Photo by HR3 member Keith Filson
During the survey of Will Stone Cave (TMR9), HR3 came across an unusual formation. We are unsure if they should be classified as a speleothem or speleogen. For lack of a better term, we refer to them as "cave balls".
We came across them in a virgin passage, and we're positive that no human had entered the passage previously. They were found in the middle of a low, mud-floored passage, on top of a pile of old bat guano. (Actually, we assume it was bat guano -- it could also belong to a raccoon, as we've seen their tracks in the area.) When we examined these closely, we realized that these were not cave pearls, nor were they dung. They were smooth, almost perfectly spheriod in shape, approximately 1-inch in diameter, and there were about 50-60 of them clustered together. When we took one and cut into it, we found it to be mud -- of the same type as the floor -- all the way through. There did not appear to be any concentric rings in the specimen we examined, nor did we find anything at the center of the ball.
The question we have is : how did they get there? The passage was certainly virgin, as we had to break some rock to even enter the passage. The ceiling above the balls consisted of smooth bedrock with no formations, with no sign of dripping water as in the case of cave pearls. Flowing water couldn't have formed the balls either, since the dry bed of guano underneath them would have been washed away.
Three of our HR3 group that day were 1) Dr. Ron Zawislak, Professor of Geology at MTSU; 2) Keith Filson, a Tennessee-registered geologist; and 3) Marbry Hardin, a GIS technician who also holds a geology degree. All three are long-time NSS members and cavers. Each of them examined the balls, but could not offer an explanation for them.
Note that Will Stone Cave is officially closed and gated by the landowner. He does not want to be bothered by cavers at all. However, HR3 currently enjoys good relations with this landowner, even though this was jeopardized by a recent incident with another caver attempting to gain access to the cave. If there is a speleologist who would like to examine the cave balls, HR3 could probably obtain permission to escort him/her to the site. If interested, contact HR3 at Don Lance's email address, below.
[HR3
Home Page]