||
| 0.2 | DIENGJRI, Lumshnong, 4 (Krem) | ||
| 0.3 | DIENGJRI, Lumshnong (Krem) | ||
| 0.3 | DIENGJRI, Lumshnong, 2 (Krem) | ||
| 0.3 | KHLEIH UM LARNG CAVE, 1st | ||
| 0.3 | UMMYRSIANG (Krem) | ||
| 0.3 | KHLEIH UM LARNG CAVE, 2nd |