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  Inception of a Code of Conduct for Karst and Cave Protection: An Integrated Earth-System and Ethical Imperative Mike Buchanan 2026   Opening Philosophical Expression Humanity is a geologically recent species burdened with an outsized sense of importance. Our cognitive architecture, shaped for survival in small groups over short horizons, now operates at planetary scale, where curiosity, ambition and the pursuit of recognition can outpace restraint. We are capable of extraordinary insight into the workings of Earth systems, yet persistently inclined to mistake access for entitlement and attention for stewardship. Nowhere is this tension more apparent than in karst and cave environments: places defined by deep time, extreme sensitivity, and irreversibility, encountered by a species still learning—often too late—the consequences of its own presence. This work proceeds from a simple but uncomfortable premise: the primary risk to subterranean systems is not ignorance of t...
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  Ethical Access to Karst Systems: Principles, Rationale and Practice – An Educational Publication. Mike Buchanan (2026) Opening Statement This paper advances a clear educational and moral proposition: karst systems are complex, porous matrices that integrate water, life, memory and culture. Which require an explicit ethic of access, grounded in responsibility rather than entitlement. Far from being inert resources to be measured, entered, or exploited at will, karst landscapes function as life‑support systems and living archives. Their hidden conduits link human communities, ecosystems and deep geological time. Because of this relational vulnerability, access to karst must be governed by principles of precaution, justice, reciprocity and stewardship across generations and political boundaries. By translating these principles into practical guidance, this paper reframes access not as a technical or recreational privilege, but as a shared ethical responsibility. Ethical acce...
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  Aragonite Vs Calcite Cave Speleothem Buchanan (2025)   Aragonite and calcite are both polymorphs of calcium carbonate (CaCO ₃ ), meaning they have the same chemical composition but different crystal structures. Aragonite is commonly found in marine shells, coral skeletons, and cave formations, while calcite is more widespread in sedimentary rocks like limestone, dolomite. In caves, aragonite and calcite both play significant roles in speleothem (cave formation) development, they form under different conditions and exhibit distinct crystal habits. Picture: - Aragonite sprays- Wolkburg Caves, Limpopo, South Africa, Lake chamber (Mike Buchanan) Crystallography of Aragonite ·          Crystal System: Orthorhombic ·          Habit: Prismatic, needle-like, or columnar crystals, often forming fibrous or radiating aggregates ·          Cleavage: D...
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  Environmental Impact Report: Acid Mine Drainage, Groundwater Contamination, and Radon Emissions in the Cradle of Humankind Mike Buchanan 2023   Executive Summary This report investigates the significant environmental challenges arising from acid mine drainage (AMD), groundwater contamination, and the emission of radon gas (Rn-222) in the Cradle of Humankind, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. These issues, primarily stemming from abandoned and relic mines in the Gauteng and Northwest Provinces, pose serious risks to public health, ecological integrity, and cultural heritage. The report outlines the geohydrological mechanisms driving contamination and proposes a multi-tiered remediation strategy supported by recent scientific and governmental findings (Naicker et al., 2003; Coetzee et al., 2006; WHO, 2021). 1. Introduction The Cradle of Humankind, a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in Gauteng, faces pressing environmental issues due to ongoing acid mine drainage (AMD...
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