COMISIÓN  DE GEOSPELEOLOGÍA

(Federación Espeleológica de América Latina y el Caribe -FEALC-)

No. 4,Abril 1998

 

Coordinador: Dr. Franco Urbani

                                Apartado 47.334, Caracas 1041A, Venezuela

                                Fax: (58)-2-605.31.20.   Email:  furbani@reacciun.ve     furbani@sagi.ucv.edu.ve

Annotated speleological bibliography published in 1997 by the SVE. Franco Urbani 1-8

ANNOTATED SPELEOLOGICAL BIBLIOGRAPHY PUBLISHED IN 1997 BY THE
“SOCIEDAD VENEZOLANA DE ESPELEOLOGÍA”
Franco URBANI

During 1997 the Sociedad Venezolana der Espelología (SVE) published the following issues of its regular serial publications: Boletín de la Sociedad Venezolana de Espelología, no. 30. Nominal date December 1996. El Guácharo, no. 39. Nominal date December 1996. El Guácharo, no., 40. Dated June 1996. El Guácharo, no. 41. Dated December 1996.

ALFONZO, H. Imerú; SILVA Crisanto (1997): Inventario espeleológico venezolano. El Guácharo, N° 40, June 1997: 3. Abstract presented at the III Venezuelan Speleological Meeting and published in Acta Científica Venezolana, 45, 1995. Description of a computerized database of Venezuelan caves. Regional speleology.

ANONYMOUS (1997): Notas de prensa. El Guácharo, N° 40, June 1997: 111-118 (10 figures). Several newspaper clippings are reprinted describing speleological activities in Cojedes state, the destruction of Loma del Medio cave, Gruta de los Morrocoyes and others. Regional speleology.

ANONYMOUS (1996): Humor espeleo-perijanero. Conjugación del verbo Cancamear.- El Guácharo, N° 39, Diciembre 1996: 105. Cancamo is the local term for Lapiaz in Sierra de Perijá. Humour.

BOSQUE, Carlos (1997): La dieta del guácharo. El Guácharo, N° 40, June 1997: 1. Abstract presented at the III Venezuelan Speleological Meeting and published in Acta Científica Venezolana, 45, 1995. Diet of the oilbird. Biospeleology.

BRITES, Natasha (1997): Las prácticas funerarias de los grupos Wanai y Wothuja del sector Parguaza - Suapure, edo. Bolívar - Venezuela. El Guácharo, N° 40, June 1997: 85-93 (10 figures) (English and Spanish summaries). Archaeological and ethnographic study of rock shelters with rock art in the Middle Orinoco region. Anthropospeleology.

CARREÑO, Rafael (1966): Exploración espeleológica Franco-Venezolana en Falcón.- Boletín de la Sociedad Venezolana de Espeleología, N° 30 / diciembre 1996: 92 (english and spanish summ). Brief comment of a short exploration to the Sierra de San Luis, Falcón together with members of the French Speleological Federation. Regional speleology.

CARREÑO, Rafael (1996): Actividades espeleológicas venezolanas desde 1990 hasta 1995.- Boletín de la Sociedad Venezolana de Espeleología, N° 30 / diciembre 1996: 56-69 (5 photos, 13 tables) (english and spanish summ). Detailed analysis of speleological activities carried out in Venezuela during 1990 to 1995. The main results are the survey of about 200 caves, including the discovery and survey of 6 of the current top 10 venezuelan caves. The largest the Cueva El Samán with 18.1 km whose survey is also presented in the same issue (SOCIEDAD VENEZOLANA DE ESPELEOLOGÍA, 1966). Documentary speleology.

CARREÑO, Rafael (1996): Lista de tesis de grado relacionadas con espeleología venezolana. Parte 2.- El Guácharo, N° 39, Diciembre 1996: 104. Bibliographic list of thesis related to speleology done in several Venezuelan universities since 1981 to 1996. Documentary speleology.

CARREÑO, Rafael (1997): Información climática de la Cueva de Pardillal, Aragua. El Guácharo, N° 41, December 1997: 144-162. Full data tables of temperature, pressure and relative humidity data loggers placed in Pardillal Cave from November 1996 to January 1997. No interpretations are given. Geospeleology. Climatology.

CARREÑO, Rafael (1997): Terminología espeleológica venezolana, estudios preliminares. El Guácharo, N° 41, December 1997: 3-4. Abstract presented at the IV Venezuelan Speleological Meeting, Caracas, November 1997. Preliminary study on Venezuelan speleological lexicon with emphasis on aboriginal terms related to cavities. Regional speleology. Anthropospeleology.

CARREÑO, Rafael; HERRERA, Francisco; PAREDES, Bruno (1997): Cuba, Expedición Espeleológica Binacional “Candelaria’95”: resultados científicos. El Guácharo, N° 40, June 1997: 1. Abstract presented at the III Venezuelan Speleological Meeting and published in Acta Científica Venezolana, 45, 1995. Summary of results of an expedition to the Province of Holguín, Cuba. Regional Speleology. Cuba.

CARREÑO, Rafael; LAGARDE, Joris; GALÁN, Carlos; HERRERA, Francisco; URBANI, Franco (1997): Funcionamiento hidrológico de la cueva del Samán, la mayor caverna de Venezuela, Sierra de Perijá. El Guácharo, N° 40, June 1997: 2. Abstract presented at the III Venezuelan Speleological Meeting and published in Acta Científica Venezolana, 45, 1995. Hidrology of the largest cave of Venezuela and its surroundings. Regional speleology.

CARREÑO, Rafael; OHEP, Elizabeth; URBANI, Franco (1997): El “Catastro Venezolano de Cavidades Artificiales”: propuesta y recientes avances. El Guácharo, N° 41, December 1997: 22-23. Abstract presented at the IV Venezuelan Speleological Meeting, Caracas, November 1997. The systematic survey of artificial cavities has started in Venezuela with the survey of 63 cavities with a total length of 3.5 km. A descriptive form is proposed. Regional speleology. Artificial cavities.

CARREÑO, Rafael; OHEP, Elizabeth; URBANI, Franco (1997): Reconocimiento de los túneles del antiguo Ferrocarril Central de Venezuela, estado Miranda. El Guácharo, N° 41, December 1997: 4-6. Abstract presented at the IV Venezuelan Speleological Meeting, Caracas, November 1997. Study of 14 tunnels from an abandoned railroad built in 1885. Minerals as pentahydrite and lonecreekite are reported. Regional speleology. Artificial cavities.

CARREÑO, Rafael; URBANI, Franco (1997): Influencia de los quirópteros en el microclima de la “cueva caliente” de Pardillal, estado Aragua. El Guácharo, N° 41, December 1997: 7-9. Abstract presented at the IV Venezuelan Speleological Meeting, Caracas, November 1997. Temperature data loggers were placed in this bat cave in which the climate is clearly influenced by the bat colony with an maximum temperature of 31.9°C. Regional speleology. Climatology.

CARREÑO, Rafael; URBANI, Franco; SAJO-BOHUS, Laszlo (1997): Las concentraciones de radón atmosférico en relación a la diversidad litológica de 44 cavidades Venezolanas. El Guácharo, N° 41, December 1997: 6-7. Abstract presented at the IV Venezuelan Speleological Meeting, Caracas, November 1997. Atmospheric radon concentration was measured in 44 natural and artificial cavities. The overal average is 1.9 kBq/m³. The highest concentration has been detected in a not touristic passage of El Guácharo Cave with 20 kBq/m³. Regional speleology. Radioactivity.

CARREÑO, Rafael; URBANI, Franco; SAJO-BOHUS, Laszlo (1997): Radon concentration measurements in natural and artificial Venezuelan caves: an update. El Guácharo, N° 41, December 1997: 50. Abstract presented at the Second Latinamerican Workshop on Nuclear and Heavy Ion Physics including related Cross Disciplinary Applications, Caracas, September 1997. Atmospheric radon measurements in caves show that Guácharo Cave has the highest concentration. Geospeleology.

CÉSARI, Carlos (1997): En busca de las estalactitas negras. El Guácharo, N° 40, June 1997: 75-77 (5 figures). Note on the occurrence of iron oxide stalactites in an abandoned zinc mine in Guárico state. Reprinted from Carta Ecológica, 67, 1993. Geospeleology. Cave Mineralogy.

CHABERT, Claude; COURBON, Paul; URBANI, Franco (1997): Venezuela. El Guácharo, N° 40, June 1997: 78-79. List of Venezuelan caves in non carbonate rocks. Reprinted from the book Atlas des Cavités non Calcaires du Monde, 1997. Regional speleology.

D’ONOFRIO, Lisseta; JAIME E.; GONZÁLEZ-JIMÉNEZ, Fernando; URBANI, Franco (1997): Análisis por espectrometría Mossbauer de espeleotemas ricas en hierro de cavidades naturales y artificiales de Venezuela. El Guácharo, N° 41, December 1997: 11-12. Abstract presented at the IV Venezuelan Speleological Meeting, Caracas, November 1997. Iron rich stalactites were analyzed by Mossbauer spectroscopy identifying hematite, magnetite and mainly goethite in samples that appear “amorphous” under X-ray difracction. Geospeleology. Cave minerals.

DÖRR, Stefan (1997): Höhlen und andere karstformen in quarziten des Guyanaschildes. El Guácharo, N° 40, June 1997: 53-74 (10 figures, 36 photographs) (English and German summaries). Summary of recent theories advanced to explain the karst landforms in the Venezuelan quartzites. Reprinted: Materialhefte zur Karst- und Höhlenkunde, 13, 1993. Geospeleology. Quartzite karst.

DUTRA, Georgete (1997): O maior desnivel do mundo em quatzito. O retorno à Gruta do Centenario, Mariana / MG. El Guácharo, N° 40, June 1997: 119-122 (3 figure). Description of an exploration that made Centenario Cave with its 3250 m long and 405 m deep, the world largest and deepest cave in quartzite, ending this record always before sustained by Venezuelan caves. Reprinted from O Carste, Brazil, 9(3), 1997. Regional speleology. Brazil.

FLORES, Néstor; URBANI, Franco (1997): Mediciones de concentración de radón en el suelo de dos cavidades artificiales cerca de Caracas. El Guácharo, N° 41, December 1997: 12-14. Abstract presented at the IV Venezuelan Speleological Meeting, Caracas, November 1997. Soil radon concentration was measured in two tunnels near Caracas with values as high as 13 kBq/m³. Variations are explained in terms of the lithology involved. Geospeleology. Radioactivity.

FLORES, Néstor; URBANI, Franco (1997): Soil radon concentration across fault zones in Northern Caracas. El Guácharo, N° 41, December 1997: 51. Abstract presented at the Second Latinamerican Workshop on Nuclear and Heavy Ion Physics including related Cross Disciplinary Applications, Caracas, September 1997. Soil radon measurements in tunnels and across fault zones show higher values (up to 27 kBq/m3) at fault breccias. Geospeleology. Radioactivity.

FORTI, Paolo (1997): I gessi del Venezuela. El Guácharo, N° 40, June 1997: 96-97 (2 figures). Note on a visit to a gypsum outcrop which shows small surface dissolution forms. Reprinted from Speleologia, 28, 1993. Geospeleology.

FOURNIER, Herbert; URBANI, Franco, CARREÑO, Rafael; OHEP, Elizabeth; MELO, Luis (1997): Total gamma radioactivity profile in the Old Central Railroad, Lira - Tusmare section, state of Miranda. El Guácharo, N° 41, December 1997: 51. Abstract presented at the Second Latinamerican Workshop on Nuclear and Heavy Ion Physics including related Cross Disciplinary Applications, Caracas, September 1997. Higher gamma radioactivity was measured inside tunnels due to the geometric effect of total bedrock surrounding. Geospeleology. Radioactivity.

GALÁN, Carlos (1996): Notas sobre la fauna cavernícola del norte de Bahía, Brasil.-Boletín de la Sociedad Venezolana de Espeleología, N° 30 / diciembre 1996: 14-19 (english and spanish summ).A biospeleological survey of caves of northern Bahía State, Brazil. 32 cavernicolous species are reported including two troglobites. Composition and evolution of cave fauna is discussed. Biospeleology. Bahia. Brazil.

GALÁN, Carlos (1997): Disolución y génesis del karst en rocas carbonáticas y rocas silíceas: un estudio comparativo. El Guácharo, N° 40, June 1997: 21-50 (15 figures) (English, Spanish and Basque summaries). Review of processes that allow the formation of caves in quartzites and a comparison with its limestone counterparts. Reprinted from Munibe, 47, 1995. Geospeleology. Quartzite karst.

GALÁN, Carlos (1997): Las dimensiones de las cavidades subterráneas: conceptos utilizados, modo de cálculo y significado de las expresiones cuantitativas. El Guácharo, N° 40, June 1997: 12-20 (10 figures) (English, Spanish and Basque summaries). Some expressions are defined to show the size of a cave. Reprinted from Munibe, 47, 1995. Technical speleology.

GIL DAZA, José Antonio (1996): Los santuarios cavernosos: un estudio del uso ceremonial de los abrigos rocosos de los páramos de Mérida.- El Guácharo, N° 39, Diciembre 1996: 1-36 (27 figs.). Excerpt of a thesis for the degree of Anthropologist at the Universidad Central de Venezuela, 1996. Reports six sites of rock shelters its archaeology and also recent rites. Anthropospeleology. Archaeology.

GIL DAZA, José Antonio (1997): Arqueología en abrigos rocosos de La Maneta, estado Mérida, Venezuela. El Guácharo, N° 41, December 1997: 14-15. Abstract presented at the IV Venezuelan Speleological Meeting, Caracas, November 1997. Archaeological investigation in three rocks shelters from Mérida State. Anthropospeleology. Archaeology.

GONZÁLEZ, Freddy (1997): Cavernamientos silíceos fuera de la Guayana Venezolana. El Guácharo, N° 40, June 1997: 2. Abstract presented at the III Venezuelan Speleological Meeting and published in Acta Científica Venezolana, 45, 1995. Description of caves opened in Tertiary sandstone in Táchira state. Regional speleology.

GONZÁLEZ, Freddy (1997): Exploraciones realizadas por el Grupo de Espeleología del Táchira durante los años 1995-1997. El Guácharo, N° 41, December 1997: 15. Abstract presented at the IV Venezuelan Speleological Meeting, Caracas, November 1997. Description of 37 caves explored in Táchira state opened in Tertiary and Cretaceous sandstones, and one in limestone. Regional speleology.

GONZÁLEZ, Freddy; ORTIZ, D.; LAYA, Juan Carlos; SOLANO, M. (1997): Estudio preliminar del karst en el estado Táchira. El Guácharo, N° 41, December 1997: 16-17. Abstract presented at the IV Venezuelan Speleological Meeting, Caracas, November 1997. Review of karst regions in Táchira state in which most caves explored to date are opened in Tertiary sandstones. Regional speleology.

GONZÁLEZ, Ramón; URBANI, Franco; CARREÑO, Rafael; SAJO-BOHUS, Laszlo (1997): Environmental gamma radioactivity in two tunnels near Caracas, Venezuela. El Guácharo, N° 41, December 1997: 52. Abstract presented at the Second Latinamerican Workshop on Nuclear and Heavy Ion Physics including related Cross Disciplinary Applications, Caracas, September 1997. Variation of radioactivity in the profiles is explained mainly by the bedrock lithology with higher values on feldspar and white mica rich sections of the tunnels. Geospeleology. Radioactivity.

HERRERA, Francisco; BOSQUE, Carlos (1997): Distribución actualizada del guácharo (Steatornis caripensis) en Venezuela. El Guácharo, N° 40, June 1997: 1. Abstract presented at the III Venezuelan Speleological Meeting and published in Acta Científica Venezolana, 45, 1995. Update of new Venezuelan localities with oilbirds. Biospeleology.

HERRERA, Francisco; CARREÑO, Rafael; GALÁN, Carlos (1997): Resultados espeleológicos del sistema del río Socuy (Sierra de Perijá). El Guácharo, N° 40, June 1997: 2. Abstract presented at the III Venezuelan Speleological Meeting and published in Acta Científica Venezolana, 45, 1995. Description of the caves in the upper río Socuy basin. Regional speleology.

HOLLER, Cato; HOLLER, Susan (1996): Cuban Caving ‘95.- El Guácharo, N° 39, Diciembre 1996: 106-108 (6 figs.). Account of the 55th Anniversary of the Cuban Speleological Society Congress.

IRANZO DE GÓMEZ, Esmeralda; WEIDMANN, Karl (1997): Parque Nacional Cueva de la Quebrada El Toro. El Guácharo, N° 40, June 1997: 99-101 (5 figures). Description of a National Park in western Venezuela which contains the Cueva de la Quebrada del Toro. Reprinted from Carta Ecológica, 68, 1994. Regional speleology.

IUCN (1997): Guidelines for Cave and Karst protection. El Guácharo, N° 40, June 1997: 123-132 (in English). Reprinted form IUCN Publications Services Unit, Cambridge, UK. Cave protection.

LAGARDE, Joris (1966): Estatuilla prehispánica del área de Trujillo.- Boletín de la Sociedad Venezolana de Espeleología, N° 30 / diciembre 1996: 71 (1 photos). Report of a 22 cm tall prehispanic feminine statue from an European public auction. Probably come from a cave of the Trujillo region from the 1000-1500 DC period. Anthropospeleology. Archaeology.

LAGARDE, Joris (1966): Expedición geográfica italo-venezolana Tepuy 96.- Boletín de la Sociedad Venezolana de Espeleología, N° 30 / diciembre 1996: 91-92 (english and spanish summ). Diary of the italian-venezuelan expedition that during February 1996 worked in the Aonda Platform of the Auyán-tepui mountain. The main achievement is the survey of the Sima del Bloque which connects with the Sima Aonda, making this the deepest cave in Venezuela increasing from -362 to -383 m, now also the second deepest in the world in quartzites. Regional speleology.

LAGARDE, Joris (1997): El bucéo en cuevas como medio de exploración. El Guácharo, N° 40, June 1997: 1-2. Abstract presented at the III Venezuelan Speleological Meeting and published in Acta Científica Venezolana, 45, 1995. Review of recent cave diving activities. Regional speleology.

LAYA, Juan Carlos; ORTIZ, D.; GONZÁLEZ, Freddy (1997): Resultados espeleológicos del Parque Nacional Páramo del Tamá del estado Apure. El Guácharo, N° 41, December 1997: 19. Abstract presented at the IV Venezuelan Speleological Meeting, Caracas, November 1997. Description of 7 caves opened in sandstone from 3000 and 3150 m above sea level, several of them inhabited by oil-birds. Regional speleology.

LÓPEZ, Víctor M.; DAVEY, C. (1997): geología del cerro Chichiriviche, estado Falcón. El Guácharo, N° 40, June 1997: 4-5 (6 figs.). Abstract presented at the III Venezuelan Speleological Meeting and published in Acta Científica Venezolana, 45, 1995. Excerpt of a 1943 geological report of a coastal karst area in Falcón. Regional speleology.

MARTINO, Ángela; ARANGUREN, J.; ARENDS, A. (1997): La comunidad de quirópteros de la cueva de Piedra Honda: su importancia como reserva biológica. El Guácharo, N° 40, June 1997: 2. Abstract presented at the III Venezuelan Speleological Meeting and published in Acta Científica Venezolana, 45, 1995. Study of a bat cave and the need of its conservation. Biospeleology. Conservation.

MAZADIEGO, L. F.; PUCHE, O. (1997): Mitos, genios, Duendes y Supersticiones en las Minas. El Guácharo, N° 40, June 1997: 133-141 (13 figures). Compilation of myths and believes about mines from several parts of the world. Reprinted: Boletín Geológico y Minero, Spain, 106, 1995. Anthropospeleology. Artificial cavities.

MELO, Luis; URBANI, Franco (1997): Composición fisicoquímica de aguas kársticas venezolanas: una evaluación regional. El Guácharo, N° 41, December 1997: 19-21. Abstract presented at the IV Venezuelan Speleological Meeting, Caracas, November 1997. Statistical evaluation of 99 water sample analyses allows the discrimination of each karst zone by its own chemical signature. Geospeleology. Hidrology.

MILIÁN César; QUINTERO, Jonathan (1997): Observaciones sobre la dolomitización de los mármoles del Peñón de las Guacas, estado Miranda. El Guácharo, N° 40, June 1997: 3. Abstract presented at the III Venezuelan Speleological Meeting and published in Acta Científica Venezolana, 45, 1995. Study of the calcite/dolomite ratio in the marbles of the locality and caves. Regional speleology.

NAVARRETE, Rodrigo; LÓPEZ, Ana (1997): La Gruta de Los Morrocoyes: estudio preliminar de pinturas rupestres en una localidad hipógea del estado Monagas. El Guácharo, N° 40, June 1997: 1. Abstract presented at the III Venezuelan Speleological Meeting and published in Acta Científica Venezolana, 45, 1995. Cave art is described from a sandstone rock shelter in Eastern Venezuela. Anthropospeleology.

NIETO, Guatavo; CÁCERES, C.; CÁCERES, V.; SILVA, Crisanto (1997): Exploración de cavidades en el cerro Chiricayén, estado Bolívar. El Guácharo, N° 41, December 1997: 21-22. Abstract presented at the IV Venezuelan Speleological Meeting, Caracas, November 1997. Four caves opened in quartzite were surveyed, the largest with 78 m of development, and the deepest with -38 m. Regional speleology.

NÚÑEZ, Miguel (1997): Variaciones de color y mineralogía de lo mármoles del Peñón de las Guacas, estado Miranda. El Guácharo, N° 40, June 1997: 2. Abstract presented at the III Venezuelan Speleological Meeting and published in Acta Científica Venezolana, 45, 1995. Mineralogical study of the marble to correlate rock color with mineralogy in this karst area near Caracas. Regional speleology.

ORIHUELA, Nuris; MORALES, Verónica; CASTILLO, M. G. (1997): Microgravimetría en cavidades: La Cueva del Indio, estado Miranda. El Guácharo, N° 41, December 1997: 23-24. Abstract presented at the IV Venezuelan Speleological Meeting, Caracas, November 1997. A detailed microgravimetric survey was carried on the surface above the known El Indio Cave near Caracas. The known cave passage could be detected but also another anomaly that could be caused by an unknown blind cave passage. Geospeleology. Geophysics.

PEZZOLATO, Paolo (1997): Venezuela. Tepuy “Terra Senza Tempo”. El Guácharo, N° 40, June 1997: 80-84 (5 figures). Notes on the italian-venezuelan expedition to Auyán-tepui caves of February 1996. Reprinted from Progressione, 1996. Regional speleology.

ROMERO, Rafael (1996): Nieves y riscos merideños.- El Guácharo, N° 39, Diciembre 1996: 110-111 (5 figs.). Excerpts of cave descriptions in the Merida high mountains from a book of 1980. Regional speleology.

RUBESA, Iván; URBANI, Franco (1997): Análisis químico de aguas kársticas: Cueva del Guácharo, distrito caripe, estado Monagas. El Guácharo, N° 40, June 1997: 2. Abstract presented at the III Venezuelan Speleological Meeting and published in Acta Científica Venezolana, 45, 1995. Statistical study of waters of different places and dates in Cueva del Guácharo. Regional speleology.

RUBESA, Iván; URBANI, Franco (1997): Aspectos hidrogeológicos del Cerro El Guácharo y descripción de nuevas cavidades en él ubicadas. El Guácharo, N° 41, December 1997: 26-27. Abstract presented at the IV Venezuelan Speleological Meeting, Caracas, November 1997. Description of 4 new caves on the mountain above the well known Cueva del Guácharo. Regional speleology.

SAJO BOHUS, Laszlo; GREAVES, Eduardo D.; RAMÍREZ, R.; MERLO, Gianluca (1997): Estudio del gradiente de concentración de radón en algunas cuevas de Venezuela. El Guácharo, N° 40, June 1997: 0. Abstract presented at the III Venezuelan Speleological Meeting and published in Acta Científica Venezolana, 45, 1995. Note on the first measurements of radón in a few venezuelan caves. Geospeleology.

SCARAMELLI, Franz; TARBLE, Kay (1996): Contenido arqueológico y etnográfico de los sitios de interés espeleohistórico del Orinoco Medio, Bolívar, Venezuela.-Boletín de la Sociedad Venezolana de Espeleología, N° 30 / diciembre 1996: 20-32 (1 photo, 2 maps) (english and spanish summ). 27 cave sites with archaeological and ethnographic interest are described from the Parguaza region, middle Orinoco. Rock art is specially treated. Antropospeleology. Archaeology. Rock art.

SILVA, Crisanto; Yungano, Julio César; BAQUERO, Marvin (1997): Estudio del karst del cerro Tucusito, Valle de Guanape, estado Guárico. El Guácharo, N° 41, December 1997: 27-28. Abstract presented at the IV Venezuelan Speleological Meeting, Caracas, November 1997. Survey of 4 new caves opened in Tertiary limestone. The largest has a development of 375 m. Regional speleology.

SILVA, Miguel (1997): Mineralización del guano de murciélago de la Cueva Ricardo Zuloaga, Peñón de las Guacas, estado Miranda. El Guácharo, N° 40, June 1997: 2. Abstract presented at the III Venezuelan Speleological Meeting and published in Acta Científica Venezolana, 45, 1995. Minerals in a bat guano profile down to 2.5 m. Brushite, gypsum and minerals of the apatite group are found. Regional speleology.

SOCIEDAD VENEZOLANA DE ESPELEOLOGÍA (1996): Catastro espeleológico Nacional.- Boletín de la Sociedad Venezolana de Espeleología, N° 30 / diciembre 1996: 72-90 (12 photos) (english and spanish summ). Basic data, description of 27 caves with their surveys. Among others there are 26 caves of the Parguaza region, middle Orinoco River of interest for the their rock art, archaeological and ethnographic remains. New data from the Cueva El Samán Zu.30 the longest from Venezuela with 18.1 km and denivelation of 169 m (+74, -95). Regional speleology.

SOCIEDAD VENEZOLANA DE ESPELEOLOGÍA (1997): IV Jornadas Venezolanas de Espeleología (XXX aniversario de la Sociedad venezolana de Espeleología, XLV años de espeleología nacional). Programa. El Guácharo, N° 41, December 1997: 1-2. Program of the IV Venezuelan Speleological Meeting, Caracas, November 1997. Regional speleology.

TEYSSIER, Daniel (1997): Amérique du Sud. Venezuela. El Guácharo, N° 40, June 1997: 98. Note on the results of a short visit by three French and a Venezuelan to some caves in Falcón state. Reprinted from Spelunca, 64, 1996. Regional speleology.

TRONCHONI, Juan Antonio; URBANI, Franco; BOSQUE, Carlos (1997): Introducción a las III Jornadas Venezolanas de Espeleología: actividades espeleológicas durante 1990-1995. El Guácharo, N° 40, June 1997: 0. Abstract presented at the III Venezuelan Speleological Meeting and published in Acta Científica Venezolana, 45, 1995. Summarizes speleological activities during 1990-1995.

URBANI, Bernardo (1996): Una carta poco conocida de Alexander von Humboldt referente a los petroglifos de una cueva cerca de La Urbana, estado Bolívar, Venezuela.- Boletín de la Sociedad Venezolana de Espeleología, N° 30 / diciembre 1996: 33-37 (4 figs.) (english and spanish summ). An analysis is made of a letter written on 24 January 1810 by Alexander von Humboldt to Mathieu Langlès, containing the drawing of a cave petroglyph, constituting the first graphic documentation of Venezuelan rock art. Antropospeleology. Archaeology. History of speleology.

URBANI, Bernardo; CARREÑO, Rafael (1996): Expedición a Caño Seco y valle del Guasare, Sierra de Perijá, estado Zulia. Semana Santa 1996.- El Guácharo, N° 39, Diciembre 1996: 99-101 (5 figs.). Diary of the speleological expedition to Caño Seco in Western Venezuela. 7 caves were surveyed and archaeological remains found. Regional speleology. Cave surveys. Archaeology.

URBANI, Franco (1966): Documentación referente a Don Francisco de Paula Álamo (1866-1943), un divulgador de la espeleología.- El Guácharo, N° 39, Diciembre 1996: 65-86 (5 figs.) (english and spanish summ). From 1892 to 1911 F. de P. Álamo published 6 descriptions of of caves of the Miranda State which are all fully reproduced. Álamo was the first to introduce the term Speleology in Venezuela in 1897. Anthropo-speleology. History of speleology. Biography.

URBANI, Franco (1966): Hydroxyl-apatito en la Sima del Jubo, provincia de Holgín, Cuba.- Boletín de la Sociedad Venezolana de Espeleología, N° 30 / diciembre 1996: 70-71 (3 photos) (english and spanish summ). Report of hydroxilapatite from Sima del Jubo in Eastern Cuba. Scanning electron microscope images reveal biogenic filamentous structures. Geospeleology. Cave mineralogy.

URBANI, Franco (1966): Una reseña sobre la hipótesis del horizonte de inicio de Lowe (1992) y su aplicabilidad a las cuevas en rocas cuarcíferas del Grupo Roraima.- El Guácharo, N° 39, Diciembre 1996: 102. Lowe’s Inception Horizon Hypothesis is mentioned in relation to the origin a caves in quartzites in southern Venezuela. Geospeleology. Quartzite karst.

URBANI, Franco (1966): Vida y obra de los iniciadores de la espeleología en Venezuela. Parte 7. Siglos XVI al XVIII.- Boletín de la Sociedad Venezolana de Espeleología, N° 30 / diciembre 1996: 38-55 (4 figs.) (english and spanish summ). The reproduction and analysis of 21 cave related references dating from XVI to XVIII centuries is presented. Most of them make reference to the use of caves by indigenous people, some to oil-bird hunting. The first publication that mentions a Venezuelan cave is of 1666 by Father José de Carabantes. Very good descriptions of caves come from the end of XVIII century. Anthopospeleology. History of speleology. Biography.

URBANI, Franco (1996): Datos espeleológicos en las Memorias del Ministerio de Educación 1925-1954.- El Guácharo, N° 39, Diciembre 1996: 103. Excerpts of mentions of caves in the Memoirs of the Education Ministry. Anthropospeleology. History of speleology.

URBANI, Franco (1996): Información referente a la Cueva del Consumidero del río Guaire, El Encantado, estado Miranda.- El Guácharo, N° 39, Diciembre 1996: 87-98 (8 photos). The Guaire river near Caracas had a few hundred meters underground section which was mentioned by 6 authors since 1835. The cave entrance was filled by sediments during the big flood of 1892 and by human intervention. Anthropospeleology. History of speleology.

URBANI, Franco (1996): Recopilación de información sobre guano de murciélagos en cavidades venezolanas.- El Guácharo, N° 39, Diciembre 1996: 37-64 (27 figs.). A review of all information available about bat guano in Venezuelan caves. Includes cave names and historical data since 1883. Published chemical composition is evaluated by multivariate statistics. Geospeleology. Cave fillings. Bats.

URBANI, Franco (1996): Venezuelan cave minerals: a review. Boletín de la Sociedad Venezolana de Espeleología, N° 30 / diciembre 1996: 1-13 (12 photos) (english and spanish summ). Review of all work done on cave mineralogy in Venezuela since 1963 to date. Reports carbonates (6 species), halides (1), nitrates (2), oxide-hydroxides (5), phosphates (12), silicates (5), sulfates (7), arseniates (1) and organic minerals (1). Geospeleology. Cave mineralogy. Venezuela

URBANI, Franco (1997): Edades de radiocarbono en la Cueva Ricardo Zuloaga, Sureste de Caracas, Venezuela. El Guácharo, N° 41, December 1997: 30-31. Abstract presented at the IV Venezuelan Speleological Meeting, Caracas, November 1997. Five radiocarbon dates were obtained from a bat guano profile. The cave was occupied by oil-birds 1000 years ago, while there is evidence of an earthquake 9310 years ago. Geospeleology.

URBANI, Franco (1997): Expediciones espeleológicas de la SVE a la meseta de Sarisariñama. El Guácharo, N° 40, June 1997: 6-7. Abstract presented at the III Venezuelan Speleological Meeting and published in Acta Científica Venezolana, 45, 1995. Chronology and bibliography of the Venezuelan Speleological Society 1976 and 1988 expeditions to the quartzite caves of Sarisariñama. Regional speleology.

URBANI, Franco (1997): La espeleología de América Latina y el Caribe en cifras. El Guácharo, N° 40, June 1997: 102-107 (1 figure, 6 tables). Statistics of the number of publications indexed in Speleological Abstracts from Latin America and the Caribbean including some comments showing the degree of development of speleology in such countries. Regional speleology.

URBANI, Franco (1997): La spéléologie en Amérique Latine et aux Caraibes. El Guácharo, N° 40, June 1997: 108-110 (1 table) (English and French summaries). Statistics of the number of publications indexed in Speleological Abstracts from Latin America and the Caribbean including some comments showing the degree of development of speleology in such countries. Reprinted from Regards, 28, 1997. Regional speleology.

URBANI, Franco (1997): Mediciones de temperatura, presión barométrica y humedad relativa en la superficie y el subsuelo de la plataforma de Aonda, Auyán-tepui, Bolívar. El Guácharo, N° 41, December 1997: 53-99 (21 figures, 7 tables). Data loggers were placed at the surface, in a small cave and at -80 m level of Sima Aonda 3. Surface and the deep stations show a similar temperature trend but with a 14 hours offset. Geospeleology. Climatology.

URBANI, Franco (1997): Una ocurrencia de sepiolita en la Cueva Ricardo Zuloaga, Peñón de las Guacas, Miranda. El Guácharo, N° 40, June 1997: 0-1. Abstract presented at the III Venezuelan Speleological Meeting and published in Acta Científica Venezolana, 45, 1995. Occurrence of sepiolite and aragonite in a dolomitic marble cave. Geospeleology. Cave mineralogy.

URBANI, Franco; BORDÓN, Carlos (1997): Spedizione “Auyán-tepui 1992”-Venezuela, risposta a Mauro Iglese. El Guácharo, N° 40, June 1997: 8-11. Reply to previous comments about venezuelan speleology given by Mauro Inglese. Regional speleology.

URBANI, Franco; CARREÑO, Rafael (1997): Estudio climático de la Cueva Ricardo Zuloaga, Caracas: variaciones térmicas de la galería de los murciélagos. El Guácharo, N° 41, December 1997: 9-10. Abstract presented at the IV Venezuelan Speleological Meeting, Caracas, November 1997. Results of a 14 month long temperature monitoring in a passage with a large bat colony. Regional speleology. Climatology.

URBANI, Franco; CARREÑO, Rafael (1997): Mediciones de radioactividad gamma y determinación de la concentración de radón en cavidades naturales y artificiales de Venezuela. Parte 1. El Guácharo, N° 41, December 1997: 100-143 (18 figures, 19 tables). Full data tables of measurements of gamma radioactivity in 12 cavities and radon concentration measurements in 44 caves are presented with no interpretations. Geospeleology. Radioactivity.

URBANI, Franco; CARREÑO, Rafael; MELO, Luis; SILVA, Crisanto; YUNGANO, Julio César; OHEP, Elizabeth (1997): Perfiles de radioactividad gamma en algunas cavidades venezolanas con depósitos de guano de murciélago. El Guácharo, N° 41, December 1997: 28-29. Abstract presented at the IV Venezuelan Speleological Meeting, Caracas, November 1997. Gamma radioactivity (total, K, U and Th) were measured in several caves with bat guano deposits, showing that the higher radioactivity is measured above fresh guano. 137Cs is reported from Ricardo Zuloaga cave. Geospeleology. Radioactivity.

URBANI, Franco; CARREÑO, Rafael; YUNGANO, Julio César; MELO, Luis; OHEP, Elizabeth (1997): Gamma radioactivity profiles in some Venezuelan caves with bat guano deposits. El Guácharo, N° 41, December 1997: 52. Abstract presented at the Second Latinamerican Workshop on Nuclear and Heavy Ion Physics including related Cross Disciplinary Applications, Caracas, September 1997. In such caves gamma radioactivity (total, K, U and Th), diminish from the fresh guano sections to places with old and decomposed guano. Geospeleology. Radioactivity.

URBANI, Franco; GONZÁLEZ, Ramón; FOURNIER, Herbert; CARREÑO, Rafael; OHEP, Elizabeth; MELO, Luis; URRIBARRI, Paúl; SAJO-BOHUS, Laszlo (1997): Radioactividad gamma en algunas cavidades artificiales cerca de Caracas, Venezuela. El Guácharo, N° 41, December 1997: 17-18. Abstract presented at the IV Venezuelan Speleological Meeting, Caracas, November 1997. Gamma radioactivity (Total, K, U and Th channels) was systematically measured in several artificial cavities near Caracas and the results interpreted as function of the lithology and geometric factors. Geospeleology. Radioactivity.

URBANI, Franco; MANRIQUE, Aaron; COLOMINE, Astrid; SOTO, Manuel David; CAMERO, Sonia (1997): Espeleotemas de ópalo y leucofosfita en la Cueva de los Culones de Caoma, Carayaca, Distrito Federal. El Guácharo, N° 40, June 1997: 0. Abstract presented at the III Venezuelan Speleological Meeting and published in Acta Científica Venezolana, 45, 1995. Occurrence of leucophosphite with opal coralloids in a small cave opened in garnet amphibolite. Geospeleology. Cave mineralogy.

URBANI, Franco; QUINTERO, Jonathan (1997): Desarrollo kárstico y contenido de dolomita en mármoles: avance de los estudios en el Peñón de Las Guacas, Miranda. El Guácharo, N° 41, December 1997: 25-26. Abstract presented at the IV Venezuelan Speleological Meeting, Caracas, November 1997. The calcite/dolomite ratio was studied on 227 bedrock samples from Ricardo Zuloaga cave and surface outcrops, suggesting that the rock types where preferential cave development takes place are those with a intermediate dolomite content (20-80% dolomite). Geospeleology.

URBANI, Franco; RENGIFO, Rufino (1997): La exploración de cuevas con depósitos de guano de murciélagos en la zona de Sarare - Agua Blanca en los estados Lara y Portuguesa durante 1894. El Guácharo, N° 40, June 1997: 33-49 (2 figures). Account of the exploration of bat guano caves by Juan de Dios Monserrate in 1894 in the states of Lara and Portuguesa. Caves of the area are currently been explored. Anthropospeleology. History of speleology.

UZCATEGUI, Redescal (1997): Mineralogía de los mármoles de la cueva Alfredo Jahn, Birongo, estado Miranda. El Guácharo, N° 40, June 1997: 0. Abstract presented at the III Venezuelan Speleological Meeting and published in Acta Científica Venezolana, 45, 1995. Calcite/dolomite ratio in the bedrock of Alfredo Jahn Cave has been investigated and larger passages correlate with higher ratios. Geospeleology. Speleogenesis.

YANES, Carlos E.; BRICEÑO, Henry O. (1997): Chemical weathering and the formation of pseudo-karst topography in the Roraima Group, Gran Sabana, Venezuela. El Guácharo, N° 40, June 1997: 51-52 (In English). Influence of chemical weathering in the origin of quartzite karstforms. Reprinted from Chemical Geology, 107, 1993. Geospeleology. Quartzite karst.

YUNGANO, Julio César; FERMÍN, Natalia; BAQUERO, Marvin; MELO, Luis; SILVA, Crisanto (1997): Aspectos mineralógicos de la Cueva del Indio, estado Miranda. El Guácharo, N° 41, December 1997: 21-32. Abstract presented at the IV Venezuelan Speleological Meeting, Caracas, November 1997. Cave mineralogy survey of a bat guano deposit reporting whitlockite, gypsum, calcite and four minerals of the apatite group. Geospeleology.

ZAMPIERI, Dario (1997): Un esploratore italiano dei tepuy venezuelani negli anni’50. El Guácharo, N° 40, June 1997: 94-95 (1 portrait). Biographical note on Anfonso Vinci (1916-1992), an italian which with Félix Cardona in the 50’s ascended Auyán-tepui in its southeastern route and mentioned the penetration of one of the caves. Reprinted from Speleologia, 30, 1994. Regional speleology