Description
Over 1,000 formations repaired; more than 4,500 volunteer hours; 18 different caves; six states. The Cave Formation Repair project began in 2018 in an effort to remedy destructive practices from human interactions with caves, such as the use of cave formations as percussion instruments in the “Music Room” of Carlsbad Caverns. Join Mike Mansur to learn how cave formation—stalagmites, stalactites, soda straws, and more—are formed and what efforts are being taken to repair broken ones using tools he invented for this purpose.
Mike Mansur founded the Cave Formation Repair Project in 2018, after retiring from Intel. He is the recipient of the 2022 Victor A. Schmidt Conservation Award, a conservation life member, and a fellow of the National Speleological Society. Since 1986, he has volunteered his time to work on cave restoration, impact mapping, surveying, and mineral inventory projects.