cave terminology

karst

A type of landscape in rainy regions where there is limestone near the surface, characterized by caverns, sinkholes, and valleys

ice cave

Can be carved out of glaciers or it is a rock cavity containing ice formations

carbonic acid

Compound that results from the combination of carbon dioxide and water

speleothem

Dripstone deposit of calcite that precipitate from dripping water in caves.

cave pearls

Flowing or dripping water agitated particles within the pool, preventing particles from becoming cemented to the cave floor

helictites

Formations that grow other than up or down and are usually found growing on stalactites or stalagmites

sea cave

Formed as wave action hollows out the cliff

columns

Groups

stalagmites

Steep mounds or spikes of calcium carbonate that grow up from the floor of a cave.

rimstone

Thin mineral crusts formed at the rims of some cavern pools

spelunker

a person who explores caves

limestone

a sedimentary rock consisting mainly of calcium that was deposited by the remains of marine animals

flowstone

a sheet of minerals deposited over broad areas of a wall or floor of a cave

eolian cave

also called wind caves; wind erodes weak areas in sandstone cliffs

cave bacon

at nearby diamond caverns

talus cave

boulders piled up leaving passages underneath and between them

solution cave

cave formed by the dissolving of underground rocks by water

coral cave

caves formed by coral colonies joining each other in shallow waters

volcanic cave

created from flowing lava and the effects of volcanic gases

stalactites

icicle shaped features that form on cave ceilings

glacier cave

long tunnels from near the snouts of glaciers between ice and bedrock

anthodites

re speleothems (cave formations) composed of long needle-like crystals situated in clusters which radiate outward from a common base.

calcite

rock-forming mineral or mineral group that is most readily dissolved by groundwater

soda straws

•thin hollow tubes that gang from the ceilin