George, The CRF projects now days ask for 4 members on a survey, the fourth is to detail the surround. They do this with a book that list the different attributes (ie type of floor, ceiling, etc.). Unfortunately, this list of attributes was produced for Lechiguiha which gave me some problems when I was surveying in Cumberland Gap, VA. Also some of attributes required interpretation as to genesis or mineralogy. But by doing a list you could produce layers for a computer map and see the spatial relationship of features. I think it is a great idea. At the least, I think it would be very valuable to take strikes and dips at each station. Maps be should more than a pretty wall hanging.
Josh On Thu, Jan 28, 2010 at 12:34 PM, George Veni <[email protected]>wrote: > My "study" of Caverns of Sonora that I referred to in my earlier message is > also a survey. Many years ago, Jack Burch established a precise transit > survey through the commercial section, with a few short bits extending > off-trail. However his sketch was rudimentary and begged for detail. After > several trips to the cave just to talk with the owners and manager (not to > enter the cave), I was given permission to conduct a survey. > > We agreed to what in essence is an experiment. I have produced a highly > detailed and precise sketch of the transit survey, loaded with geologic and > other details. On average, sketching 15 m of passage took about 6 hours. > The > point was to see if this level of detail and precision (most sketched > features are measured, not sketched by eyeballing their size and position) > would tell us something important about the cave that would otherwise not > be > discovered. The answer is, "I don't know yet." I was going back over my > sketches filling in some additional geologic details when the ICS and > moving > to New Mexico put that work on the backburner. I'm hoping that this year > I'll finish those geologic details and then look at the results and > determine if the extra effort was worth it beyond a series of lovely, > exquisitely detailed and precise sketches. Depending on those results, I'll > discuss with the owners how the survey should proceed off trail. > > Surveying in Caverns of Sonora will never be a TSA or widely open project. > Off trail access is tightly restricted. Jack told me "The pretty part of > the > cave is off trail" and it is not shown because to move through those > sections of the cave is to do damage. In fact, the owners ask permission of > each other before going off trail. If additional off trail surveying is > approved, it will be carefully monitored by the owners with each team > member > specifically approved for access. > > George > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Mark Minton [mailto:[email protected]] > Sent: Thursday, January 28, 2010 10:03 AM > To: [email protected] > Subject: [Texascavers] Re: Sonora Butterfly > > As for there being 7 miles in Sonora, I doubt it, but if > true why hasn't anyone started a serious resurvey project? Could > make a great TSA activity. > > Mark > > > --------------------------------------------------------------------- > Visit our website: http://texascavers.com > To unsubscribe, e-mail: [email protected] > For additional commands, e-mail: [email protected] > >
