| Round Top #8 Cave | contact: Jim Reger, (jreger@mgs.md.gov ) |
| Round Top #8 Cave | |||
| Geology: | (click on an image for a larger view) | ||
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Round Top Cave No. 8 is a shelter cave which is developed in the apex of a closely folded anticline in the Bloomsburg Formation, 900 feet east of the mill and 25 feet above the canal. It is 50 feet wide, 20 feet high, and 40 feet long. |
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| Description | |||
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There are numerous
abandoned limestone mines and several small caves along the railroad cuts
and the C & O Canal near Round Top, the most obvious of which are
frequently visited by explorers and hikers. It is likely that most of
these mines were originally caves which have been enlarged by operations
for obtaining cement rock that was burned in the kilns nearby and shipped
on the canal. The majority of these mines are straight passages which
follow the strike of anticlinal fold axes. The rock was apparently easily
mined by peeling the bedding planes off of the walls as slabs,
and the constant passage configuration and wall slope facilitated placement
of timbers for shoring. Consequently, most of these mines have triangular
cross-sections with a ridge of breakdown and debris on the floor and heavy
timbers supporting the walls in places. Standing water, of varying depth
is found in some of the mines, along with old metal pipe which was apparently
used for pumping purposes. No speleothems have been observed in these
mines. The footing is precarious in most cases and should be considered
dangerous, but the walls and ceiling appear to be relatively stable and
free from danger of collapse. (from ES3 -Caves of Maryland) |
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| updated
3/7/05
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