BIRAMITRAPUR HILL TOP CAVE
22.400000,84.733300
Description
Since MITRA & DUTTA (1974: 167) report the »formation of stalactite and stalagmite« (speleothems) from this cave (no name mentioned) it appears to be a natural cave and has formed in Precambrian Gangpur / Gangapur Limestone, which also features other karst landforms, including »doline, uvala, hum« (or so) while »interconnected underground conduit systems« are deduced not only from the existence of perennial karst springs but also from pumped quarry seepages yielding up to 90,000 liter of water per day (circa 3800 l/h or 63 l/min and about 1 l/s). SITUATION: Near »the top of a hill« (no name mentioned: Gurpahar / Gur Pahar?), somewhere »at Birmitrapur« or near Biramitrapur (note 1), and possibly on the Jharkhand side (note 2). GEOLOGY: ROY, A K et al. (1985: 85-88) undertook in the » Birmitrapur area, Sundergarh district « geophysical investigation for flux-grade limestone at Purnapani (N22°23': E84°52'). ROY CHOWDHURY (1973) reports economically exploitable limestone deposits in Sundergarh district (town near N22°07': E84°02'). The largest limestone outcrops (30 m thick, 6.4 km long, 228 to 240 m wide) are aligned in hills on a dolomite plain. Two broad limestone bands in the north and the south are separated by a 150 to 225 m broad belt of limestone. NARAYANASWAMI et al. (1957: 1-75) studied economic aspects of limestone and dolomite resources of the earthwhile Gangpur State (now Sundergarh district) where »limestone generally weathers to smooth hummocks of dark grey to white variegated appearance; where the rock is rich in phyllitic and micaeous partings, it stands out as ribbed strike ridges, at times resembling worm-eaten books.« KRISHNAN (1935) regarded the »Gangpur Series « of Sundergarh district to be older than the Archaean » Iron Ore Group « of Singhbhum district. pib.nic.in/archieve/lreleng/lyr2003/rsep2003/10092… (accessed 2006.04.14): »GSI officials visited the Gurpahar Limestone and Dolomite Quarry of Birmitrapur Limestone and Dolomite Mine of M/s Bisra Stone and Lime Company in Sundergarh district, Orissa. The mine was not working for the last 10 years and was completely water logged. The depth of water column was almost 10 m. On the advice of GSI the water is being pumped out from the quarry by Birmitrapur Municipality and after treatment, the same is supplied to the entire Birmitrapur township. This is a positive impact of mining helping environment.«
NOTE 1: From the adjacent Sundargarh district (Orissa) MITRA & DUTTA (1974, abstract only) report long, narrow and relative wide bands of Precambrian Gangapur Limestones and Dolomites underlain by poorly permeable hard rocks. NOTE 2: Birmitrapur (Biramitrapur) N22°24': E84°44' (unspecified geodetic datum probably Everest 1830, MITRA & DUTTA 1974: 167) or at N22°24': E84°46' (nima.mil/geonames accessed 16.11.2003) is not listed in the IMPERIAL GAZETTEER (1907-1908, 8: 246) but shown on the India Road Atlas (Eicher Goodearth 2006: 75 G2) in the area where the districts of Simdega (with the Biramitrapur Hills) and Sundargarh meet in the south of the Simdega Plateau and north of the South Koel river, which drains part of the Gangapur basin.
Cavités proche
| Distance (km) | Nom | Longueur (m) | Profondeur (m) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 54.4 | CHORDTALLA | ||
| 54.4 | Malmalpur Cave | ||
| 54.4 | SHITALPUR CAVE | ||
| 70.5 | MATAMPA (Grottes de) | ||
| 70.5 | Gua | ||
| 80.4 | NOAMUNDI | ||
| 85.5 | ANJANA DEVI GUFA, Anjan, Anjana | ||
| 139.7 | GOPINATHPUR (Caves at) | ||
| 161.9 | RANGAMATIA HILL (Cave on) |