Templetwin Dig

[MikeK]

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Another added to the MCRA database.

50m east of it's much larger neighbour Templeton.

Vertical dig on N-S trending fissure. Signs of development to the North heading towards a large depression in the field next door (although our aim is to go down as far as possible first). 10m deep currently.

First log entry:

"8th March 2025​

Mike Kushy, David Morrison (Tuska) and 'Frank The Tank'. Templetwin is born. Birth was eased with use of the Kubota. 6/7ft soil and small fill, then the digger got another 7/8ft deeper. 2 boulders too large were reduced in size, courtesy of Dr Noble. The digger was then able to lift these out. Steps cut into the dirt and the site tidied up. Looking overall stable, but needs some reinforcing. Started work on fencing. Mike."

We've been mining our way down through conglomerate, until around 8m deep then we hit limestone both sides with a narrow gap of soft mud.

Being dug on weekends, help is always welcome.

Machine dug hole - 8th March 25

Fitting the first first steels - 15th March

Setting out higher steels, notice the 1m wide mineral vein swooping up - 31st March

John Cooper and Mike Kushy wall building - 6th April

Setting out steel to hold back random huge limestone boulder in the conglomerate - 16th April

Rocks! - 13th April

Progress - 24th April

Setting out pad for the winch - 15th May

A shot of the dig face, it always looks generally the same - 17th May

Adopted the winch and some left over rocks from White Rabbit's Hole - 19th May

One of many crystal pockets amongst the conglomerate - 25th May

Winch all set up and working well, extra access pit built - 24th June

John Cooper doing breaker work - 12th September

Mike Kushy climbing out, probably thinking it's about time to get a ladder - 12th October

Having fun with the breaker - 12th October

Drone shot of the site courtesy of Martin Grass - 12th October

9m deep - 16th October

Most recent photo of site - 2nd November

Mud!

Stay tuned...

 

[The Old Ruminator]

Thanks Mike. What a great project. All neat and tidy.

 

[mrodoc]

I think it is a clandestine way of building ICBM silos across the Mendips.

 

[MikeK]

I think it is a clandestine way of building ICBM silos across the Mendips.

 

[Lankyman]

Click here to view blog updates

Another added to the MCRA database.

50m east of it's much larger neighbour Templeton.

Vertical dig on N-S trending fissure. Signs of development to the North heading towards a large depression in the field next door (although our aim is to go down as far as possible first). 10m deep currently.

First log entry:

"8th March 2025​

Mike Kushy, David Morrison (Tuska) and 'Frank The Tank'. Templetwin is born. Birth was eased with use of the Kubota. 6/7ft soil and small fill, then the digger got another 7/8ft deeper. 2 boulders too large were reduced in size, courtesy of Dr Noble. The digger was then able to lift these out. Steps cut into the dirt and the site tidied up. Looking overall stable, but needs some reinforcing. Started work on fencing. Mike."

We've been mining our way down through conglomerate, until around 8m deep then we hit limestone both sides with a narrow gap of soft mud.

Being dug on weekends, help is always welcome.


View attachment 24282
Machine dug hole - 8th March 25
View attachment 24283
Fitting the first first steels - 15th March
View attachment 24284
Setting out higher steels, notice the 1m wide mineral vein swooping up - 31st March
View attachment 24285
John Cooper and Mike Kushy wall building - 6th April
View attachment 24286
Setting out steel to hold back random huge limestone boulder in the conglomerate - 16th April
View attachment 24287
Rocks! - 13th April
View attachment 24288
Progress - 24th April
View attachment 24289
Setting out pad for the winch - 15th May
View attachment 24290
A shot of the dig face, it always looks generally the same - 17th May
View attachment 24291
Adopted the winch and some left over rocks from White Rabbit's Hole - 19th May
View attachment 24292
One of many crystal pockets amongst the conglomerate - 25th May
View attachment 24293
Winch all set up and working well, extra access pit built - 24th June
View attachment 24294
John Cooper doing breaker work - 12th September
View attachment 24295
Mike Kushy climbing out, probably thinking it's about time to get a ladder - 12th October
View attachment 24296
Having fun with the breaker - 12th October
View attachment 24297
Drone shot of the site courtesy of Martin Grass - 12th October
View attachment 24298
9m deep - 16th October
View attachment 24299
Most recent photo of site - 2nd November
View attachment 24300
Mud!

Stay tuned...

Blimey, what an effort! As a complete ignoramus on Mendip digging what is the potential there? Are you heading towards a nearby cave or terra incognita?

 

[The Old Ruminator]

Blimey, what an effort! As a complete ignoramus on Mendip digging what is the potential there? Are you heading towards a nearby cave or terra incognita?

The Wookey Hole Master Cave perhaps.

 

[MikeK]

Blimey, what an effort! As a complete ignoramus on Mendip digging what is the potential there? Are you heading towards a nearby cave or terra incognita?

Wookey again, although we're just enjoying the geological aspect to this one. It's right next to/if not on a huge overthrust.

Just found an image of when we first hit the solid limestone. All the fill between the walls is the natural size.

 

[Pegasus]

I agree with OR -'all neat and tidy'
Great set of photos, esp the drone shot.
Only cavers would understand the excitement over 'rocks!'
Thanks so much for posting....

 

[Lankyman]

Wookey again, although we're just enjoying the geological aspect to this one. It's right next to/if not on a huge overthrust.
View attachment 24318
Just found an image of when we first hit the solid limestone. All the fill between the walls is the natural size.

Wookey - so is it going to enter at a known point or somewhere beyond the current limits? Forgive my lack of knowledge but does the water come from Swildons?

 

[MikeK]

Wookey - so is it going to enter at a known point or somewhere beyond the current limits? Forgive my lack of knowledge but does the water come from Swildons?

Best to get a copy of The Mendip Underground if you're interested. Mendip Geology can be quite complex

 

[spelfish]

Does this mean Templeton has been abandoned or is this now a competition?

 

[JohnMCooper]

Templeton is in its own competition. There are two digs branching off part way down. There's a "North Pot" team and a "South Pot" team

 

[JohnMCooper]

The Templeton South team maintain a blog here: https://templetwats.blogspot.com/

 

[The Old Ruminator]

Caves be where you find 'em thay say on Mendip. You would have to assume that Wookey rises into the vadose or relict zone beyond the deep terminal sump. More likely is that it stays deep phreatic until it nears the terminal sumps in the feeders. But then thats my take on it. Of course any other caves on the plateau would make a good trip down to that level. Along the SW Overthrust with caves in closed karst basins like Vurley and White Pit nobody can say for sure what happens. The Mendip periclines have see a lot of sculptering over the geological ages. Arid , Wet and Periglacial. Its almost impossible to relate current surface topograpghy to ages over millions of years.

 

[The Old Ruminator]

Theoretical vadose - phreatic transition in the Cheddar Catchment by Stanton and Farrant. That may well be the case today but with such a massive change in base level over time relict passages like High Country in Reservoir Hole still exist. It does seem that that conduit has been eroded away by the down cutting of the gorge. You can see the alignment of the karst closed basins along the S W Overthrust.

 

[RobinGriffiths]

The Templeton South team maintain a blog here: https://templetwats.blogspot.com/

Splitters...

 

[wormster]

And there was me thinking it's a backdoor to St Cuthbert's!!

 

[Cantclimbtom]

Templeton is in its own competition. There are two digs branching off part way down. There's a "North Pot" team and a "South Pot" team

Is it like the left twix factory and the right twix factory, and they're sworn rivals and have to drink in separate pubs?

 

[MikeK]

It's all good, everyone seems to try and not step on eachothers toes (fingers?)

 

[JohnMCooper]

And there was me thinking it's a backdoor to St Cuthbert's!!

I thought that was Eighteen Acre Swallet