40 pp, colour photo tables, many maps and cave surveys; Berlin 2001. H. Daniel Gebauer, Betsy Chhakchhuak & Neil Sootinck. 61 cave locations from the most remote Union State of India near the Burmese border are presented in this report, which is based on two reconnaissance projects in 1999 and 2001. With detailled topographical and cave distribution maps in colour.In English language. Due to the unsuitable geology -- limestone is as good as absent -- was Mizoram not considered as a promising caving area (GEBAUER 1996, 1997). In Mizo folklore, legends and myths, of course, all sorts of real, fictive and would-be caves played an important role since time immemorial. All the known caves of Mizoram are of exceptional origin. Generally said, there are two distinct modes of cave development: First and most widespread, by mass wasting (solution, abrasion) and second, by mass dislocation (gravitation, tectonics). Many caves are exclusively of tectonic origin and result from tension cleavage of the compact host rocks, which are sandwiched in between shales. As far as currently known (May 2001) there exists not a single true karst cave. The only known river cave (Bak Puk, South Lungrang) is predominantly a result of piping failure.
|
 "Caves of Mizoram (speleological projects in NE-India), BHB Vol. 5")
