Coulson, Francis M. 1958. The Formation and Detailed Description of a Portion of Wind Cave-FP Loop. Geological Engineering Department, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology (for partial fulfillment of a Bachelor of Science Degree). 21 p.

Abstract

Wind Cave lies on the southern edge of the Black Hills. It was formed in the Pahasapa limestone by solution below the water table. This solution was guided by the two main fracture systems present.

The largest of the Black Hills caves, Wind Cave is relatively dry and lacks the abundance and variety of travertine deposits found in other Black Hills caves.

Traverse #FP1-26, the Fairies' Palace Traverse, starts in the main passageway immediately below the first flight of steps down from the entrance and ends in the main passageway 100 feet below the third flight of steps.

Prominent features on the traverse are the boxwork, flowstone and dripstone formations of the Fairies' Palace, and the popcorn of the latter part of the traverse. A fair sized fossil gastropod colony, containing two species of gastropods, is also present.

No further survey of the area is recommended, although exploration of the solution cavity below and to the right of station 3 might prove interesting. A rope is needed.