stalagmite

Encyclopedia Article

Article

A rock formation that commonly ascends from cave floors. Stalagmites form when sandstone has been stripped away, exposing limestone. 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: 

 
"it1606 carlsbad caverns national park nm new mexico hall of giants in big room, May 27, 2007" by Mark Goebel is licensed under CC BY.

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