ABSTRACTS

58 Volume, 2007, Number: 1-4

SCIENTIFIC PAPERS

Measurements of ice thicknesses using georadar in alpine caves
(Eisdickenmessungen in alpinen Höhlenmit Georadar)
Michael Behm, Helmut Hausmann

Ground penetrating radar (GPR) has been used to determine the ice thickness at several locations in three alpine ice caves Eisriesenwelt, 1511/24, Salzburg; Dachstein-Mammuthöhle, 1547/9, Upper Austria; Dachstein-Rieseneishöhle, 1547/17, Upper Austria). It could be shown that shielded antennas with relatively high frequencies (500 MHz) are sufficient to penetrate the ice up to 15 m depth. 3D layouts (crossing profiles) were necessary to delineate the subsurface in detail and to verify that certain reflections in the radargramm sections originate from the subsurface. In almost all radargramm sections, the lower boundary of the ice body is identified by the onset of strong and sharp reflections. We attribute this to either increased humidity at the ice – rock contact (due to melting) or to a sedimentary layer between ice and rock. Pronounced layering of the ice body itself is clearly seen at some locations, which may results from alternating air content. The maximum thickness is 7.5 m in Eisriesenwelt (location Eispalast), 6 m in the Dachstein-Mammuthöhle (location Saarhalle) and 15 m in the Dachstein-Rieseneishöhle (location Tristandom).

Vermiform excentriques with unusual calcite structure – investigations with the Electron BackScattered Diffraction
(EBSD) method
(Wurmförmige Excentriques mit ungewöhnlichem Calcitgefüge – Untersuchungenmit der Elektronen-Rückstreu-Beugungs-Methode)
Detlev K. Richter, Rolf D. Neuser

Vermiform helictites (excentriques) from a former side branch of the Breitscheid-Erdbach cave are frequently polycrystalline and not composed of a single calcite crystal. The electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD)-technique reveals a lath-shaped calcite structure with c-axes oriented nearly parallel to the elongation of the helictites. The resulting structure of the helictites is a calcite fibre bundle diverging along the growth direction. Three equivalent symmetrical sectors can be distinguished. The maximum deviation from the elongation is 18° and occurs at the exterior in the centre of the segments of the excentriques. The complex internal structure and the conical shape of the tip of the excentriques suggest a special kind of calcite precipitation, whereby biofilms seem to have played a significant role.

New faunal remains rom the Moosschacht (2836/237) on the Tanneben near Semriach, Styria
(Neue Knochenfunde aus dem Moosschacht (2836/237) auf der Tanneben bei Semriach, Steiermark)
Martina Pacher

Faunal remains from the Moosschacht collected in 2003 and 2004 are presented. Five mammalian species were identified but their chronological position remains unclear. Judging from their preservation, the bones are classified as fossil or subfossil remains. Evidence of row deer and the rather small size of the red deer bones point to an accumulation of the remains during a warm period after the Late Glacial Maximum, while marmot remains indicate a colder period of time.

The Murmeltierschacht (2836/239) near Semriach (Steiermark) und its faunal remains
(Der Murmeltierschacht (2836/239) bei Semriach (Steiermark) und seine Knochenfunde)
Heinrich Kusch, Martina Pacher

First results of scientific explorations in the recently discovered Murmeltierschacht (2836/239) are presented. At present the cave has a length of 23 m and reaches a depth of 9 m. Sandy sediments that nearly filled up all the chambers were partly removed. Mainly remains of marmots (Marmota marmota L.) were recovered within the sediment. The distribution pattern of the bones suggests that they were transported into the cave together with the water-lain sediment. A marmot bone yielded a conventional AMS radiocarbon age of 14,575 ±45 BP. The new marmot assemblage correlates both in terms of its chronology and metrical dimensions with numerous remains in the southeastern Alpine area. At the end of the Late Glacial Maximum and during the Late Glacial period Alpine marmot was a typical faunal element in the mountainous area near Graz and the adjacent basins.

FORSCHUNGSBERICHTE

Polish cave explorations in Salzburg – Part 1: Achievements of cavers from Krakow (KKTJ)
(Polnische Forschungen in den Höhlen Salzburgs – Teil 1: Die Erfolge der Krakauer Höhlenforscher (KKTJ))
Andrzej Ciszewski, Walter Klappacher

For more than 30 years, Polish cavers have been exploring Salzburg’s karst areas in cooperation with Salzburg’s Speleological Society. This is the first of two articles, which will present the great achievements of the Polish cavers in a comprehensive documentation for the first time. This part deals with the Polish expeditions headed by A. Ciszewski to the Leoganger Steinberge and the Kitzsteinhorn, as well as the results of two smaller explorations in the Loferer Steinberge and the Tennengebirge. The systematic exploration of the Lamprechtsofen and its catchment areas in the high regions of the Leoganger Steinberge, which have been going on for decades, is of international importance. More than 50 km long and 1632 m deep, the Lamprechtsofen ranks among the major cave systems of the Alps. The Feichtner-Schachthöhle situated on the Kitzsteinhorn is considered to be one of the most important caves of the Central Alps. 1145 m deep and 5.5 km long, it is of special interest because it has developed in calcareous mica schist where karstification occurs only to a limited extent.

The Schneekegelhöhle as part of the Almberg-Höhlensystems (1624/18) – a new exploration project in the Grundlsee Mountains, Totes Gebirge (Styria)
(Die Schneekegelhöhle als Teil des Almberg-Höhlensystems (1624/18))
Thomas-Michael Schneider, Thomas Bayn

The Schneekegelhöhle (1624/110 a-b) is located in the western part of the Totes Gebirge mountain range near Bad Aussee, Styria, Austria. Its entrance lies on the plateau of the Almberg north of the Grundlsee. In particular, two caves are well known in this area: The Großes Almbergloch (1624/16) and the Almberg-Eisund-Tropfsteinhöhle (1624/18 a-b). The Schneekegelhöhle was discovered by chance in 1978 while members of the german caving-clubs VHM (Munich) and FHKF (Nuremberg) were searching for the upper entrance of the Almberg-Eis-und-Tropfsteinhöhle. In those days, the cave ended up after 810 m of length with no rospect on new discoveries. Years after, new galleries could be explored due to melting ice. Since 2004, the exploration of the Schneekegelhöhle and the caves of the Almberg is the aim of “Projekt Almberg”, by members of the FHKF, supported by the Verein für Höhlenkunde in Obersteier (VHO). Its cavers decided to proceed in former explorations and to create a new survey, including all new parts. The aim was to establish a new cave-map of the Almberg in form of an atlas-system, based on fixed surface-coordi-nates. These works were carried out in 2005/06, leading so far to a total length of 1986 m of subterranean galleries with a depth of 258 m. Additional measurements at the surface were necessary and have been conducted with professional support, using a modern realtime kinematik-GPS unit. Due to the exploration of exciting new parts in the cave, we were able to discover two connections to the Almberg-Eis-und-Tropfsteinhöhle. Therefore a new cave-system, the Almberg-Höhlensystem (1624/18 a-d), with a total length of 8279 m has been established. Current aims of research are surveying, cave-climate-monitoring (including radonmeasurements) and cave-fauna-samples.

Explorations in the Burgunderschacht (1625/20, Totes Gebirge, Steiermark) 1993 – 2006
(Forschungen 1993 – 2006 im Burgunderschacht (1625/20, Totes Gebirge, Stmk.))
Michael Behm, Alex Klampfer, Lukas Plan

The cave system Burgunderschacht (1628/20 a-ai) is located in the so-called Tauplitz-Schachtzone (Tauplitz shaft zone) at the southern margin of the Totes Gebirge. Already in the 1970s, French caving expeditions reached a depth of –827 m and roughly mapped some 2.5 km of passages. In the middle of the 1980s, members of the Caving Club of Vienna and Lower Austria started a systematic exploration of the Tauplitz-Schachtzone including a detailed documentation of the Burgunderschacht. The cave system is characterised by mainly active vadose pits that give access to inactive phreatic galleries in various altitudinal levels. Until 1992, a total of 10,055 m of passages down to a depth of –523 m were mapped, summarized in a monography on the area by Hermann (1993). Since then, explorations by cavers from eastern Austria continued, leading to a present length of 20,160 m. This is mainly due to discoveries within the extensive horizontal levels at an altitude of 1700 and 1550 m a.s.l. as well as connections with two major nearby caves: Wasserfallschacht in the year 1994 and Häuslerhöhle (2003). The knowledge of the cave system concerning genesis, hydrology, and cave ice have been considerably enriched and the differences to and similarities with other caves in the eastern Totes Gebirge are more precise now. For future years, there are several promising continuations including pits that could lead further down and potential connections with the ~18 km long DÖF–Sonnenleiter–Höhlensystem and to the cloze-by ~2 km
long Canyonschacht.

 

10 years of exploration within the Weißenbach Cave Project
(10 Jahre Forschungen im Weißenbach-Höhlenprojekt)
Ernest Geyer

1996 the Weißenbach cave project was founded by Verein für Höhlenkunde in Obersteier (VHO) in the south eastern part of the Totes Gebirge (Wascheneckstock). In the last 10 years, explorations were carried out in this area in 60 different caves. 28 new caves were registered in the Austrian cave register. 6035 m of cave passages were surveyed and documented. Important palaeontological finds were made in the Große Ochsenhalthöhle. In August 2006, a VHO caving camp was organised in the Hochangern area for the first time.

Ice caves near Kotalm in the western Totes Gebirge (mountain range 1616)
(Die Eishöhlen im Gebiet der Kotalm im westlichen Toten Gebirge (Teilgruppe 1616))
Clemens Tenreiter

The area around Kotalm near Bad Ischl on the Hohe Schrott (mountain range 1616 in the Austrian cave cadastre) has been explored speleologically only since 2004. The investigated area lies on the western flank of the Schrott massif in-between Teuflingkogel, Kotalm, and Hochglegt. Within two years, 10 caves with a cumulative length of 431 m were investigated and surveyed. Notably are four ice caves, which are the only one within the Hohe Schrott massif. The investigated area extends from 1400 to 1783 m elevation and is characterised by dens mugo pines, woods, and meadows.