Cave Quiz 3: Chapters 4-5

Question 1

Define detrital formations

Answer 1

sediments brought into the caves by streams and residual material left by the limestone

Question 2

Define dripping speleothem

Answer 2

stalactites, stalagmites, and columns that are growing

Question 3

Define desiccation cracks

Answer 3

cracks occurring because of shrinking of sediment as it dries

Question 4

define master joints

Answer 4

a tectonic discontinuity (fault line) that a given cave passage follows.

Question 5

List the three types of active caves.

Answer 5

inflow, outflow, and through

Question 6

Name the two types of eccentric speleothems.

Answer 6

Those that grow from stactites (helictites) and those that grow from stalagmites (heligmites)

Question 7

Name some pieces of gear needed for cave exploration

Answer 7

good footwear, good rope, flashlight, hard hat, gloves, pack, wool socks, knee pads

Question 8

Name four of the concerns, problems, and challenges faced by modern cave explorers as they study a cave.

Answer 8

ascending and descending by rope, crawling through muck and water, moving through large adn small chambers, following joints and scallops.

Question 9

What family spent the most time in a cave during World War II, and what is the name of the cave system this family used?

Answer 9

The Stermers (a Jewish family from Ukraine); Popowa Yama Cave

Question 10

Name some non-calcite speleothems.

Answer 10

gypsum flowers, balloons, crusts, chandeliers, angel hair (mirabilite), moonmilk

Question 11

What concerns are there for those trying to take photographs in a cave?

Answer 11

humidity increases the absorption of light; unpleasant colors can result when using artificial light films; much time is required to take simple shots with artificial light films

Question 12

What is a shield

Answer 12

a special type of speleothem made up of two semicircular plates growing parallel to each other. They can grow more than three feet in diameter.

Question 13

What are cave rafts?

Answer 13

When cave pool water is saturated and very calm, thin flakes of calcite start growing, floating on the water, and are called cave rafts.

Question 14

What is the most obvious logical argument against a very old age of speleothems?

Answer 14

recorded growths of speleothems refute the necessity of tens or hundreds of thousands of years

Question 15

Who was the first to build and use a diving device?

Answer 15

Alexander the Great in 325 B.C.

Question 16

Who was the one who co-invented the Aqualung and was the first to SCUBA dive inside a cave?

Answer 16

Jaques-Yves Cousteau