Saturday, August 7, 2021

Michael Mixerr’s encounter and discovery of Stonewall Cave. Another one of Austin’s lesser known caves.

Michael Mixerr went to go spelunking inside one of Austin’s lesser known caves called Stonewall Cave on the date of 8/4/2021. He realized that no has ever explored Stonewall Cave before. Surveying or mapping of this cave has never been either. He says, “Stonewall Cave is surrounded by a coagulation of small limestone boulders which lead to an opening that is a 1 foot drop. Stonewall Cave has not been thoroughly explored or properly surveyed. This cave has not been mapped. Not too much is known about karst feature.” Exploring Stonewall Cave has never been done before.


Stonewall Cave is another one of Austin’s forgotten caves and lesser known caves located in the Balcones Fault Zone. The rock formation of Stonewall Cave is composed entirely of limestone formation due to being located in the Balcones Fault Zone. Large karst features are noticeable from the surface. 

 

Stonewall Cave is one of Austin’s lesser known caves located in the Balcones Fault Zone. The diameter of Stonewall Cave is 1 x 2. 1 foot deep and 2 feet wide. The entrance is a foot long drop which leads to a slope which extends 2 feet next to a rock ceiling with only enough crawling room for one or two people. This crawling room extends 4 feet going in a southwest bound direction. At the bottom of this crawling room is a clay floor covered in soft soil. The room transcends into a tight squeeze leading to a dark room.


Michael Mixerr found a small collection of insects in and around this cave. “Insects such as mosquitos, fire ants, and grasshoppers can be found in and around Stonewall Cave along the outside boundaries.”

Insects such as mosquitos, fire ants, and grasshoppers can be found in and around Stonewall Cave along the outside boundaries. These features are not believed to be directly related to any cave with federally listed species. Stonewall Cave is not known to contain federally listed species or karst features. The ecosystem of Stonewall Cave has been sparred from being destroyed or heavily impacted by ongoing construction and ongoing development. All of Stonewall Cave has been sparred from complete destruction.



Stonewall has not been thoroughly explored or properly surveyed. This cave has not been mapped. Exploring Stonewall Cave has never been done before. However finding the location of this cave was very easy because the opening was visible from road view. Finding and locating Stonewall Cave is because this cave is located on a tiny island of  pavement behind a Dairy Queen restaurant and car wash.



Stonewall Cave is located off FM 620 and Zimmerman Lane, Austin, Texas, US 78726. The precise location and address is 7710 North FM 620, Austin, Texas, US 78726.

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