Some while ago Chris Camm posted about the availability of some lycopodium spore catch nets but I think without any response. So, straight from the horse's mouth - me - this a final attempt to off-load the four nets and some 35mm film canisters (for water samples). Is anyone interested in these items? If yes let me know and arrangements will be made to pass them on. If no then they will end up in the dustbin.
Water tracing - Lycopodium spore catch nets
- Thread starter Philgom
- Start date
Stuart France
Active member
Well, isn't that sad. Pretty much a confirmation that cave research is moribund.
The late Bill Gascoigne was an expert with lycopodium, if not the prime mover in a caving context. Chemistry lecturer and cave explorer, brewing up different coloured spores in his lab to do simultaneous water tracing experiments (i.e. different sinks to different resurgences all at the same time) in South East Wales mainly. He knew more about the underground water connections than Welsh Water who sponsored much of his materials for a share in the results.
All the water tracing that I've done has been dye based, and pretty effective it has been for me, as it has for other well known cavers in South Wales. But I met a brick wall with BCRA who would not sponsor materials, expensive at the time, hey ho. These days India and China are your best mates to get hold of all that at mates rates. If you're not bothered about temporary discolouration then Fluorescein is fine, otherwise you need an optical brightener like Tinopal which does not colour the water but is easily revealed later on by UV examination of submerged cotton swabs or use/build yourself a fluorimeter to analyse real-time flowing water.
Lycopodium has advantages at long distance where the arrival of just a few coloured spores (which are not native to the UK and have a distinctive shape under the microscope) will confirm the hydrological connection. So yes, I'd like the gear on offer please if nobody else has an obvious use for it.
The late Bill Gascoigne was an expert with lycopodium, if not the prime mover in a caving context. Chemistry lecturer and cave explorer, brewing up different coloured spores in his lab to do simultaneous water tracing experiments (i.e. different sinks to different resurgences all at the same time) in South East Wales mainly. He knew more about the underground water connections than Welsh Water who sponsored much of his materials for a share in the results.
All the water tracing that I've done has been dye based, and pretty effective it has been for me, as it has for other well known cavers in South Wales. But I met a brick wall with BCRA who would not sponsor materials, expensive at the time, hey ho. These days India and China are your best mates to get hold of all that at mates rates. If you're not bothered about temporary discolouration then Fluorescein is fine, otherwise you need an optical brightener like Tinopal which does not colour the water but is easily revealed later on by UV examination of submerged cotton swabs or use/build yourself a fluorimeter to analyse real-time flowing water.
Lycopodium has advantages at long distance where the arrival of just a few coloured spores (which are not native to the UK and have a distinctive shape under the microscope) will confirm the hydrological connection. So yes, I'd like the gear on offer please if nobody else has an obvious use for it.
Last edited:
Stuart France
Active member
Personally I use a laboratory 250ml pyrex conical flask for swooshing salad dressing which has raised a few eyebrows when it arrives on the dinner table.
Someone has offered me a supply of lycopodium so I feel a project is coming together.
Someone has offered me a supply of lycopodium so I feel a project is coming together.