skip to page contentsaustralian museum onlineabout the museumresearch and collectionsfeaturesexplore

Geoscience

Fieldwork

Jenolan Caves

For the past eight years, geologists from the Australian Museum (Ross Pogson and David Colchester) have worked with cave specialist Dr. Armstrong Osborne (Sydney University), on a joint project at Jenolan Caves. This is to investigate the distribution and origins of cave minerals such as aragonite, gypsum, ill ite and kaolinite, and associated rare and uncommon phosphates, nitrates, chlorides and carbonates. Several minerals new to Jenolan have been found during this study. Fieldwork has involved detailed mapping and surveying of cave passages, collecting of small samples for analysis, and extensive photography of cave formations and rock structures at all scales.

Jenolan Caves fieldwork photo gallery

Entering a newly-discovered cave, McKeowen's Valley, Jenolan Caves, New South Wales. Photo: R Pogson © Australian Museum.
The cave research team - David Colchester, Armstrong Osborne & Ross Pogson, Jenolan Caves, New South Wales. Photo: © P and A Bosted.
Surveying limestone rock structures in the Devil's Coach House, Jenolan Caves, New South Wales. Photo: R Pogson © Australian Museum.
'The Potatoes' in 'Bone Cave', Lucas Cave, Jenolan Caves, New South Wales. Photo: R Pogson © Australian Museum.
Surveying a cave passage, 'Mud Tunnels', River Cave, Jenolan Caves, New South Wales. Photo: R Pogson © Australian Museum.
Decorated cave passage, Ribbon Cave, Jenolan Caves, New South Wales. Photo: R Pogson © Australian Museum.
Aragonite sphere cross-sections (2 cm), 'Lyre Bird's Chamber', Ribbon Cave, Jenolan Caves, New South Wales. Photo: R Pogson © Australian Museum.
Aragonite helictites and 'moon milk', 'Lyre Bird's Nest', Ribbon Cave, Jenolan Caves, New South Wales. Photo: R Pogson © Australian Museum.