DD-4: Mud Stalactites

The walls of DD-4 cave are commonly coated with a brown mud, except where active seepage (on east wall) is depositing calcite speleothems. The upper walls have dry mud, which is flaking off, but the lower metre or two has damp mud coatings with several "speleothem" forms. The cave appears to have flooded to the roof with muddy water at times in the past, possibly as a result of rockpile blockages downstream.

Many mud surfaces have a spotty secondary covering of light grey powder which probably consists of actinomycetes or a similar micro-organism. This powder can be seen in many of the close-up photos.

Many of the mud stalactites are thin strings attached to the wall at several points. This suggests that they may be coating cobwebs or other organic filaments.

For more discussion, see my Trip Report on DD-4, KG Grimes, 2004.

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Selected photographs and diagrams

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Mud coated walls: general

3DD-4, Entrance section.
Mud-coated walls, with incipient mud stalactites.
10 cm scale.

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3DD-4: Entrance section.
Mud-coated walls with incipient mud stalactites.
Stereopair (view cross-eyed)

File: D040085a.jpg

Mud stalactites

3DD-4: Entrance section.
Two small mud "strings" on left and (on right) a "wishbone" comprising a loop with a short mud string hanging from it.
Could these strings be coating old cobwebs or similar organic filiaments?

File: D040084ax.jpg

3DD-4: Entrance section.
Mud string. Hanging from a "tripod" of three strings.
Grey spots are growths of Actinomycetes (?)
Stereopair (view cross-eyed)

File: D040041x.jpg

3DD-4: Entrance section.
Long thin mud string.
Stereopair (view cross-eyed)

File: D040044.jpg

3DD-4: Entrance section.
Mud string. Hanging from a short "leaf" with holes.
Blow-fly for scale ! These things wobble when flies land on them, but do not break.
Stereopair (view cross-eyed)

File: D040048a.jpg

3DD-4: Entrance section.
A group of triangular mud "leaves", with short mud strings at the ends. Note that there are irregular and angular holes and missing sections.
Stereopair (view cross-eyed)

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3DD-4: Entrance section.
Closer view of the triangular mud "leaves".
Stereopair (view cross-eyed)

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3DD-4: Just beyond First Rockfall.
Various types of mud stalactites

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3DD-4: Between U-bend and Falls.
Carrot shaped mud stalactites, bent in a downstream direction

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3DD-4: Between U-bend and Falls.
Carrot shaped mud stalactites, bent in a downstream direction

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Mud coated calcite speleothems

3DD-4: between 1st & 2nd rockfall.
Mud-coated stalactites.

File: C991219x.jpg

3DD-4: between 1st & 2nd rockfall.
Mud-coated stalactites.
The mud is forming "strings" and thin sheets in places.

File: C991222.jpg

Mud stalagmites and drip holes

3DD-4: between 1st & 2nd rockfall.
Drip holes and small conical mud stalagmites.

File: C991220.jpg

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