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Alaska Miners Association Phone: 907-563-9229 Fax: 907-563-9225 ama@alaskaminers.org www.alaskaminers.org American Exploration and Mining Assn. Phone: 509-624-1158 Fax: 509-623-1241 info@miningamerica.org www.miningamerica.org WorldWide Drilling Resource ® is proud to be a member of these mining associations. Women in Mining 866-537-9694 wim@womeninmining.org www.womeninmining.org 47 WorldWide Drilling Resource ® JANUARY 2015 Crystal Cave in Pennsylvania by Harry W. Short Engineering Geologist A major event on November 12, 1871, was the discovery of a cave at the little rural town of Kutztown, Pennsylvania. Two miners, William Merkel and his assistant, John Gehret, were blasting for limestone on a farm owned by Merkel’s parents. At this time, crushed limestone was a valuable resource widely used by farmers to increase the fertility of soil. They were surprised to find a dark, nar- row hole in the side of the steep hill, 80 feet from Gideon Merkel’s farmhouse. They dug away the overlying soil and discovered an opening large enough to crawl in. Once inside, darkness preclud- ed any further exploration. Plans to explore this geologic curios- ity were made that same evening at Lesher’s Bar, a local tavern. Several adventurous neighbors, including John Gehret, went back a few days later equipped with ropes, ladders, coal oil lanterns, and torches. Their suspicions were confirmed. A good-sized, well-deco- rated (speleothems) cave existed on Gideon Merkel’s farm. Through word of mouth, nature’s silent development in the mountainside became big news. A few weeks later, a group of 12 men organized an exploration of the cave. Once inside, four of the men exit- ed back outside and remained above- ground. The rest of the group climbed through the cave for the next 1½ hours. They remarked about the sparkling dia- mond-like crystals adorning the walls of the cave. As a result, the cavern immediately became known as Crystal Cave. A local jeweler examined the small sparkling formations and determined they were not diamonds. The explorers (spelunkers) were disappointed by the jeweler’s assessment; however, their disappointment was replaced when they realized the considerable dimension of the cave cavity and the abundance of ornate formations. Interest in Crystal Cave was so great, as soon as Samuel D. F. Kohler leased the property, he received word a committee of men from a newly-formed association of scientists, academic pro- fessionals, and enthusiasts of natural history were planning to study and re- port on the recently-discovered cave in Richmond Township. They called them- selves The Reading Society of Natural Sciences. In anticipation of his grand opening, Kohler removed the unnecessary break- down (broken limestone) to create a suit- able pathway inside the cave. He laid boardwalks and built wooden stairs and railings for safe passage. Accessibility up the steep 80-foot incline to the cave entrance was facilitated by a grated path and a vertical series of rock steps. By late May 1872, Kohler announced the grand illumination of the Crystal Cave was to be held Saturday, May 25, 1872. Admission was $0.25. The formations (speleothems) were shapes of animals and other familiar objects. The cavern was lighted by rags soaked in kerosene, tallow candles, and coal oil lanterns. Crystal Cave offers visitors a won- derful, educational experience in geology. The 45-minute guided tour passes a myriad display of stalactite, stalagmite, and dripstone formations. These impos- ing columns are marvels in themselves. Bedded Limestone angel Wing Centerline Manufacturing Co. 903-725-6978 903-725-3647 fax ~ Mud pumps for the 21st century ~ www.centerlinemanufacturing.com ~ Centerline mud pumps are getting the job done from Canada to Australia, China to Peru ~ ©WorldWide Drilling Resource, Inc. 2006 Centerline Manufacturing is proud to be your complete stocking source for American Manufacturing mud pump parts!! U.S. Patent #6,769,884 and others pending Monopump models rated: 180 gpm Duplex models rated: 300 gpm Triplex models rated: 450 gpm 500 or 800 psi models available aluminum or iron. ~ The Centerline 7 1/2” x 10” hydraulic drive mono mud pump ~ ~ compact ~ fits on top or under deck ~ pumps the rated flow of a 5” x 6” @ over twice the rated pressure ~ weighs 650 lbs, 1615 lbs less! Short cont’d on page 48.