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UNAM EXPEDITION TOVERACRUZbyAndrea Raz-Guzman MacBethThis expedition was planned as a combinationsports and scientific research project,a true speleological expedition. Wevisited the municipalities of Tepatlaxcoand Ixhuatlan del Cafe in the state ofVeracruz from 14-27 April 1984. Members ofthe expedition were Ing. Eduardo Martinez,Geo!. Jorge Ortiz, Ing. Josue Escobar, Ing.Alejandro Sanchez, BioI. Hector Guzman andmyself, under the leadership of Ing. GuillermoMora.In this area of prominent karst development,drainage is mainly subterranean inthe dry season, and water holes are common.The geology of the area comprises quaternarysediments of clastic conglomerates ofextrusive rock, clayey sands, calcareousrock, and volcanic ash, over which liecretaceous sediments of three formations:the Mendez, rich in foraminifera, benthicclays, and calcareous sands; the SuperiorEscamela, rich in macrofossils, calcareoushorizons, and dolomite; and the MedianEscamela, rich in calcareous algae,sponges, gastropods, and bivalves. Thearea has a warm, damp climate, with a sum-38
mer rainy season and vegetation that variesfrom jungle to forest.The objectives of the expedition were,first, to explore the previously unexploredarea we had selected on a map, find as manycaves as possible, and map as many as timeallowed; and second, to sample the animals,plants, rocks, and fossils of the area, andmake observations on the geology. Thepaleontological and geological aspects areespecially rich, this being one of Mexico'stransgressional extensions of reef origin.Also, notes were to be taken on ethnologyand anthropological findings.Our equipment consisted of the usualnecessities for caving and surveying, aswell as jars, plastic bags, alcohol, tags,etc., for the collection of samples. Eachperson fulfilled a particular role in theexpedition's organization, from writing andpreparing letters of introduction and datasheets to organizing caving, topography,and collection equipment. Others organizedphotographic equipment, planned the expeditionmenu, and bought food and first-aidsupplies.CAVESIN THE AREAThe expedition was divided into threegroups. Group 1, Guillermo Mora, AlejandroSanchez, and I explored an area that comprisedthe villages of El Triunfo, Buenavista,La Palma, and Alta Luz del Castillo,located 1000 meters above El Pedregal, thebase campsite. Group 2, Eduardo Martl.nez,Jorge Ortiz and Hector Guzman, explored theareas of Ocotitlan, Guzmantla, and ElBajio. Group 3, Ricardo Salas, Josue Escobarand Raul Sanchez, explored Ixhuatlanand Ixcapantla.A total of 36 caves were explored,varying between 20 and 150 meters deep, ofwhich 75 percent were mapped. Samples ofanimals, plants, and rocks were collectedin most of the caves. Some fossils werealso found and collected.As it was not possible to get all themaps together, included here are five inthe area that my group explored. Cueva delos Castillos, located in La Palma, is anample horizontal cave with many bouldersand no large drops. Cueva de Don Miguel, inEl Triunfo, is also an ample horizontalcave that ends in a blocked-up verticalpitch of only 8 meters, inhabited by arespectable number of harvestmen (opilionidsof the Phalangodidae family),grasshoppers and polydesmids. All animalswere identified at the Acarology Laboratoryof the Facultad de Ciencias of the UniversidadNacional Autonoma de Mexico (UNAM).Sotano de Guadalupe Garcia, in EI Pedregal,was found after exploring throughdense tropical vegetation. It is mostlynarrow, with calcite formations only nearthe entrance, the remainder being halfburied in sticky mud. We stopped explorationat the point where it is too narrowfor a person to pass through. Since largelogs were found lodged along the way, andsince the cave is located in a big doline,we assume it carries a fair amount of waterin the rainy season. This was the onlyCUEVA DE LOS CASTILLOSRoncherio La PalmoMunicipio de TepatiOlteo. Verocruz(clave VTB-019)CUEVA DE DON MIGUELSuunto • T..pe Survey25 April 1984 byA. Rt..-:-GllzMn. A. S&nche&.c. Nor.suu"to"T"~Sur"lty19 Hay 1984 byA.it.u.-Guwn.A.sinch.:..G. MoraOpposite: One of the large dolinas typical of the area.39
Page 4 and 5: PLACES INTHIS ISSUELORETO\- II PURI
Page 8: Bot Roost10ometers5I1mprojected pro
Page 16: The large entrance chamber to Cueva
Page 20: Long Caves of Mexicocompiled by Pet
Page 24: Chilchotla is a newly discovered ca
Page 29 and 30: GUIXANI NDIA GUINJAOZONGOLlCA-CHILC
Page 31 and 32: GUINJAOTHI GUINJAOCrystalCylinderSS
Page 33 and 34: GRUTAS DEL COCONAFinding a cave to
Page 35 and 36: GRUTASTDEL COCONAeapa, Tabasco~ c:W
Page 37 and 38: Themilky-white sulpher river that f
Page 39: cne of the many skylight entrances
Page 43 and 44: Looking up towards the entrance ofS
Page 45 and 46: CHIAPASThe Dutch Expeditionby Laure
Page 47 and 48: Jl:SRTUCDCCHIAPAS.EL ZAPOTAL.MEXICO
Page 49 and 50: ELEVATIONPLANI '1 11 JI .,.-,. mete
Page 51 and 52: \9}"CAVES OF FRONTERA COMALAPA~CUEV
Page 53 and 54: BELGIAN EXPLORATIONSAT ZOQUITLANMEX
Page 55 and 56: AVCOUPES TRANSVERSALES I t 15MG~MON
Page 58 and 59: w'"ill~0'" a:w
Page 60 and 61: eakdown collapse and a 2~meter pit.
Page 62 and 63: CENOTE NAHARONTULUM. QUINTANA ROOCo
Page 64 and 65: REM:J1'E CENCYI'ECenote Dos Ojos is
Page 66 and 67: 50taoo de Ocotempaby Terry RainesMa
Page 68 and 69: Mauricio Tapie on the Overhung Clim
Page 70 and 71: SEA CAVES OF LORETOby Dave BunnellO
Page 72 and 73: CUEVAS DE NOPOLOESTADO DE BAJA CALI
Page 74 and 75: SISTEMA PURIFICACION 198672by Peter
Page 76 and 77: slipped on a down climb and twisted
Page 78 and 79: There was some airflow, but it look
Page 80 and 81: Low displacement fault in scalloped
Page 82 and 83: SISTEMA PURIFICACION 198780by Peter
Page 84 and 85: the right side that was left unpush
Page 86 and 87: Dale Pate crawling over SOIre of th
Page 88 and 89: eeze, only seven hours. So it was s
Page 90 and 91:
of the Dragon River, high over Infi
Page 92 and 93:
named after a ghost of popular Mexi
Page 94 and 95:
Meanwhile Peter, Terri, Rich, and P
Page 96 and 97:
CUEVA DELTECOLOTEby Terri Sprousewi
Page 98 and 99:
tions that covered the brittle rock
Page 100 and 101:
A surprise continuation of the Fant
Page 102 and 103:
ReviewsLas Cavernas de la Sierra Go
Page 104 and 105:
Bill Steele labored on the story of
Page 106:
Chiapas in 1981 and 1984. This we1l
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