Mpatawa

Michael Laumanns - 22/11/2015

Access into the cave is via an easily climbable roof collapse that serves as a sinkhole in wet conditions. The descend leads to a huge meandering passage of up to 30 m width and height, which drains a streamlet from W to E where water samples were taken in 1995. The roof of the passage is entirely flat and consists of a single layer of sandy limestone. Very thick sediment deposits with an interesting stratigraphy can be found in Mpatawa cave. They can reveal important scientific results. The main gallery of Mpatawa is partly filled with massive calcite formations and flowstone barriers that nearly closes the passage 200 m from the entrance. Just a small conduit leads through the calcite depositions and the cave opens soon to its previous size again. Approximately 1,100 m from the entrance the passage meets a dominant tectonical fault and diminishes significantly in size. The subsequent crawl leads to a muddy sump with a high content of carbon dioxide in the air. According to the GPS data just 100 - 150 metres separate the Sump of Mpatawa cave from the "Whirlpool Inlet" of the Nandembo Cave System. Both caves are supposed to be hydrologically interconnected but a physical connection appears to be impossible. The Kilimdima resurgence (8°30'39,7" S - 038°52'47,1’’ E), located half-way between Mpatawa and Nangoma was originally thought to be a high-water overflow of Mpatawa. However, the water analysis (see annex 2) suggests that Kilindima does not belong to the Mpatawa hydric net but is much more likely to be part of the Nandembo Cave system (Antoci, Galletti & Ruggieri 1996) The flat roofed squeezy resurgence closes down in a muddy waterpool after a distance of 36 m from the cave’s entrance.