cave formation
Limestone sculpture underground
Cave formations are mineral structures that develop inside caves over geological time, created by water depositing dissolved minerals like calcium carbonate.
Stalactites hang from ceilings, stalagmites rise from floors, and columns form when they meet.
Other formations include flowstone, draperies, and cave pearls.
The technical term for such deposits is speleothem.
- stalactiteHanging cave mineral deposit
- stalagmiteUpward-growing cave deposit
- limestoneCarbonate sedimentary rock
- dripLiquid falling slowly
- mineralNaturally formed crystalline solid
mineral deposit · calcite · column · flowstone · bacon strip · crystal · grotto · underground · dripstone · pool · underground river · soda straw · curtain · hollow · echo · darkness · water · erosion
- cavesgrotto, grottos, grottoes, stalactites, stalagmites
- earth scienceatmosphere, earthquake, geology, volcano, crust
- natural formationscliff, crater, dune, gorge, coral reef
- Earth processesplate tectonics, erosion, weathering, volcanism, sedimentation
- geology exhibitsrock samples, rock collections, volcanic rocks, metamorphic rocks, sedimentary rocks
- coastal erosionabrasion, attrition, cliff collapse, cliff erosion, coastal retreat