Breakthrough in Rods Pot
- Thread starter Andy Sparrow
- Start date
exsumper
New member
Both Andy's and Aubrey's observations are most interesting. The key observation being the dryness of some of the unenterable passages. In Halloween Rift, where we have been following the main draft, the sediments and speleothems are extremely dessicated. Just touching the silt/clay sediments at the top of the pot results in an avalanche of sediment similar to that in an hourglass. Although that cave has only one entrance.
A plausible explanation in this case, may be some sort of venturi affect, similar to how a paint spray gun works. If the main volume of air flow is from a lower unenterable passage in Rod's to Rod's entrance, this would provide a suction effect to the passages that link with Bath, creating a vacuum in Bath that causes the inward draught. Its the only explanation I can think of. Dryness may indicate the main way on?.
Just a few thoughts that may help?
A plausible explanation in this case, may be some sort of venturi affect, similar to how a paint spray gun works. If the main volume of air flow is from a lower unenterable passage in Rod's to Rod's entrance, this would provide a suction effect to the passages that link with Bath, creating a vacuum in Bath that causes the inward draught. Its the only explanation I can think of. Dryness may indicate the main way on?.
Just a few thoughts that may help?
exsumper
New member
One further thought, Andy's observation that the condensation is in Rod's, shows that the maximum temperature differential between inflowing and outflowing air occurs there. Showing that the way to the master cave is in Rod's. The air hasn't warmed up between Bath and Rod's its merely met the warmer air streaming out of the lower levels in Rod's
Andy Sparrow
Active member
exsumper said:
The mechanism you suggest has also occurred to me and one significant draught entering the system is that which comes from our extension....
Les W
Active member
Nice.
I followed the therion link, and apparently there's a windows version which is as much use to me as the facebook link in another thread :-\
The site says there's a mac version but the gz archive it links to has loads of files with weird extensions (.pl, .cxx, .h). Nothing that looks like a program.
Good effort, but I guess I can live without.
I followed the therion link, and apparently there's a windows version which is as much use to me as the facebook link in another thread :-\
The site says there's a mac version but the gz archive it links to has loads of files with weird extensions (.pl, .cxx, .h). Nothing that looks like a program.
Good effort, but I guess I can live without.
graham
New member
Maggot said:
Sorry, had I given the link to the page rather than the file then you would have seen the explanatory notes, saying what the file is and where to get the software. I agree it is not easy to install on a Mac but, for some strange reason, the surveyors who write this stuff, it is effectively freeware, put more effort into the Linux versions and the Windows versions than into one for the Mac, I cannot imagine why. :-\
Anyway, you may find the Survex version http://www.ubss.org.uk/resources/surveys/survex/Burrington.3d more to your taste as Survex does support the Mac a little better.
It is a strange fact that you do need to install cave survey programs to view the latest developments in cave surveys though.
Anyway, back to the discussion about Rod's.
Andy Sparrow
Active member
Another 6-8 metres last night. The digging team consisted of only me and Barry - where are all the young tigers when you need them? Last week's breakthrough ended with two obvious digs - one is a clean washed archway with a metre or so of passage visible beyond and the other a rising crawl over cobbles. The cobble crawl seemed to be draughting cool air and looked like the best option. The sediment fill in the crawl proved to be very loose and dry allowing very rapid progress and after only half an hour Barry squeezed through into a small chamber. There are two possibilities here - a small choked archway ahead or digging upwards through the sediment fill that partly forms the roof, I believe the latter option could very easily breakthrough into something much more open.
Barry and I have a combined age of 118 and the thrutching in and out of the extension and digging was accompanied by a certain amount of gasping, groaning, grunting and wheezing. This inspired the name for our short extension - "No Country for Old Men".
Total length of the extension from where work started in Ever-Ready Passage is now approaching 50 metres.
Barry and I have a combined age of 118 and the thrutching in and out of the extension and digging was accompanied by a certain amount of gasping, groaning, grunting and wheezing. This inspired the name for our short extension - "No Country for Old Men".
Total length of the extension from where work started in Ever-Ready Passage is now approaching 50 metres.
whitelackington
New member
Hi Andy, well done mate
anyway, why not drag Chris Castle out for the evening, he's still got a bit of life left in him.
anyway, why not drag Chris Castle out for the evening, he's still got a bit of life left in him.
Burt
New member
whitelackington
New member
Ed, well done chap, very entertaining on these long dark snow covered evenings.
whitelackington
New member
Any more breakthroughs lately?
Andy Sparrow
Active member
Burt said:
Still plenty of bags left to move next week, and then finally, the week after that, we can get to work on the very enticing terminal dig.
BTW if anyone out there wants to get involved in this project PM me. Another pair of hands is always welcome.