Rollerball (Kirtle Pot)

After 6 years of working this cave almost every Thursday night, the elusive junction with The Precambrian Series in Aygill Cavern has yet to materialise – but we are getting closer. Rollerball is now 175 metres long and 35 metres deep and still going. Digging has, on occasions, involved a massive team effort to remove the mud and lots of rock debris. There have been a few ‘Wow!’ moments, like the pitch into the 14 metre high Samori Passage with it’s lovely crystals. There’s also been quite a few frustrating moments as the cave keeps doubling back on itself – but that’s caves for you. At the moment a small team of three is regularly working the only remaining lead ‘Dead Cat Passage’ – a small passage carries a healthy stream flow but requires widening. Stay tuned for the big breakthrough!

Ray Duffy

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*UPDATE 10/8/24

Progress is slowly being ground out toward a corner in Dead Cat Passage where the water drops away into an encouraging and echoing continuation.

* UPDATE 14/3/24

Fluorescein dye put into Casterton Pot on the evening of 14th March arrived in the Dead Cat dig only 15 minutes later.
What route out of Casterton Pot the water takes (there are several possibilities) isn’t confirmed yet and will require another test.
When the Precambrian Series in Aygill was first explored in the early 1970’s, dye put into Casterton Pot tested positive to One Hour Inlet…one hour later!
It certainly looks as though the stream route from Casterton Pot to Precambrian in Aygill is via Rollerball.