When Alexander Sploshnov 3D-mapped the shaft in 2021, the results pointed to a natural origin. Karst water erosion can carve remarkably geometric underground chambers, and cooling lava flows fracture into right-angled columns — potentially explaining the "precision-cut" appearance. Closer inspection revealed the columns aren't perfectly aligned, suggesting natural fracturing rather than human construction. The site is now under military lockdown, and a former Russian soldier claimed Soviets explored the area during the Cold War as a potential weapons bunker. Geology may be the most grounded explanation here. ⛰️
Natural karst and volcanic fracturing offer geological explanation for shaft features
IranGeneral
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Key facts
- Alexander Sploshnov explored the site in 2021 and produced 3D mapping and clearer images
- Karst formations (spelled KARST) can create blocky underground chambers and straight shafts through water flow, matching the 3D scan features
- Volcanic lava cores fracture into geometric, right-angled columns when they split
- The main chamber is narrow/skinny, and the columns are not perfectly aligned, suggesting natural fracturing rather than precise human construction
- Some surrounding areas show evidence of human quarrying activity, possibly from ancient, Nazi, Soviet, or more recent intervention
- A Reddit user "Long Pickle" reported a former Russian soldier claimed the Soviets explored Khara-Hora during the Cold War as a potential underground weapons storage unit
- The area is currently under military lockdown, preventing further independent exploration
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We performed a full mapping of the bulk electronic structure including the Fermi surface and Fermi-velocity distribution v F (k F ) of tungsten.
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