stalactite

Encyclopedia Article

Article

A rock formation commonly found suspended from the ceilings of caves. The mixture of water and calcium carbonate (found in limestone) forms stalactites, which when they drip to the cave floor create stalagmites. When the two "cave decorations," called speleothems, meet in the middle, they form a column or pillar.

Photo Credit: 

 
"Grottes de Choranche, Vercors, France, December 31, 2007" by David Monniaux is licensed under CC BY-SA-2.5 and GFDL.

Published Works: 
Listening Woman (1978)
Term Type: 
Geologic Feature