- Crystal Cave Home Page
Cave Formations
Some formations found in Crystal Cave are stalactites and stalagmites. The formations are created from groundwater flowing through the limestone dolomite containing calcium bicarbonate dripping out of the roof of the cave. Once the calcium bicarbonate reaches the cavern and is exposed to air it becomes calcium carbonate and forms a calcite drip-like feature called a stalactite. Directly below the stalactite a stalagmite will often form. A stalagmite is a cone of calcite rising from the floor of a cave. From the repetition of the formation process, the features will increase in size. Sometimes stalactites and stalagmites will join creating a column feature resembling a pillar. The small stalagmites forming from the celing are also known as soda straws.
The photographs above and below are examples of soda straws. These soda straws take long periods of time to form and are formed when calcium bicarbonate reaches the cavern and is exposed to air it becomes calcium carbonate and forms calcite. If one was to look from directly below there would be a small opening in the center of the formation resembling a straw. This is how the formation gets the name soda straw. In the photography below and on the right one can see a column formation where the stalactites and stalagmites have joined forming a column.
The photograph below is an example of a flowstone formation. Flowstone is formed in the same manner as stalactites and stalagmites but the water is flowing across the celing of the cave resulting in wave like formations.
