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
