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A Classic TAG Commercial Cave
This cave has been a commercial cave in the TAG region for quite some time. The photos here were taken on a trip that was attended my members of both the Upper Cumberland Grotto and the Spencer Mountain Grotto. Most of the photos were taken in parts of the cave that are way off of the commercial trails. Old, black writing from the flame of carbide lamps can be seen on the rocks in the background in some photos. People have been attending the cave as tourists for a very long time, as is often the case with well know caves.
The crystals shown here are some of the largest and most beautiful gypsum crystals that I seen in this region. Fortunately this cave is large and the crystals are off in an out of the way place. They are the only know example of this density and size and a rockhound or crystal collector could ruin it forever. Let's hope they stay just like they are.
Gypsum (CaSO4) forms flowers when water that is saturated with calcium sulfate (CaSO4) seeps into a cave passage slowly and the water evaporates, leaving the CaSO4 behind in crystal form. They grow from the base outward, as is evidenced by coloration on the tips of flowers that matches the surrounding rock/crystal surface.
All the photos here were taken with a Kodak DC-210 1.2 megapixal digital camera. The resolution has been greatly reduced to increase loading time.
The gang entering the cave. Steve Kravig, Jonathan Tinsley, and Andrew Dickins bring up the front.
A multi-colored flowstone.
Commercially lit flowstone in the part of the cave that is on the commercial tour.
Gypsum needles lying on the ground in the cave.
Jonathan climbing up into the crystal passage.
Me emerging out of the same place Jonathan is climbing into in the previous photo.
A panoramic view of the gang during breaktime.
A little nook that has gypsum in nice, puffy coatings.
More gypsum needles.
A close-up of a gypsum needle.
The trail that you see is through solid needles. The whole floor in this photo is covered with needles.
Another large needle.
More gypsum needles.
A gypsum flower in the crystal passage of the cave. You won't find this stuff on the commercial tour, sorry.
Selenite, a more pure form of gypsum (CaSO4) is shown in this photo.
Some very long needles.
A cluster of needles growing as evaporative formations out of the saturated soil.
David Bobo enters a gypsum encrusted passage that is full of many amazing flowers.
A gypsum flower in the crystal passage.
Go to photo page two to see more crystals and flowers.
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