3DD: Drik Drik, Victoria

Overview

This is a soft-rock karst region with a complex geological history. Karst and caves have formed in both Tertiary limestones and overlying Quaternary calcareous dunes. In addition there is a plateau capped with late Tertiary basalt that has subjacent karst dolines. The edge of this plateau may be a fault scarp.

The longest known cave (3DD-4) currently has about 2 km of stream passage. This is entered at its downstream end via a large collapse doline on the scarp and the stream passage extends back beneath the plateau, whith an spiral pattern so that it circles beneath itself. The cave has numerous mud speleothems.

Exploration and karst studies by the Victorian Speleological Association is continuing. The reports included here are only preliminary.

Some VSA Progress Reports

• Report on the geology and karst setting of the area, KG. Grimes, 1999 (.PDF)
• Trip report, KG Grimes, 2001 Hydrology & geomorphology of DD-4 cave
• Trip Report, KG Grimes, 2004 Hydrology & mud speleothems.
• Trip Report, KG Grimes, 2004 Hydrology & surface levelling.
• Trip Report, KG Grimes, 2005 Hydrology, geology & more mud speleothems.
• Trip Report, KG Grimes, 2006 Description of the spring at DD-25, and a (failed) salt trace from DD-4.

Pages of Photos

• Surface karst in the DD-4 area
• Photos of the main stream cave: DD-4
• Geological photos (mainly cave sediments)
• Speleothems in DD-4
• Mud Stalactites, etc. in DD-4
• Biology

Selected photographs and diagrams

KG.Grimes' photointerpretation map of karst and other topo features in the Drik Drik area. As of Feb 2004. This is an active draft and subject to change. Red = Dolines Orange = large uvala Brown = scarp Green = swampy areas (dune hollows?) Yellow = alluvium File: 3DD-Phot.png

Draft cave map of DD-4. Circa 2004, and being actively updated as the survey progresses. Upper levels shown in red. Arrows show stream flow direction Blue = surface dolines. File: 3DD4-map.png