There are some 1,000 natural caves in Korea. Most caves on the mainland are made of limestone, whereas most of the caves on Cheju Island are volcanic in origin. The caves on Cheju, in particular, are internationally renowned for their huge size and scientific value. By contrast, the caves on the mainland are not as big, but their unique shapes and formations sti1l attract the attention of international speleologists.(omitted)

The mineral hydroxyapatite is very common species in secondary phosphates originating from guanos(HILL et at., 1997). Several mineralogical analyses of spelean hydroxyapatite exist(e.g., KASHIMA, 1968, 1979 ; MAKI et at., 1977 ; SUH et at., 1978 ; WANG, 1982 a, b), whereas detailedeochemical composition of secondary hydroxy apatites has not been reported in Japan.(omitted)

The Bullock Creek Caves are located adjacent to the usually dry river bed of Bullock Creek, which reaches the sea about a kilometer north of Punakaiki. The caves have been comprehensively written up by Rodgers(972). Under conditions of normal water flow Bullock Creek submerges where the stream meets limestone on the west side of their Punakaiki syncline. In flood conditions it overflows the first submergence and progressively floods a series of smaller submergences down valley until it comes to the caves shown on the map. All these with the exception of Wazpretti Cave and Dry Valley Cave are probably more or less flooded during and after heavy rain.(omitted)

The plant life of caves is made up of species that can live in total darkness. If any plant in a cave contains chlorophyll, the chlorophyll obviously cannot be energized by light rays from th sun. With a few exceptions noted below, none of the plants in the perpetually dark zone contains chlorophyll. The chief plant life there consists of bacteria, including actinomycetes, and fungi.(omitted)

Many of the familiar roadside signs advertising caves open to the public carry the phrase, “Come underground and cool off”. This is reasonable advice, for during the heat of summer the temperature of these caves is indeed pleasantly cool. If the principal tourist season were in the winter instead of the summer, however, the signs would probably read, “Come underground and warm up”, for in winter these same caves are far warmer than the surface. Cave temperatures are nearly constant throughout the year.

This article is based upon a talk given at the 1983 National Caving Conference explaining the types of personal computers available, their main features and how they could be used in connection with caving. There may be two groups of readers particularly interested in this subject, those covers with use of a computer who want some ideas on using it and others who want to know if getting a computer to use in connection with caving might be worth their while.

A large number of lava tubes in southwestern idaho contain some extremely impressive secondary mineral deposits. Gypsum and mirabilite can be found coating entire lava formation and in some cases entire rooms, thenardite and cristobolite can also be found throughout idaho's lava tubes, although in smaller individual concentrations. To a lesser degree iron and copper-based deposits have been found. On rare occasions and in very small quantities calcium carbonate deposits have been found.(omitted)