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What causes stalactites to form?

Updated: 6/23/2024
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11y ago

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This is caused by the concentration of minerals solidifying over time, normally from groundwater trickling through cracks in the roofs of such caverns contains dissolved calcium bicarbonate. When a drop of water comes in contact with the air of the cavern, some of the calcium bicarbonate is transformed into calcium carbonate, which is precipitated out of the water solution and forms a ring of calcite on the roof of the cavern.

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1w ago

Stalactites form in caves when mineral-rich water drips from the ceiling, leaving behind deposits of minerals like calcium carbonate. Over time, these deposits build up to create elongated structures hanging from the cave ceiling.

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Q: What causes stalactites to form?
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Related questions

What most likely causes stalactites to form?

i don't awnser this question experts do like you who want to now this question


Where do stalactites form?

in caves


Where stalactites form?

in caves


Is this statement correct Stalagmites form on the ceiling of a cavern?

No, stalagmites form on the floor of a cavern. Stalactites are the formations that hang from the ceiling.


How did Florida's stalactites form?

Same way as any stalactites in any karst caves form: precipitation of calcium carbonate from solution in ground-water.


Do stalagmites form on the ceiling of a cavarn?

No, they form on the ground. Stalactites form on the ceiling.


What stalactites is the hardest mineral?

Stalactites made of calcite are relatively soft, while those made of aragonite are harder. However, the hardest mineral commonly found in stalactites is quartz, which can form as chalcedony stalactites in caves.


Are stalactites a form chemical weathering?

No, stalactites are not a form of chemical weathering. Stalactites are formations that result from the deposition of minerals carried by water dripping from the ceiling of a cave, while chemical weathering involves the breakdown of rocks through chemical processes like oxidation or dissolution.


What do stalactites and stalagmites join to form?

Stalactites and stalagmites join to form columns. These columns are created when a stalactite hanging from the ceiling of a cave and a stalagmite growing from the floor eventually meet and fuse together.


How is form a stalactites?

Do you mean "How are stalactites formed?" ? They are deposits of calcite precipitated from solution in water dripping from joints in cave roofs.


What is the opposite of stalagmites?

The opposite would be stalactites, which form from the ceiling down, while stalagmites form from the floor up. (The venerable mnemonic is that stalactites hold tite/tight to the ceiling.)


What is the substance from stalactites and stalagmites called?

The substance from stalactites and stalagmites is called calcite, which is a mineral form of calcium carbonate. Calcite is deposited from mineral-rich water dripping from the ceiling of caves to form stalactites, while the same mineral builds up from the ground to form stalagmites.