Project Dripstone dating — Cave sedimentary final report 2003-2004

In the block cave in the Kreuzkogel, sinter, which are suitable for the evaluation of age and paleoclimate information, could be recovered. The investigation (stable isotopes, U/Th age determination) enables material statements that have not yet been completed. Allochthone coarse plastics, presumably tertiary age, are another potential research object. In addition, the Kreuzkogel Ice Cave was able to visit and document another promising destination, mainly in terms of ice balance and ice age and thus the recent climate history. However, only multi-year ice investigation programs would be relevant here. In the small snowcarturm semi-cavity, pseudokarst phenomena in the form of mucous tropical tubes of biogenic origin can be documented and investigated. The parallel work of cave-scientific associations always brings clues to research-worthy cave objects. At present, the block cave, the crosscogeleis cave and the wild shooter cave can therefore be recorded as currently ideal objects for sedimentological/climatological investigations of the Gesäuse region. However, such work would exceed the capacity of the karst and caves department unless they are carried out on a small scale and would require an interdisciplinary larger project. Undoubtedly, the previous discoveries and the processing of already known caves as part of this small project show that in the caves of the Entrance Wildschützenhöhle Bergmilch in the Wildschützenhöhle is quite the key to the climate development of the region. The promotion of practical caving research under the name Speläo-Alpine-Gesäuse, from whose results are repeatedly reported interesting objects and questions, is put at the heart of the National Park.