I'm not an expert on speleothem collection but I think you are correct Mark, cores can be taken and I would suspect that some folks are using this method. However, I would assume that it requires the use of either an electric drill with a core barrel and some heavy duty battery packs or the use of a gas powered drill (I've seen that done in caves and I would not recommend it). I would assume that you might get better recovery and control by cutting a rock back in the lab on a diamond saw. Again, one of the specialists could inform us on the pros and cons of each method. I also know that some scientists will collect speleothems that have already been broken.
Geary -----Original Message----- From: Minton, Mark [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Wednesday, January 23, 2008 2:46 PM To: Texascavers Mailing List Subject: [Texascavers] RE: Dating Speleothems Geary Schindel said: >Generally, the speleothem is cut in half and rock specimens are removed along the axis of the speleothem I don't think it is necessary to remove entire formations for age dating any more (if it ever was). Relatively small cores can be drilled out leaving the main formation intact. If the core is taken from the back as the formation is normally seen, one would not even know it had been drilled. Mark Minton
