Snowball dining room restoration studies, Mammoth Cave, Mammoth Cave National Park Kentucky Phase II Investigations [Final Report, Review Draft]
Aley T and Aley C. 1990. Snowball dining room restoration studies, Mammoth Cave, Mammoth Cave National Park Kentucky Phase II Investigations [Final Report, Review Draft]. Ozark Underground Laboratory. Protem, MO
This phase of the study demonstrated that much of the black coatings in the Snowball Room of Mammoth Cave were fungus. Incorporated in the fungal growth is algae, lint, sediment particles, and carbon particles. Field tests lead to an estimate of 95% of the unnatural coatings can be removed with negligible adverse impacts on cave resources. This report details the nature of the unnatural coatings with results of gas chromatography, microscopic examination, scanning spectrofluorophotometer analysis; the monitoring of particulate matter in the air; conclusions on the nature of the unnatural coatings with a discussion of potential problems, limitations, and adverse impacts of restoration; and an assessment of other portions of Mammoth Cave where restoration work is warranted, with recommendations for preventing or minimizing further and future unnatural coatings on cave surfaces. Several tables give flouorescence peaks for over 50 samples collected in Mammoth Cave and Salts Cave, while other tables and figures detail other data collected.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Aley, Thomas; Aley, Catherine
- Date of Issue
- 1990-02
- Publisher
- Ozark Underground Laboratory
- Units
- MACA
- Keywords
- Algae, Atmospheric Sciences, Cave Management, Cave Restoration, Fungi, Geochemistry, Human Impact, Lint, Management, Monitoring, particulates (air ), Plant Studies, Sediment, Snowball Room Mammoth Cave Mammoth Cave National Park KY, vermiculite