Riverbluff Cave
Encyclopedia
The Riverbluff Cave is a paleontological site discovered in the United States
, near Springfield, Missouri
. The entrance is filled with stalactites, stalagmite
s and columns. The cave is about 830,000 years old (making it the oldest known fossil cave site in the US) and 610 m long, featuring the Pleistocene
fossils, notably of the short-faced bear (Artcodus simus) the largest bear
species on the Earth (about 6 feet tall at the shoulder and weighing 1,400 pounds).
The cave Is located in the widespread karst
landscape of the Springfield Plateau of the western Missouri Ozarks and developed within the soluble Mississippian limestone
s of the region. It was unveiled accidentally on September 11, 2001 when engineers were blasting for a new road.
The cave is not open to the public, but is the world's second cave to be wired for virtual tours. The Riverbluff Cave Field House opened in 2009 with exhibits of fossils from Riverbluff Cave and from around the world.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, near Springfield, Missouri
Springfield, Missouri
Springfield is the third largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and the county seat of Greene County. According to the 2010 census data, the population was 159,498, an increase of 5.2% since the 2000 census. The Springfield Metropolitan Area, population 436,712, includes the counties of...
. The entrance is filled with stalactites, stalagmite
Stalagmite
A stalagmite is a type of speleothem that rises from the floor of a limestone cave due to the dripping of mineralized solutions and the deposition of calcium carbonate. This stalagmite formation occurs only under certain pH conditions within the underground cavern. The corresponding formation on...
s and columns. The cave is about 830,000 years old (making it the oldest known fossil cave site in the US) and 610 m long, featuring the Pleistocene
Pleistocene
The Pleistocene is the epoch from 2,588,000 to 11,700 years BP that spans the world's recent period of repeated glaciations. The name pleistocene is derived from the Greek and ....
fossils, notably of the short-faced bear (Artcodus simus) the largest bear
Bear
Bears are mammals of the family Ursidae. Bears are classified as caniforms, or doglike carnivorans, with the pinnipeds being their closest living relatives. Although there are only eight living species of bear, they are widespread, appearing in a wide variety of habitats throughout the Northern...
species on the Earth (about 6 feet tall at the shoulder and weighing 1,400 pounds).
The cave Is located in the widespread karst
KARST
Kilometer-square Area Radio Synthesis Telescope is a Chinese telescope project to which FAST is a forerunner. KARST is a set of large spherical reflectors on karst landforms, which are bowlshaped limestone sinkholes named after the Kras region in Slovenia and Northern Italy. It will consist of...
landscape of the Springfield Plateau of the western Missouri Ozarks and developed within the soluble Mississippian limestone
Limestone
Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate . Many limestones are composed from skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral or foraminifera....
s of the region. It was unveiled accidentally on September 11, 2001 when engineers were blasting for a new road.
The cave is not open to the public, but is the world's second cave to be wired for virtual tours. The Riverbluff Cave Field House opened in 2009 with exhibits of fossils from Riverbluff Cave and from around the world.