
Sistema Arrels-clonc
Complicadíssim sistema d'esquerdes unides entre elles que totalitzen un recorregut de 578 m. topografiats, a les Muntanyes de Prades (Montblanc)
EspeleoWorld
Sistema Arrels-clonc
Complicadíssim sistema d'esquerdes unides entre elles que totalitzen un recorregut de 578 m. topografiats, a les Muntanyes de Prades (Montblanc)
Montblanc · Conca de Barberà
Length: 578 m · Depth: 36 m
Updated record
https://espeleoworld.com/en/c/sistema-arrels-clonc
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A highly complex system of interconnected fissures totalling 578 m of surveyed passage, in the Muntanyes de Prades (Montblanc).
Topographic
Espeleoindex · CC BY-NC 4.0, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ · Image © its author.
Photos
Espeleoindex · CC BY-NC 4.0, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ · Image © its author.
Description
Morphology
The avenc de la CUNETA has an entrance 0.30X0.40 metres that leads to a pit of -3.40 metres which connects with the avenc Clonc. A small entrance between blocks gives access to the avenc CLONC; the entrance of 0.70X0.70 metres leads to a drop of 5.50 metres that places us in a chamber of 7X2.50X3 metres with two continuations. The other continuation leaves from the lowest point of the entrance chamber; a narrow drop of -3.70 metres leaves us in a chamber of 6X2.50X3 metres, quadrangular in form. Once the 7-metre pit has been descended, we find two continuations, one downwards towards the SW, which leads to a pit of -6.50 metres, and the other towards the NE along a gallery of 4X1.20 metres. The continuation passes through a crawl of some 4 metres in length that ends at the upper part of a chamber with a steeply sloping floor; at the end of this, among the block barrier, Sala de la Barrera, a drop of -5.20 metres connects with the avenc de l'Orellut. A gallery of some 8 metres of passage that descends steeply to its end. In the avenc de L'ORELLUT, a small entrance ramp leaves us at the upper part of a drop of -3.60 metres that connects with a small chamber which, through a low passage between formations, leads to a new drop of -3.20 metres. Having descended the drop we reach a small chamber 4.20 X4 metres; in its floor opens a pit, the entrance of which is half covered by a block. The pit of -13.10 metres leaves us in the Sala Gran 16X4X6 metres. A crawl 0.50X0.50 metres, which after 3 metres turns left and 2 metres further on the section narrows to 0.15X0.25 metres. The avenc de la FIGUERETA has a wide entrance of 6X3 metres, which gives access to a drop of -5.50 metres; after a short ramp it places us at the base of the entrance pit; along the NE end, a passage between blocks allows us to continue some 4 metres to the head of a pit that connects with a lower level. On the N wall of the base of the entrance pit, a passage between blocks allows descent through a fissure full of hanging blocks forming a kind of superimposed galleries, which descend to -14.80 metres. In the avenc de les ARRELS, we find two narrow entrances between blocks, joined by a 2.40-metre flat-out crawl, which give way to a drop of -2.90 metres; this leaves us in a chamber of 14X3.50X3 metres with a funnel-shaped floor made of sediments; in its deepest part opens the entrance of a pit 4X1.20 metres in diameter and 12 metres deep.
Progression
To be able to enter the avenc de la Cuneta the block covering the entrance must be removed, in order to spare motorists any frights. In the avenc Clonc, a continuation follows below the small entrance pit, where a crawl climbs between blocks in an W direction, for 3 metres turning left until it connects with a pit of -8 metres, at the base of which access is possible by the other route. A narrow passage in the S angle connects with a pit of -7 metres. Almost at the level of the entrance of the pit, we find a hanging gallery that climbs a few metres and at its right-hand end gives way to a series of ramps and drops between blocks, to continue along a climbing crawl that leaves us at the base of a pit of +3.40 metres that connects with the entrance of the avenc de la Cuneta. Once the 7-metre pit has been descended, the other continuation towards the NE along a gallery of 4X1.20 metres climbs steeply until it becomes a crawl passage between sediments, where a drop leads us to a small chamber with earthy walls. Again at the base of the 7-metre pit and on the W wall, a gallery on a steep descending ramp and through a narrow passage, we reach a small chamber which can also be reached by descending a pit of -8 metres, its access already detailed in earlier lines. A couple of drops connect with a gallery of some 8 metres of passage that descends steeply to its end, where on the floor a passage between blocks allows continuation a few metres further through a couple of fissures. In the avenc de l'Orellut, having descended the drop we reach a small chamber 4.20 X4 metres; in its floor opens a pit, the entrance of which is half covered by a block. The pit of -13.10 metres leaves us in the Sala Gran 16X4X6 metres; in a S direction, the chamber is blocked by large blocks, between which it is possible to advance a few metres. Right at the foot of the block barrier and on the facing wall, by which we descended into the chamber, there is a narrow passage that leads to a couple of small chambers connected between blocks; past these, a crawl places us at the entrance of the Sala de la Barrera of the avenc Clonc. Situated again in the Sala Gran we can climb in a N direction, half delimited by a large block that is skirted on the right, steeply up to the foot of the wall, where hanging at some 3 metres of height a small chamber connects with a crawl 0.50X0.50 metres, which after 3 metres turns left and 2 metres further on the section narrows to 0.15X0.25 metres; at this point, a handclasp from both cavities corroborated the connection with the avenc de les Arrels. Situated again in the Sala Gran, at the foot of the pit and on the facing wall, a jointed gallery opens that descends steeply; after a few metres it divides into three conduits. The left-hand gallery climbs steeply until it becomes blocked by blocks. The middle gallery loses height rapidly until it becomes a descending flat-out crawl that places us in a narrow joint which is the point of maximum depth of the system; from this point it is possible to climb in a W direction, between blocks, to continue along a crawl in a SW direction for some 8 metres until reaching a chamber-gallery half divided by blocks and with an earthy floor, where in the ceiling -5.20 metres there is a clear connection with the Sala de la Barrera of the avenc Clonc. In the avenc de la Figuereta, after a short ramp it places us at the base of the entrance pit; along the NE end, a passage between blocks allows us to continue some 4 metres to the head of a pit that connects with a lower level. Almost opposite the access ramp, a narrow descending passage in a NW direction connects with the avenc de les Arrels. In the avenc de les Arrels, at the base we find a jointed gallery; following it towards the NE for some 20 metres, it turns right and 7 metres further on it is obstructed by a collapse. Situated again at the base of the pit and in a SW direction a gallery full of unstable blocks places us before two continuations, one on the left, narrow and with the appearance of a meander, where at mid-height we observe a kind of natural handrail, which are nothing other than roots. At 25 metres, a narrow passage connects with the avenc de la Figuereta. The other continuation is a gallery practically oriented to the SW, narrow and full of unstable hanging blocks, where one can advance in a continuous up-and-down for some 60 metres, where a narrow passage prevents continuation. At the middle of this passage, touching the ceiling and between unstable blocks, a small passage connects with the end of the crawl of the avenc de l'Orellut.
History
The first news of its existence was given by members of the GIEM, who explored them towards the end of the 1960s and already knew of the union of several of them. According to what Joan Pallisé (GIEM) informs us (2013), the discovery and first explorations were carried out by members of the AEET de Valls in the mid-1960s and it seems that archaeological remains were found. The first survey, although partial, was made by members of the SIE - CEA and of the GES - CMB during the years 1977-1978 to be published in the second volume of the Catàleg Espeleològic de Catalunya. In 1986 the GELL, through a colleague resident in La Riba, learned of the discovery of the entrance of the avenc de les Arrels, after carrying out some diggings; a few weeks later they went to La Riba to explore it, made the survey and verified the relationship with the already known cavities. Finally, and again the SIE - CEA, during the years 1988-1991 and after many visits, managed to produce as complete a survey as possible given the complexity of the cavities.
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Bibliography
- Borràs, J.; Miñarro, JM; Talavera, F. (1978).-Catàleg Espeleològic de Catalunya (vol 2):1-246. Ed. Políglota.Barcelona.
- GE Lleidatà (1987).-”Fitxer de cavitats”. Grallera (2):59-67.GELL-CE Lleida.
- GIEM (1972).-”Cavidades topografiadas en la Serra de Prades y lista de las mayores cavidades”. Comunicacions II Simposium Metodologia Espeleològica. pp: VI-h:1-6.SIE.CE Àliga. Barcelona.
- Ferro, Antoni. (1993).-”El Sistema Arrels -Clonc” EspeleoSie (32):5-9. SIE-CE Àliga. Barcelona
- Fotografies facilitades per Josep M. Molgó (GELL-CEL).
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Source: Espeleoindex (espeleoindex.com), modified. CC BY-NC 4.0, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/




