Stalactites and Stalagmites

STALACTITES Introduction: Stalactites and stalagmites are examples sculpturing. Together, they are also known as 'speleothems'. wonderful of nature's Speleothems are exotic cave features created by the deposition of minerals and are also referred to as cave formations or decorations. The word 'speleothem' owes its origin to two Greek words 'spelaion' meaning 'cave'and 'thema' meaning 'deposit'. Stalactite - Stalagmites Stalactites and stalagmites are formed because of the rainwater that seeps through the caves over a period of time. As water drips through the ceiling of a limestone cave, the water droplets leave small bits of mineral behind, forming stone columns usually shaped like an ice cream cone. The stalactites grow downwards from the ceilings or walls of the caverns. Stalactites Piller Stalagmites Cave The stalactites may be icicle-shaped, curtain-shaped, or straw shaped. Stalagmites grow upwards from the cave floor and can be cone-shaped, or look like a stack of saucers. icicle-shaped curtain-shaped straw-shaped Stalactite - Stalagmites look like a stack of saucers Stalactite - Stalagmites Sometimes growing stalactites and stalagmites meet each other to form a continuous column from floor to ceiling. If these similar sounding words seem confusing to you, we will tell you an easy way to remember which is which: stalactites have a 'c' that stands for 'ceiling' and stalagmites have a'g'that stands for 'ground. Column from floor to ceiling Stalactites and stalagmites very slow rate, approximately around one inch grow per year. growth speleothems depends various factors. Two important The rate of of on factors are the temperature outside and the amount of rainfall in the region. Temperature from outside Rainfall The shape of speleothems is determined by the way the acidic water enters the cave-by dripping, splashing or seeping. The colour of speleothems is determined by the mineral content. Pure calcite is white and often colourless. Iron and other minerals, as well as acids from ground vegetation, combine with calcite crystals to form different hues of red, black and orange colours. You can find speleothems in abundance in the old caves of California and France. India, stalactites and stalagmites are found in the Araku valley caves in Andhra Pradesh and some old caves of Meghalaya. In Speleothems in the caves of France Araku valley caves in Andhra Pradesh Speleothems in the caves of Meghalaya Due to the extremely slow and unique process of their formation, stalactites and stalagmites are regarded as objects of natural heritage and are protected by law in most of the countries. Collection, buying and selling of stalactites and stalagmites is also prohibited. Interesting facts : 1. The largest stalactite in the world is situated in a cave in County Clare, Ireland; it is more than 23 feet long! The largest stalagmite is believed to be located a cave near Lozère in southern France. It measures over 95 feet in length and is further growing. 2. Just like your socks, stalactites and stalagmites tend to exist in pairs. FUN FOR ME! Visit mocomi.com for more cool stuff! .com Copyright ©2013 Mocomi & Anibrain Digital Technologies Pvt. Ltd. All Rights Reserved.