Ripon Gypsum Caves

[C.Raven]

I have just been reading an article on the British Geological Survey website regarding ground collapse in Ripon due to a flooded gypsum cave system, does anybody know if this system has ever been entered.

 

[Pitlamp]

I'm almost sure something was written about this area in BCRA Cave Science (or Cave & Karst Science). If someone has an index please can they post a reference?

I think Phil Murphy at Leeds knows about this area; if you happen to know him you could ask?

 

[graham]

The BCRA indexes are available online at

http://bcra.org.uk/pub/sci-index.html

 

[oldboy]

Try this:

Caves and Karst Science:
Waltham A.C. & Cooper A. 1998 Features of gypsum caves and karst at Pinega (Russia) and Ripon (England) Vol 25 (3) pp 131 - 140

 

[Pitlamp]

Thanks oldboy - knew I'd spotted it in the past somewhere.

 

[diggerdog adam]

I may be wrong but i think there is a reference to the said caves in the northern caves 2 series

I think it classed as "lost" due to the/a  post office built on it.  Where did i put my books?

Has this collaspe just happend our was it some time ago, as im very local and not herd about it?

Could you post the link by any chance?

Cheers

 

[diggerdog adam]

Racking my brain now im guessing spring 1997  ? they closed the road and moved the  gas main at ure top
when a plaster pit opened up half the town stunk off rotten egg !  Sulfer?

 

[Pitlamp]

Sulphur has no smell. More likely hydrogen sulphide.

 

[C.Raven]

Seems to be only two entries for Ripon regarding gypsum in NC1, Hall Garth Ponds page 266, Ripon Station Hole page 278, just type in Ripon caves on the web it brings up loads of stuff on ground collapse.

 

[Pitlamp]

Another possibly useful reference is CDG Newsletter 129 (Oct 1998)  page 7.

 

[grahams]

I have just been reading an article on the British Geological Survey website regarding ground collapse in Ripon due to a flooded gypsum cave system, does anybody know if this system has ever been entered.

I've only just seen this thread and it doesn't seem worth starting a new topic.

Here's a shot of a house on it's way into the Ripon underworld i.e. a gypsum cavity:

In the early 70's, we explored a shaft formed by the collapse of a gypsum cavity. Memories a vague but the shaft was located on Great Underbank and was about 50 to 60 feet deep but there was no horizontal development. Doubtless filled in with rubbish by now.

About three miles upstream of Ripon, the Ure has cut through spectacular deposits of gypsum. Worth taking a look if you're a mineral collector.

 

[Speleokitty]

Water resurges from gypsum beds where they are cut through by the River Ure near Plaster Pits farm. I'm wouldn't be very hopeful of pushing the resurgence to open cave but who knows. There was also a deep waterfilled collapse structure on the farm which I think had been dived to about 50m with no way off.