| What is Flowstone? As we distributed our first issue all over Southern Oregon we have heard several times, “Wow, I like the name. Flowstone, that’s cool.” This is usually followed by a pause and bit of a puzzled look, “But what is it?” It’s a cave formation. Our friends and family aren’t surprised by this name as we have been exploring caves for years, but what even they don’t understand is that we wanted to name our publication something that represented the area. Names with Rogue and River were out of the question, for obvious reasons. Then it came to us. We live thirty miles from the Oregon Caves National Monument! Our landscape is rich in limestone and marble, and flowstone is everywhere, whether people realize it or not. The following comes from our good friends at Wikipedia. Flowstones are composed of sheet like deposits of calcite formed where water flows down the walls or along the floors of a cave. They are typically found in "solution", or limestone caves, where they are the most common speleothem. However, they may form in any type of cave where water enters that has picked up dissolved minerals. Flowing films of water moving along floors or down positive-sloping walls build up layers of calcium carbonate (calcite), aragonite, gypsum, or other cave minerals. These minerals are dissolved in the water and are deposited when the water loses its dissolved carbon dioxide, meaning it can no longer hold the minerals in solution. The flowstone forms when thin layers of these deposits build on each other, sometimes becoming rounder as the deposit gets thicker. Cave Bacon in the Caverns of Sonora near Sonora, Texas. The deposits may grade into thin sheets called "draperies" where they go over overhanging portions of the wall. Some draperies are translucent, and some have brown and beige layers that look much like bacon (often termed "cave bacon"). Though flowstones are among the largest of speleothem, they can still be damaged by a single touch. The oil from human fingers causes the water to avoid the area, which then dries out. The following article gives more insight into the human impact on caves and why you should respect and honor the caves even if you may never step foot in one and especially if you do venture underground. |
| The Real Underground: Hidden Habitats By Brad McClellan The retreat to caves by humans seems to be a timeless, ageless pursuit. Whether a Stone Age refuge or a guided tour of a lighted commercial show cave, visits to a cave seem to strike a chord within our psyche. Literature, history and folklore are speckled with mystic imagery and speculations of caves religious or supernatural importance. In Thailand and other Eastern regions many sacred temples are located in caves. For an avid cave explorer the return from a subterranean visit can have a cleansing, rebirth-like effect. But why are caves important to us today? Just as it is important to maintain (or repair) the health of our rivers, trees and skies, it is equally important to take care of the ground beneath us. The following are just a few reasons why cave conservation and preservation should not be just an underground topic. Each cave is a unique microcosm and many caves have species of animals that are unique to only that cave. Bat colonies depend on a caves sensitive environment for hibernation and incubation of their young. (Unless you like biting flies and mosquitoes, bats are our friends.) Our planet’s fresh water supply flows through caves. Trash and toxic materials thrown into sink hole or cave will poison cave inhabitants, water wells and aquifers. Many caves contain microbial environments deep within that are ideal for research into life saving medicines. NASA even ventures below for their research. Once disturbed, archaeological evidence and historical records concerning weather patterns cannot be retrieved. The resources within caves are NON-RENEWABLE. Damage to cave walls, formations, water purity, biotic activity and animal habitats cannot be undone. Law protects caves and their contents. Unfortunately, the enforcement of the penalties for defacing, poisoning, or destroying sensitive cave environment has been difficult due to lack of education and awareness. Weakened environmental laws, compounded by unchecked abuse of PUBLIC LANDS by PRIVATE INTERESTS, place profits for developers ahead of the necessary concerns for this fragile final frontier. The following web sites can provide more information on cave conservation: The National Speleological Society www.caves.org The Biology of Caves, Karst & Groundwater www.utexas.edu/tmm/sponsored_sites/biospeleology American Cave Conservation Association www.cavern.org/acca/accahome.html |
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