Insulation patch in JB

[jason]

They are called biofilms, and Jason Gulley has theorized they may be sulphur seep. They are fairly common and Ginnie's Insulation tunnel is only one location, plus they take on different appearances. They are located in low flow areas normally, and at one time the one in the Insulation tunnel used to be very thick,but traffic has had an impact on it.

The insulation looking stuff is typically associated with iron bacteria. White filamentous snotty stuff is usually more common with sulfur bacteria. That said, I'm a geologist and study stuff dissolved in the water and not bacteria (but I've done a decent amount of sampling biofilm for the people who study them).

[jason]

The insulation looking stuff is typically associated with iron bacteria. White filamentous snotty stuff is usually more common with sulfur bacteria. That said, I'm a geologist and study stuff dissolved in the water and not bacteria (but I've done a decent amount of sampling biofilm for the people who study them).

You can even find insulation under ledges in the ballroom at Ginnie, some just a few feet into the cavern.

[patpicos]

theres a really big patch of insulation in HITW as well in a shallow area (40').

[v101]

We spotted some of it years ago, in JB years ago, Deloach's Delight / Source Nouveau. it was in various places. Some areas where it used to be are no longer there, but its still back there in one area that doesn't get frequented that much.

[MORGAN]

I enjoy seeing these things - the insulation in Ginnie, the brown bacteria colony in the Waterhole III tunnel, the smoky bacteria cloud in the far side of the Wishbone, etc. Very little is known about them. I was a wildlife biology major many years ago, but concentrated on mammals. As a cave diver I wish I'd learned more about invertebrates and strange bacteria.

[cavekrazi]

The insulation in JB looks like the dead carp in Cannonball

[Ben M]

If you want to compare there was a dead carp in between Middle Grounds and Crinoid Glory. I haven't been in awhile but it didn't appear to be decaying that quickly. I'm sure it is still there.

[DMoore]

It's still there!