Formation of a Cave

Plate tectonics have caused the change in sedimentary structures; such as, the rock uplift and joints (known as fractures in rock) or large faults, which later became caves once these cracks expanded. Furthermore, rainwater seeped through the bedding planes, faults and joints. Mild carbonic acid in rainwater dissolved the limestone, creating solutional caves with strange-shaped rocks inside. The dripping of mineralised water and the deposition of calcium carbonate has created spectacular stalactites and stalagmites.

Invisible Danger

For deep caves or unexplored caves, the air circulation within the cave is extremely important. If you breathe in the air with over 5.5% of carbon dioxide, you will experience difficulty in breathing, dizziness, confusion, and loss of consciousness, which could result in death within a few minutes. The safest way to check the air inside the cave is to use an electronic carbon dioxide detector. It is designed to sound an alarm once it detects dangerous levels of carbon dioxide accumulated in the air. Alternatively, body symptoms can be used as an indicator of the carbon dioxide level, but this requires caving experience to be able to tell correctly.

The low temperature inside the cave is another danger for a cave exploration. Normally, water in the cave is colder than water outside. Standing in the water for a long period of time can cause Hypothermia – the condition of abnormally low body temperature. The symptoms are shivering, slow and laboured movements, difficulty in speaking, sluggish thinking, compromised vision and mental confusion. If the body temperature drops 5-6 degrees Celsius, you can experience a loss of consciousness, which might result in death. Therefore, appropriate clothes and equipment are highly necessary in retaining your body temperature.