Ink Sump & Quink Sump

[Johnny]

Here's a Peak Cavern question.

Did Ink and Quink sumps used to be part of one continuous sump joined where the dive base for Ink now lies?

I am wondering whether debris from the dig at The Ramp has filled a pool below the aven.

 

[Pitlamp]

No - they have always been separate. Ink Sump is effectively a window into the major phreatic conduit which feeds Quink Sump in normal weather but the intervening section of passage is so boulder cluttered no-one has ever seriously bothered to try making a physical connection. Ink Sump was named by the original explorers of the cave in (or not long after) 1949 (as it was so blue). Quink Sump was named by Steve Tucker and Jerry Murland; I believe they were the first to dive it on 16th March 1980. It's choked about 3 metres from base. (Take a look at CDG Newsletter 56 page 26 - note that the reference given in the Peak District Sump Index 1994 is slightly wrong.)

In the 1980s Ink Sump was one of the most scenic in the country, comparing well with some of the crystal clear French CDG favourites. What a tragedy it has become polluted / filled with tailings.

 

[Johnny]

I was lucky enough to get good vis in there last week and it was fantastic. I think that the high water of a couple of weeks ago must have helped clear it out. Prior to that the vis was getting progressively worse.
On that occasion I noticed that the sediment only amounted to a fine dusting in allot of places and that it is very pale, almost white.
Any ideas on what this could be?, favourite suggestion seems to be debris from the paper pulp tipped on and around Dirtlow.
Pitlamp, you mentioned tailings, would they be off Dirtlow?, has there been any significant workings on there since the 80's?
The silt problem is why I raised the point about Ink & Quink being separate, I wondered whether flow out of Ink had been reduced by a blockage and, coversely, whether improving flow from the sump may help to clear it, its probably a vain hope.

 

[Pitlamp]

I think that the majority of the pollution in Ink Sump was derived from large scale reworking of spoil heaps on Dirtlow Rake in the late 80s and first half of the 90s. T-Pot did a lot of sampling so he might be able to tell you more. There was also oftebn a strong smell of diesel, particularly in that airbell 30 m before the end of the sump. That paper pulp problem was a (relatively) isolated incident and it caused a fibrous yellow-orange residue rather than the pale stuff. It sounds like Ink Sump may be slowly recovering, which is good bnews indeed. Hope this helps.

 

[danthecavingman]

Any chance of an update then? What I saw today was most impressive, you've got a good project going there.

Dan.

 

[Johnny]

Cheers Dan

There is now a short dive between through Quink to Ink Dive Base, with a bit more gardening this would be a free-dive, I have free-dived it but I did have a reg. in my hand!

Dive base has been stabilised as it was subsiding into the sump.

Flow between Ink & Quink has been improved and a bit more work could open a route through. Flow out of Quink has also been improved.

The diveline has been rerouted and wieghted at regular intervals, its nearly ready for a new line to be installed.

Some scaff has been transported through to the far side.

A new rope has been installed up to the dig.

Next job is to lay the new line then hit that choke.

 

[Steve_T]

Apologies for repeating this question on another thread.
What do you intend doing with the boulders from the dig above Doom's Retreat? I had heard talk of using gabions?

 

[Johnny]

Apologies for repeating this question on another thread.
What do you intend doing with the boulders from the dig above Doom's Retreat? I had heard talk of using gabions?

After looking at it I think that we can do a spot of ginging.
If we build a wall at the base of the slope (after the ladder pitch) opposite where you stacked originally, to make the descent more veritical, we can stack behind that, effectively creating a stepped shaft just before the arch that leads you to the choke

 

[Steve_T]

Sounds feasable Johnny, and I wish you the best of luck with it.
Close to my heart, this one!

 

[Pitlamp]

'bout time you made a long overdue comeback then Steve! (If you've still got an email address for N.Bandit please can you send an email direct? Ta.)

How did you get on in Doom's Retreat on Saturday Johnny?

 

[Johnny]

Pretty good, more logistics, scaff in the sump etc.
Jim fixed a line on the other side for the cylinders.
Will be back in there on Saturday.
I will get my reg loctited by then as I think that the fix done at dive-base (gaffa tape and a cable-tie) may not last :shock:

 

[Steve_T]

Pitlamp I don't have email address so pm'd mine to you

 

[Pitlamp]

Thanks Steve - message now sent to you direct.