LYMBIT, Phlangwanbroi (Krem)

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 06/01/2018

The first of the two known cave entrances, which both descend down into the backup zone (note 1) of a vadose, horizontal cave, which was understood, literally quoted, as a sloping entrance of 5 m wide and 3 m high located in an area enclosed by a wall fence with an iron gate, with cement steps leading down into the cave (anonymous 2010.02.05 Mss: Krem Lymbit). EVALUATION: The Krem Lymbit on the outskirts of Phlangwanbroi is said to be a relatively very muddy cave and floods during summer as evidenced by the fine slippery mud coating on the walls (anonymous 2010.02.05 Mss: Krem Lymbit). GEOLOGY: The cave is on calcareous sandstone (anonymous, perhaps Kharpran Daly? 2010.02.05 Mss: Krem Lymbit), falls on the area classified as Cretaceous (MEDLICOTT 1869) on the geological map accompanying PALMER (1924 plate 27), and probably develops in a limy (PALMER 1924) facies of the Langpar Formation. ETYMOLOGY: The Sohra (Khasi) noun -ka lymbit- (note 2) means a bat (the flying mammal, zoologicall: Chiroptera). The Khasi noun -u phlang- signifies the grass (SINGH, N 1906: 157), the verb -wan- means to come (SINGH, N 1906: 245) and -u [soh] broi- is a kind of sour fruit (SINGH, N 1906: 14). SITUATION 2010: The cave entrance is just about 100 m from the road and just before the market at the village of Phlangwanbroi (anonymous Kharpran Daly, Brian D 2010.02.05 Mss: Krem Lymbit) or Phlang Wanbroi and Phlangooanbroi (note 3), which lies about 11 km along the road approximately south-west from the village of Mawsynram (N25°17'50”: E091°35'10”: 1401.5 m asl WGS84) and in the Phlangwanbroi G.S. Circle of the Mawsynram C.D. Block (note 4). SITUATION 2012a: None reported (note 5). SITUATION 2012b: Krem Lymbit, located in the village of Plangwangbro [sic!], formed in sandstone and partially explored in 2010 was extended [sic!] from 826 m to 1659 m (Anonymous 2012.03.10 Mss: Meghalaya 2012 Team 2 Diary). CAVE DESCRIPTION 2010: The cave [entrance] area is enclosed by a wall fence withan iron gate, with cement [concrete] steps leading down into the cave. The sloping entrance of 6 m wide and 3 m high leads to a very muddy [cave] passage in a general direction to the E - NE. Average width and high [sic! qua: height] of [the cave] passage is 4.5 x 3 m which narrows down at a few sections. At [a walking distance of] 220 m from the [first cave] entrance, another [second cave] entrance [note 6] is found on [some self centered person's private but objectively inconsistent] the left climbing up to a free climbable opening … [see: Krem –>Lymbit (Phlangwanbroi 2]. Further exploration gained another 250 m [of unspecified cave passages] with some side passages still open. (anonymous, perhaps Kharpran Daly, Brian D 2010.02.05 Mss: Krem Lymbit). CAVE DESCRIPTION 2011: The cave area is enclosed by a wall fence with an iron gate, with cement steps leading down into the cave. The sloping entrance is of w5m x h3m dimensions, facing SSW. It is mainly a very muddy passage heading ina general direction of N to NE. Average dimensions are w5m x h3m which narrows down at a few sections. At 220m from the entrance another entrance is found on the left climbing up to a free climbable opening located near N25°15’13.14”: E091°31’08.5”: 1046 m (pda Peter Ludwig) (Arbenz, T signed as if Brian D. Kharpran Daly 10thFeb.2010 2011.12.16 Mss Krem Lymbit.doc). CAVE DESCRIPTION 2012a: The cave proves to be much more complicated and extensive than originally thought (Simon J. Brooks, Kyle Wayne Baker, or Ryan P. Baker in: Anonymous 2012.03.10 Mss: Meghalaya 2012 Team 2 Diary, entry dated Tuesday 14th February 2012). CAVE DESCRIPTION 2012b: Krem Lymbit, located in the village of Plangwangbro [sic!], formed in sandstone and partially explored in 2010 was extended [sic!] from 826 m to 1659 m (Anonymous 2012.03.10 Mss: Meghalaya 2012 Team 2 Diary).SPELEOMETRY: As matters the multiple choice of lengthwise measured metres, which the Krem Lymbit near Phlangwanbroi is said to have yielded(Brooks, S J et al. 2010.03.12 Overview 2010.doc), we are told about lengths vertical range 339.58 ±8.9 m (+8.94 / -0) Arbenz, T as if Brian D. Kharpran Daly 10thFeb.2010 (2011.12.16 Mss Krem Lymbit.doc) 806 unknown Brooks, S J et al. (2010.03.12 Overview 2010.doc), Anonymous (2010.03.29 Survey summary.xls) 811 unknown or: 591 m (Anonymous et al. 2010.03.29 Diary (Current) 2010.doc: 4th February) + 210 m (Anonymous et al. 2010.03.29 Diary (Current) 2010.doc: 5th February) 825.79 unknown Length Pre-2012 (Anonymous 2012.06.20 in: Meghalaya 2012 Survey Summary (Team 2).xls) 826 unknown Brooks, Simon J (undated 2012 Mss -Meghalaya 2012 - Overview (Descent) V3.doc- forwarded 2012.06.23); DAVIDSON, Ross (2012) 833.31 unknown disguised as 416.67 m + 416.64 m Length Surveyed (Anonymous 2012.06.20 in: Meghalaya 2012 Survey Summary (Team 2).xls) 841 unknown Anonymous (2010.02.05 Mss: Krem Lymbit) 1659 unknown Brooks, Simon J (undated 2012 Mss -Meghalaya 2012 - Overview (Descent) V3.doc forwarded 2012.06.23); DAVIDSON, Ross (2012) 1659.1 unknown Anonymous (Brooks, S J 2012.06.23 undated Mss: Meghalaya 2012 Survey Summary Kopli.xls). PROSPECTS 2010: An unidentified number of unspecified side passages, which remained not only unexplored but also unsurveyed during the first days of February 2010, resulted in discovering that they are still open (anonymous 2010.02.05 Mss: Krem Lymbit). Brooks (2010.03.12 Overview 2010.doc) confirms that information about other new caves was gathered and this [Malaisohmat] area is likely to be the focus for further exploration in future years. PROSPECTS 2011: The main passage was surveyed to a conclusion but some side passages remain open. No obstacle is likely to be encountered -- except for the slimy mud (Arbenz, T signed as if Brian D. Kharpran Daly 10thFeb.2010 2011.12.16 Mss Krem Lymbit.doc). Comment: Checking the survey data and the survey books I found that there were possibly mayor mistakes in the lot. Especially series 7, whichis said to be an oxbow link between the survey stations 1/11 and 1/13 or 1/14. Then, the drawing by Roshan suggests a stream cave but his sketchbook shows a mud and gravel floor. Also Brian’s description suggests a muddy cave. I strongly advise to re-visit the cave and check it. Re-suveying is advisable ( Arbenz, T 16.12.2011 in: Arbenz, T signed as if Brian D. Kharpran Daly 10thFeb.2010 2011.12.16 Mss Krem Lymbit.doc). forwarded 2012.06.23); DAVIDSON, Ross (2012) 1659.1 unknown Anonymous (Brooks, S J 2012.06.23 undated Mss: Meghalaya 2012 Survey Summary Kopli.xls). PROSPECTS 2010: An unidentified number of unspecified side passages, which remained not only unexplored but also unsurveyed during the first days of February 2010, resulted in discovering that they are still open (anonymous 2010.02.05 Mss: Krem Lymbit). Brooks (2010.03.12 Overview 2010.doc) confirms that information about other new caves was gathered and this [Malaisohmat] area is likely to be the focus for further exploration in future years. PROSPECTS 2011: The main passage was surveyed to a conclusion but some side passages remain open. No obstacle is likely to be encountered -- except for the slimy mud (Arbenz, T signed as if Brian D. Kharpran Daly 10thFeb.2010 2011.12.16 Mss Krem Lymbit.doc). Comment: Checking the survey data and the survey books I found that there were possibly mayor mistakes in the lot. Especially series 7, which forwarded 2012.06.23); DAVIDSON, Ross (2012) 1659.1 unknown Anonymous (Brooks, S J 2012.06.23 undated Mss: Meghalaya 2012 Survey Summary Kopli.xls). PROSPECTS 2010: An unidentified number of unspecified side passages, which remained not only unexplored but also unsurveyed during the first days of February 2010, resulted in discovering that they are still open (anonymous 2010.02.05 Mss: Krem Lymbit). Brooks (2010.03.12 Overview 2010.doc) confirms that information about other new caves was gathered and this [Malaisohmat] area is likely to be the focus for further exploration in future years. PROSPECTS 2011: The main passage was surveyed to a conclusion but some side passages remain open. No obstacle is likely to be encountered -- except for the slimy mud (Arbenz, T signed as if Brian D. Kharpran Daly 10thFeb.2010 2011.12.16 Mss Krem Lymbit.doc). Comment: Checking the survey data and the survey books I found that there were possibly mayor mistakes in the lot. Especially series 7, whichis said to be an oxbow link between the survey stations 1/11 and 1/13 or 1/14. Then, the drawing by Roshan suggests a stream cave but his sketchbook shows a mud and gravel floor. Also Brian’s description suggests a muddy cave. I strongly advise to re-visit the cave and check it. Re-suveying is advisable ( Arbenz, T 16.12.2011 in: Arbenz, T signed as if Brian D. Kharpran Daly 10thFeb.2010 2011.12.16 Mss Krem Lymbit.doc).