Every year, about 20 new caves are discovered by cavers across the world. This means that exploration and mapping of new caves is one of the most dynamic and ever-changing segments of caving. New boundaries are crossed every day, which calls for continuous innovation in exploring and mapping methods (e.g., using drones, 3D printing, or virtual reality).
The challenge lies in finding a way to map a new cave effectively within a short time frame ג€“ usually between 9 and 12 days. We explore this process under the microscope in this blog post.
What processes are involved in forming caves?
Caves form when the weight of the overlying rocks and earth causes them to collapse, creating a void beneath.
The process is complicated, but it can be broken down into four main steps: 1) subsurface erosion, 2) subterranean collapse, 3) cave formation, and 4) cave evolution.
Cave exploration requires different methods depending on location. For example, in Europe there are soft bellow techniques that can be used to explore caves in which water is present. In Japan, you’ll use only hand tools as no drilling or blasting equipment is available due to environmental regulations.
What is the process of formation and development of caves?
Caves form by the process of dissolution. When water makes its way through an eroded surface, it creates a void that creates the cave.
In order for caves to form, there needs to be a combination of erosion and deposition. With erosion, an area loses rock material and is left with a cavity. Deposition takes place when sediment fills in the cavity ג€“ this is how caves are formed. Furthermore, other factors like temperature, chemistry, and pressure can affect how quickly or slowly a cave forms.
How do you explore the new caves in Minecraft?
Itג€™s easy to get lost in a new cave. The walls are sometimes covered with intricate and beautiful formations, but they can also be dangerously close together. A common problem when exploring new caves is the inability to map them effectively.
One solution is to carve out the cave on Minecraft, which you can do quickly and accurately. This lets you map the cave accurately by drawing each wall of it on a single-player world.
The process for this is relatively simple:
1) If thereג€™s a light source, set up your base at its entrance or somewhere nearby. Make sure you have plenty of food and torches to last as long as necessary, because you wonג€™t find any in the cave!
2) Find the lowest point in the cave that has blocks that can be broken with your pickaxe or shovel ג€“ these blocks make good landmarks for later landmarks (e.g., this block here will be used as an anchor point)
3) Scout out every explored area of the cave and record where each landmark is located
4) On your base, use these coordinates to create a map of your explored areas
5) Use this map to make 3D models of each landmark
6) Next, move further into the cave and start mapping these same landmarks with chests in them so you know what parts of the cave still need exploring
How are caves mapped?
There are two main ways to map caves using a cave-mapping approach. The first involves mapping the cave with an experienced team of cavers and then filling in all the gaps with future teams of explorers. The other way is to explore the new cave on foot and map it by hand, which can take between 4-6 weeks. This process starts by identifying the entrances and exits at both ends of the cave, followed by mapping along walls and across formations.
The next step is to do a “pre-trip” survey within the new cave that includes a series of questions like:
What surfaces are present?
Are there any areas that are too dangerous for us to visit?
Are there any hazards we should be aware of (e.g., falling rocks)?
Are there any areas where we cannot walk?
