Lycopodium Spores
- Thread starter Jopo
- Start date
Graigwen
Active member
Baldwins do sell them, but as a health food.
I don't write from experience, but would be very worried by the possibility of contamination if using Lycopodium spores for tracing. The spores have evolved to get everywhere and I would guess you need separate teams to deploy and recover them.
https://www.baldwins.co.uk/baldwins-lycopodium-club-moss-powder-lycopodium-clavatum
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I don't write from experience, but would be very worried by the possibility of contamination if using Lycopodium spores for tracing. The spores have evolved to get everywhere and I would guess you need separate teams to deploy and recover them.
https://www.baldwins.co.uk/baldwins-lycopodium-club-moss-powder-lycopodium-clavatum
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Graigwen said:
I'm no expert but have seen spore testing done and helped collect the nets.
The spores used for dye testing can be dyed a variety of colours to differentiate them from those naturally occurring.
It is a well tried and tested method where fine mesh nets are placed in strategic spots in or out of the cave or sink/resurgence under investigation. Lots has been written about lycopodium testing and one of the upsides is that you can use different colours to investigate different routes. On the downside the nets have to be collected at intervals if a through put is required and cross contamination has to be taken into account. And of course you need a good magnifier or microscope to check the nets.
Jopo
From what I can recall from the last dye tracing workshop I attended I was under the impression that dyes are more commonly used now as they offer more reliable results - fluorescein, optical brightener and a red one who's name is temporarily eluding me.
Is there a particular reason to use lycopodium over dye?
Is there a particular reason to use lycopodium over dye?
Minion said:
Yes, that's the one.
How soon are you wanting to do this? I'm hoping to put on another dye tracing workshop with the bcra later in the year, but probably not until the late autumn now. I will be discussing it at the council meeting at the end of the month.
There are various things to know consider such as calculating how much dye to use (and if you need to notify the environment agency) and collection methods - usually activated charcoal or cotton wool but it depends on the type of dye.
mch
Member
You need to be careful with Rhodamine B due to its association with cancer. Fluorescein is a better option if you are going for a dye. As far as I am aware, you don't just need to notify the Environment Agency, you need to get their consent. Optical brightening agent is probably a better option if you are not used to dealing with dyes or spores as you don't need EA consent and you can use ultraviolet light to detect it on cotton wool detectors.
The main reason for using spores is that this will be a repeat of a positive test using optical brightener. The result was so surprising that cavers started muttering about the farm doing their weekly wash. The resurgence is not huge but runs continuously. The dig had a stream which was diverted and will have to be reinstated for the test or we could get a bowser and pump quite close.
I have been kindly donated dyed spores (via this forum) and only need to get them from 'up north' to S Wales. I can make the nets and frames.
Jopo
I have been kindly donated dyed spores (via this forum) and only need to get them from 'up north' to S Wales. I can make the nets and frames.
Jopo
