Acta carsologica, XXII (1993) 
AN ACCOUNT ON STUDY EXCHANGE WITH FRANCE 1993 
Due to the tradition since 1979 this year too the researchers ofthe Karst Research Insti-
tute ZRC SAZU have taken part at the scientific technical cooperation with France, more 
precisely URA 903 CNRS (Aix-en-Provence), Laboratoire souterrain du CNRS (Moulis). 
The visit lasted from October 11 to 19, 1993 and was realized by two geologists mag. 
Martin Knez and mag. Stanka Šebela. In the first part we visited, guided by prof. J. Nicod 
and under the authority ofprof. J.J.Blanc the caves Grottes de Baudinard in the Verdon 
canyon. In the Baudinard canyon's profile four levels ofthe cave systems may be observed. 
In these caves J.J.Blanc (1992) studied the speleogenesis in respect to tectonic laws. 
In one ofthese caves, in the Grotte de l'Eglise namely, the prehistoric symbols in the 
roof sol uti on cups were discovered presenting the sun, stars respectively. The age of these 
signs is postglacial. 
Our voyage continued to Montpellier where we were hosted by the Ambert family. We 
discussed the possibilities for common french-slovene cooperation in future. 
Near Montpellier and at St. Guilhem le Desert dr. P. Ambert presented us his studies on 
travertines which is the study topic of several researchers in France. 
The second part of study voyage was spent in Pyrenees. In small village named Moulis 
lies world famous Laboratoire souterrain du CNRS where they breed the famous slovene 
proteus. Within the area ofkarst hydrogeology and chemistry we got a lot ofnew knowl-
edge from dr. A. Mangin and dr. M. Bakalowicz who accepted us kindly and presented us 
their work. D. d'Hulst presented the computer aided program for big <lata bases (t, CO; 
humidity, pressure) from the Grotte de Gargas where they monitor the impact of touriŠt 
visits on the prehistoric paintings. 
The biologist R. Rouch presented us interesting assessment ofhydrogeology and biol-
ogy in the karst aquifers confirming the same bases ofthe karst system. 
In Moulis the director M. dr. C. Juberthie presented the cave-laboratory where they 
daily observe the cave animals from all over the world. A special attention is paid to proteus. 
We visited the cave Mas d' Azil through which the road goes. We also visited the entrance to 
the cave Niaux where are the most famous prehistoric paintings. 
Our kind hosts enabled our visit to a part ofthe Systeme de la Cuomo d'Hyouemedo 
which is the longest french cave, 130 km and and among the deepest (- 1004 m). The 
labyrinth ofthe passages and potholes remains one ofthe speleologically the most promis-
ing systems. The caver and the guide, P. Durand who is in charge ofthe caving hut Maison 
du Gouffre dans le Labaderque village, a little northwards from Arbas, guided us for one 
hour by foot to one ofthe 40 entrances, called Grotte de pene Blanque (930 m a.s.l.). This 
cave is a system ofhorizontal passages and potholes. In three hours we only got a general 
impression about the cave labyrinth where is quite easy to be !ost. The horizontal passages 
are former phreatic channels actually filled up by the old cave sediments but also the areas 
with the moon-milk. 
The Arbas-Paloumere massif, where the cave developed, was uplifted and it still does 
today ( 6-8 mm/1 O years). It is built by the limestones and dolomites from Liassic to Jurassic 
202 
Poročila 
and by the limestones of the Urgonian age (K). An important fault is "north-Pyrennean" 
having the direction E-W. Along the parallel satellite fault, probably in Triassic, the charac-
teristic pyrennean rocks outcroped from the earth crust - called "lersolite". 
In future scientific-technical cooperation with France we expect more comon work within 
the problematics ofthe travertines namely the comparison and complement ofthe Slovene 
cases with these from France. 
Stanka Šebela 
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