Dave Shearsmith
Member
We apologise for 2 mistakes that crept into the last Newsletter and thank the individuals who emailed to bring them to our attention. The dates for HE 2026 are, of course, 25-27 September and the latest details of Mark Tringham's Seminar are:
#10 — Mon 08 Dec 2025
The Symonds Yat Cave System, Forest of Dean; initial scientific findings in the recent Redhouse Lane Swallet discoveries
Hand-in-hand with the recent exploration, conservation and surveying in Redhouse lane Swallet, initial findings have been made on a range of interesting speleogenetic and geological features. In particular, knowledge has been gained on the relict and present day drainage routes in the system that are contiguous with parts of the Wet-Sink-Slaughter Stream Cave. Copious amounts of cryogenic sediments have been found including powdery calcite in the centre of many passages, fluffy mud and other mud mound features, bouldering and perched sediments on passage sides. Running North-South through the centre of the newly found part of Redhouse a prominent monocline structure has been intersected and this geological structure has impacted on passage orientation and character, bringing the cave across and up stratigraphically from the Lower Dolomite Formation into the Crease and Whitehead Limestones. Within the Crease Limestone colourful iron mineralisation and sandstone dykes have been seen in some places and these are likely related to Intra-Carboniferous paleo-karst development. Many of the very large passages found, by far the biggest in the Forest of Dean, follow massive wrench-faults commonly containing impressive breccias many metres in width and horizontal slickensides.
Much remains to be done on recording these and other features before any comprehensive analysis is possible. However, as before with Wet Sink-Slaughter Stream Cave part of the Symonds Yat Cave System, science can point the way to further finds and will continue feeding into the renewed impetus on exploration and digging that has been handsomely rewarded during the last 14 months.
These exciting discoveries are a great way to round of our 2025 seminar programme and we hope many members will join us on the 10th
Dave S
#10 — Mon 08 Dec 2025
The Symonds Yat Cave System, Forest of Dean; initial scientific findings in the recent Redhouse Lane Swallet discoveries
Hand-in-hand with the recent exploration, conservation and surveying in Redhouse lane Swallet, initial findings have been made on a range of interesting speleogenetic and geological features. In particular, knowledge has been gained on the relict and present day drainage routes in the system that are contiguous with parts of the Wet-Sink-Slaughter Stream Cave. Copious amounts of cryogenic sediments have been found including powdery calcite in the centre of many passages, fluffy mud and other mud mound features, bouldering and perched sediments on passage sides. Running North-South through the centre of the newly found part of Redhouse a prominent monocline structure has been intersected and this geological structure has impacted on passage orientation and character, bringing the cave across and up stratigraphically from the Lower Dolomite Formation into the Crease and Whitehead Limestones. Within the Crease Limestone colourful iron mineralisation and sandstone dykes have been seen in some places and these are likely related to Intra-Carboniferous paleo-karst development. Many of the very large passages found, by far the biggest in the Forest of Dean, follow massive wrench-faults commonly containing impressive breccias many metres in width and horizontal slickensides.
Much remains to be done on recording these and other features before any comprehensive analysis is possible. However, as before with Wet Sink-Slaughter Stream Cave part of the Symonds Yat Cave System, science can point the way to further finds and will continue feeding into the renewed impetus on exploration and digging that has been handsomely rewarded during the last 14 months.
These exciting discoveries are a great way to round of our 2025 seminar programme and we hope many members will join us on the 10th
Dave S
