Ixtaxochitla 2024 Spelological Project

The Ixtaxochitla Speleological Project (IXSP) is scheduled to take place from December 16, 2024, to January 4, 2025, in the Sierra Negra Mountains, southern Mexico. The IXSP is organized by the Grupo Espeleológico Universitario (GEU) caving club, which is affiliated to the Asociación de Deportes de Montaña y Escalada de la UNAM (ADME-UNAM).

For several years, GEU has conducted expeditions near the community Ixtaxochitla in the Sierra Negra, discovering dozens of caves and documenting them. The caves in the Ixtaxochitla area have unique characteristics. They are shallow caves with extensive horizontal development. The water in this region comes from the Gulf of Mexico, and the annual rainfall exceeds 2700 mm. Most of the water in this area is underground due to the scarcity of surface rivers. The caves are predominantly active, with water flows throughout the year, even at higher altitudes, such as 2200 meters above sea level, with the highest summit reaching 3100 meters above sea level. Some caves are so active that getting through them can be difficult. Due to the sub-horizontal nature of the Ixtaxochitla caves, it is common to find connections between different caves, creating a complex three-dimensional underground network. The Ixtaxochitla region has karstic potential, and there are still many underground galleries yet to be discovered.

This project aims to explore and survey new caves in the Ixtacxochitla area, as well as, to try to connect explored caves. To improve our understanding of the karstic evolution of the region we want to include in our activities geological studies.

Specific objectives

1. The Ixtacxochitla caves are located at different altitudes. The two main groups of interest caves for the next campaign are at 1674 masl and 1916 masl. Our goal is to try to connect the caves on each level and if possible connect the group of caves on the two levels.
2. Perform the speleological survey at a 1:500 scale for new caves and unexplored passages.
3. Explore unknown leads that require climbing techniques to access.
4. Continue with the surface exploration to localize new entrances.
5. Push the exploration beyond the current terminus of the main caves.
6. Integration of a geological map and record of important geological structures of the Mexican Orogen such as faults, folds, and thrust, due to those can be related to the karst development.

All participants must require good Single Rope Technique skills (preferentially using European S.R.T.) due to most of the cave entrances are vertical. Also, it is necessary to know at least one self-rescue technique in case another teammate needs help. Participants with rigging experience, cave survey skills using TopoDroid app and DistoX2 device, and climbing ability will be appreciated. Collection of geological information such as stratigraphic, structural data, and cave morphology observations on the caves and surface will be done so we encourage geoscientists to join us. The campsite is located in a remote area only accessible by walking 2 hours from the nearest village.