asscciation for mexican cave studies box 7672 ut station austin ...

22Diamante received its name from the numerous quartz crystals (HerkimerDiamonds) which are found in the arroyo draining the dolina and throughoutthe cave itself. These crystals are probably residual from shale formationswhich previously covered the El Abra but now have been eroded to the presentlevel of the coastal plain.The El Abra facies change depicted on the diagram is supported byobservations in the field. Bedding planes are absent in Otates and Indiosbut become traceable in the Diamante dolina and in the Canyonland sectionof Diamante. Further exploration and study in the Otates Mine Area shouldbe very rewarding.Geology ReferencesFish, John. 1975, Karst Geomorphology and Hydrology of the Sierra deEl Abra, S.L.P. and Tamps., Mexico. (tentative title), PhD dissertation,Dept. of Geology, McMaster University, Ontario.Russell, William H. and Raines, Terry W. 1967, Caves of the Inter­American Highway. Bulletin I of the Association for Mexican CaveStudies, Austin, Texas.Note from PrestonAnyone planning on doing Cueva de El Chorreadero in Chiapas should havethe following equipment: a selection of pitons, piton hammer, bolt kit, andat least 30 feet of one inch webbing. Reason: When our group went throughthe cave in January, 1976, we did not have most of the equipment as we knewthe cave was rigged. However, a safety factor is involved since many of thepiton placements are marginal and additional backup pitons and in some casesbolts are needed, especially in the lower part of the cave.Preston ForsytheBiology ~~otesPreliminary study of pseudoscorpions collected this summer inYucatan by Grubbs, ~lcKenzie, Reddell, and Wilev has revealed a new genusfrom a cave in Quintana Roo.A ne\. Troglibitic Homopteran (plant hopper) was found this Christmasat Acatlan, Oaxaca, by Hike McEachern of the "School Bus." This is the 6thTroglobitic Homopteran in the world. T\.o are known from ~texico, two fromHawaii, and one from Au!';tralia.A new species and possiblv ~enus of Scolopendramorph centipede wasfound in Conchas. It is probably one of the deepest animals collected from~:exico; it came from t 1 1e botton of tt,e200' drop.PH r. Grubbs