Mysteries Down Under: the Caves of the Flinders Ranges

Thursday 7th of August 2025 at 7.00 pm

Mawson Lecture Theatre, 
Department of Earth Sciences,
University of Adelaide

Stan Flavel
Field Geology Club of South Australia

Abstract:
     Caves are scattered throughout the eroded remnants of the uplifted and folded Adelaide Geosyncline. Cave development is dominated by solution along joints and bedding in the sedimentary sequence, which is mostly marine, and sandstones and shales interbedded with a number of carbonate units.
     Caves naturally act as time capsules that contain and preserve plant and animal remains of cave inhabitants or specimens that have washed or fallen in from the surface. Sediments layering above and around help preserve a time sequence.  Speleothems are deposited minerals mainly of calcium carbonate, gypsum or halite and they may preserve within their crystalline structure evidence of organic carbon, mineral infiltration, isotopic, hydration and magnetic variations within “growth ring” layers over time. 
     Fossils and sub fossils found within many of the 350+ known caves of the Flinders Ranges show flourishing and diminishing animal and plant species over time, reflect the nature of climatic variation, and in some cases the effect of human incursion into these underground worlds.   

Bio:
     Stan Flavel has enjoyed more than 50 years of visiting many of the regions of the Flinders Ranges chasing the areas of darkness within the rocks. His fascination for these environments developed from observations made during an early cave exploration trip where large deposits of bat guano were seen in a cave that was no longer inhabited by bats. As a scientist involved in many fields of research, Stan has always had an enquiring mind that has compelled him to expand his knowledge. The caves and crevices beckoned him and like-minded others to explore and record their observations in order to better understand these significant environments and their cave-adapted inhabitants.  

University policy is to close doors at 7.00 pm, so be sure to arrive punctually! If you are late you may call the number affixed to the door. However this will only be available until the main lecture starts (around 7.10 to 7.15 pm). 

Refreshments will be served in the tea room following the meeting. 

Members and visitors are warmly invited to attend.



 

TUTORIAL: TBA

Background to tutorials:

The tutorial series that is being presented this year by Peter Biggs and Kym Dixon is an attempt to take a geological concept and explain it in a simplified way that will benefit the understanding of those members who have not have not undertaken any formal course in geology. Also, more informed geologists will benefit from a brush up of these concepts.

The format is that the tutorial will be in the Mawson Lecture Theatre and start at 6:40 and run for 10 minutes. This will allow time before 7:00 to set up for the formal start to the meeting. For those who would like to attend the tutorial, try to arrive before 6:40 and sit more towards the left-hand side of the theatre (as viewed from an audience perspective).

                                                         Peter Briggs