Sterkfontein Quarry: flowstone sampling for palaeoclimatic studies

We propose collecting already-broken fragments of stalactites from three caves in Sterkfontein Quarry for scientific research. After collection, these will be cut in half, with half used for destructive analyses to reconstruct palaeoclimate, and the other half developed into a museum display for public education. We believe these flowstones have great potential for palaeoclimatic reconstruction since they would have formed far from cave entrances before the quarry was excavated, and thus protected from minor temperature fluctuations at surface. They can also be sampled with minimal aesthetic damage since they are already broken (and there is an abundance of broken material at each site). Full details and photos of targets for sampling are attached. Sterkfontein Quarry is located within the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site (Gauteng) but no other research group has a permit for work there.