ABSTRACTS

56 Volume, 2005, Number: 1-4

SCIENTIFIC PAPERS

THE KARST ON THE ERZWIES, BAD HOFGASTEIN (SALZBURG)
Der Karst auf der Erzwies, Bad Hofgastein (Salzburg)
Giorgio Höfer

The “Erzwies“ (“ore meadow“) is located in the upper part of the Angertal near Bad Hofgastein at an altitude of 2200 to 2500 m. The geology is dominated by 10 to 20 m thick marbles, surrounded and underlain by gneiss (“Zentralgneis”). Numerous karst phenomena are bound to a system of NNE-SSW- and E-W-striking joints. Quartzitic schists are locally folded into the marbles, resulting in different types of polje, springs, caves, shafts and sinkholes. The runoff of creeks and springs was studied and temperature, electrical conductivity and pH were measured. Karst waters have conductivity values of more than 100 µS/cm and pH values slightly above 8, while the conductivity values of surface waters and springs in gneiss are 60 to 90 µS/cm with pH values of less than 8. A cave system called “Silberpfennighöhle” (2586/10) appears too large given the short time of its formation and missing signs of tectonic control. A model is proposed whereby the interactions of fluids derived from oxidation of ore minerals resulted in subsurface dissolution and karst cavity formation.

KARST-HYDROGEOLOGICAL AND SPELEOLOGICAL STUDIES IN THE HALLSTATT ZONE OF ISCHL – AUSSEE (UPPER AUSTRIA, STYRIA)
Karsthydrogeologisch-speläologische Untersuchungen in der Hallstätter Zone von Ischl – Aussee (Oberösterreich, Steiermark)
Hans Jörg Laimer

The paper deals with the karst of the Hallstatt unit, stretching from Bad Ischl to Bad Aussee and northern and western boundaries, respectively. As such, it is meant as both a survey of karstgeomorphology and an analysis of karsthydrology. Data were collected during the field work for a PhD thesis about karst water vulnerability mapping on the basis of a specific method developed in Austria. Triassic and Malm formations of limestone blocks in the Hallstatt unit are underpinned by layers of marl and evaporites. The hydrogeological situation leads to conditions of shallow karst with poor storage capacity in the aquifers. The karst morphology is governed by a type of karst that is predominant in alpine foothills and, as it is subject to constant lithological change, leads to the formation of contact karst. In shallow karst, ponor dolines and active water caves, which are linear oriented, assume major karsthydrological importance. In the Hallstatt unit most water caves drain small autochthonous recharge systems. The cave-systems show multi phase genesis without large cave levels.

SUCCESSFUL ATTEMPT OF DETECTING A CAVE USING GEORADAR
Erfolgreicher Versuch einer Höhlendetektion mit Georadar (GPR)
Michael Behm, Lukas Plan, Karl Heinz Roch

This article shows the successful application of delineating a known cave (Güntherhöhle, 2921/2, Lower Austria) with Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR). Reflections from the cave can be clearly seen in two profiles, and furthermore, hints for a shallow and unknown cavity are also found in both profiles. The penetration depth gained by the 40 MHz-Antenna is larger than 25 m. The shape and depth range of the most prominent reflections fit well with the cave chamber “Rote Halle”.

NEW RESULTS ON THE PREHISTORY OF ZOOLITHEN CAVE NEAR Burggaillenreuth, NORTHERN FRANCONIAN ALB, SOUTHERN GERMANY
Neue Erkenntnisse zur Vorgeschichte der Zoolithenhöhle bei Burggaillenreuth, Nördliche Frankenalb, Süddeutschland
Wilfried Rosendahl

The usage of the Zoolithen Cave during the Iron Age was well known due to pottery fragments recovered from the scree in front of the cave. A radiocarbon date of ash material attached to a pot shard confirms human use during the Iron Age (Hallstatt- Period). A prominent ash-layer occurring in the uppermost speleothem layer of the entrance section of the cave was also dated. The result shows that this layer does not correspond with the Iron Age habitation, but it suggests an older, as yet undocumented late Mesolithic usage of the Zoolithen Cave.

SELECTED OBROWN BEAR FINDINGS IN CAVES OF THE ALPINE REALM
Ausgewählte Braunbärenfunde aus Höhlen im Alpenraum
Doris Döppes, Martina Pacher

Nineteen sites of radiocarbon dated brown bears from Alpine regions of Austria, Germany, Italy and Switzerland are described. Samples have been dated by 14C-method (AMS or conv.). One specimen has been dated by U/Th-method. For each find, a description of the site, dating and the context of the find are given. The age of the finds range from Pleistocene/ Holocene transition into the Middle Ages. The climatic context and palaeobiological aspects are discussed.

THE BEARS OF BRIEGLERSBERG CAVE (1625/24)
Die Bären der Brieglersberghöhle (1625/24)
Gernot Rabeder, Michael Hofreiter, Eva Maria Wild

New genetic analyses yielded the surprising result that the cave „Brieglersberghöhle“ (Totes Gebirge, Styria) was inhabited by Ursus s. ladinicus (as yet known only from the Dolomites) and not by Ursus s. eremus as expected. An attempt is made to differentiate the new cave bear taxa morphologically. New 14C AMS dates of cave bear bone determine that the two taxa were living sympatrically in the same mountainous area in the Middle Würmian.

NEW PALEONTOLOGICAL DATA FROM THE BROWN BEAR CAVE IN THE HARTELSGRABEN (1714/1), GESÄUSE MOUNTAINS, STYRIA
Neue paläontologische Daten von der Bärenhöhle im Hartelsgraben (1714/1), Gesäuseberge, Steiermark
Gernot Rabeder

Fossil ursid remains excavated in 1986 in the Alpine bear cave „Bärenhöhle im Hartelsgraben“ are analysed by modern morphological methods. According to metric and morphodynamic datings this cave was inhabitated by a large cave bear form closely related to Ursus ingressus Rabeder & al., 2004.

THE NATURAL CONDITION OF CAVES IN AUSTRIA – COMPLETE SURVEY IN THE TEST AREAS HOCHTOR, BÜRGERALPE AND ANNIGER
Der Naturzustand der österreichischen Höhlen – Vollerhebung in den Testgebieten Hochtor, Bürgeralpe und Anningeras
Eckart Herrmann

The first part of a study concerning the status of naturalness (virginity) of Austrian caves comprises overall statistics of three cave regions in Styria and Lower Austria differing in geomorphology and land use. Except in high alpine areas nearly no cave was kept free of human influence if not transformation. Regarding the different motives, the influence of tourism is widespread but never destructive to caves while extraction of raw materials – especially in quarries – damaged a considerable part of all registered caves. Other cave uses are only of historic interest (like housing, defence) or were never of great importance (like traffic). This paper demonstrates that each karst region shows the effects of its specific human stress on caves. Unfortunately those caves held most important as well as those with large entrances are at the same time most endangered regarding all important aspects: their morphological integrity, their ecological functionality and their aesthetic attractiveness. The rather uniform legislation of cave protection that we have at present is quite unsuitable to guard against the manifold threats caves are facing today. So there is an urgent need for much more diversified strategies and provisions to conserve at least a few remarkable caves in their originality.

EXPLORATION REPORTS

THE CLARA CAVE, SENGSENGEGIRGE (UPPER AUSTRIA)
Die Klarahöhle im Sengsengebirge (Oberösterreich)
Helmut Steinmassl

Klarahöhle is situated in the Kalkalpen National Park and was discovered in autumn 1999 by Heli Steinmassl. Several kilometers of tunnel-like passages on a hitherto unknown horizontal level, enormous chambers and in some parts extraordinarily beautiful and gigantic stalagtites and stalagmites make this giant cave a very special treasure in the heart of the national park. It took the local team of speleologists only four and a half years to survey a total length of 23,018 m and to explore two more kilometers. By acting very carefully in exploring this speleothemcavern it remained untouched and in its original state. Sensible parts were barred with ribbons to protect them even against speleologists themselves. In April 2005 the cave was put under protection – applying strict rules – and gated. It offers an interesting field of research to scientists and explorers and it also enriches the Kalkalpen National Park by a whole new dimension.

THE SCHWARZMOOSKOGEL CAVE SYSTEM
Das Schwarzmooskogel-Höhlensystem (1623/40)
Robert Winkler

The Schwarzmooskogel-Höhlensystem (1623/40a-ak, SMK-System) has reached a length of 56 km which is the result of the connection of eight former separated caves. Therefore it has become the fourth largest cave of Austria. The article gives an overview of the karst area and the ongoing explorations.

SIXTY KILOMETERS IN THE DACHSTEIN MAMMUT CAVE
Sechzigster Kilometer in der Dachstein-Mammuthöhle (1547/9)
Michael Behm, Lukas Plan

By the end of 2004, the 60th km was reached in the Dachstein-Mammuthöhle (1547/9a-t). The cave (abbreviation DMH) is located in Upper Austria and is also a popular destination for guided tours. Since 1995, the cave length has increased about more than 10 kilometers to 60.512 m. This results from re-surveying of known parts, discoveries of new passages and connection with other caves. The Weißbierhöhle (formerly 1547/171a,b), which was discovered in 2001, is now the highest entrance of the DMH and increases the cave depth from 1199 m to 1207 m. Overall and also in the light of the new results, the characteristics of the DMH remain the same. Dominating are “old” and large phreatic passages and sometimes very complicated and active canyon systems. New tectonic, hydrological and geological observations could be made. In the list of the longest and deepest caves in Austria, the DMH occupies the third resp. fourth place. The DMH has 20 entrances, 19 natural and 1 man-made.

THE GAMSKAR ICE CAVE , TENNENGEBIRGE – A GIANT CAVE IN ONLY TWO YEARS
Die Gamskar-Eishöhle (1511/709) im Tennengebirge – In nur zwei Jahren zur Riesenhöhle
Peter Pointner

In 1998, some entrances of a new cave were found in the northern part of the Tennengebirge – at 1600 m a.s.l. First explorations increased the length to 1 km. After five years of stagnation in exploration, the main continuation was found and explored by G. Schwarzenberger sen. and P. Pointner. Big, heavily drafted and dry galleries lead southward. More than 5 kilometers mainly horizontal galleries were explored, evidently belonging to the giantcave level. The highlight of the exploration was the discovery of the Olympiahalle, which is 85 m in length and 75 m in width. At some places in the cave potholes and allochthone sediments, mainly in form of quartz, can be found. This gives an indication for a former heavy water flow through the cave system.

INTERIM REPORT ON CURRENT EXPLORATION IN THE SCHWARZE LACKE NEAR EISENERZ, STYRIA
Zwischenbericht über die aktuellen Forschungen in der Schwarzen Lacke bei Eisenerz, Steiermark
Robert Seebacher

The “Schwarze Lacke” or “Wassermannsloch” (1741/6) is the most important spring on the southern side of the Hochschwab karst massive and is located next to the road between the villages Hieflau and Eisenerz. It has been known for a long time and drew already speleological attention in 1747. The envoy of Kaiser Joseph, Anton Nagel, explored it and wrote an article about this karst object. The now issued report on Wassermannsloch describes mainly the exploration and research done by the „Verein für Höhlenkunde in Obersteier“ in the „Aquarius Project”, but also some of the earlier explorations. Today Wassermannsloch has an explored length of 1.084 meter and is the longest known cave system behind a permanent sump in Austria.