Stan Flavel
Field Geology Club of South Australia
Abstract: Caves are scattered throughout the eroded remnants of the uplifted and folded Adelaide Geosyncline. Cave development is dominated by solution along joints and bedding in the sedimentary sequence, which is mostly marine, and sandstones and shales interbedded with a number of carbonate units.
Caves naturally act as time capsules that contain and preserve plant and animal remains of cave inhabitants or specimens that have washed or fallen in from the surface. Sediments layering above and around help preserve a time sequence.
Speleothems are deposited minerals mainly of calcium carbonate, gypsum or halite and they may preserve within their crystalline structure evidence of organic carbon, mineral infiltration, isotopic, hydration and magnetic variations within “growth ring” layers over time.
Fossils and sub fossils found within many of the 350+ known caves of the Flinders Ranges show flourishing and diminishing animal and plant species over time, reflect the nature of climatic variation, and in some cases the effect of human incursion into these underground worlds.
Bio: Stan Flavel has enjoyed more than 50 years of visiting many of the regions of the Flinders Ranges chasing the areas of darkness within the rocks. His fascination for these environments developed from observations made during an early cave exploration trip where large deposits of bat guano were seen in a cave that was no longer inhabited by bats.
As a scientist involved in many fields of research, Stan has always had an enquiring mind that has compelled him to expand his knowledge. The caves and crevices beckoned him and like-minded others to explore and record their observations in order to better understand these significant environments and their cave-adapted inhabitants.
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For further information visit: www.fieldgeologyclubsa.org.au
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