Earth Cache 4 Beginners- Stalactites & Stalagmites EarthCache

IMPORTANT: Stalactites and stalagmites are easily damaged. While it might eventually recover from damage, it is likely to take many, many years. The oil from human skin can affect the way water flows over the surface and disrupt the formation, and this oil (no matter how clean you think your hands are) will cause discolouration (blackening) of the rock. Please be a responsible Earth Cacher and DO NOT TOUCH any of the limestone formations inside the cave, even if others are doing so.

To log this Earthcache, you must email the cache owner with the words “Earth Cache: Stalctites and Stalagmites” in the subject line, and include the answers to these questions.

1. What did you see under the little yellow roof?
2. When you were on the first high platform (to the right), what speleothems did you see? Where were they?
3. When you were on the second high platform (to the left), what speleothems did you see? Where were they?

CAVES
The most common place to find caves is where the bedrock is primarily limestone. This is because limestone is very soluble. When rain lands on the soil, it becomes slightly acidic. As this acidic water seeps through cracks in the limestone, it reacts with the limestone, dissolving minerals in the stone. The water carries these minerals away and eventually small hollows appear in the rock, and over thousands of years these become caves.

HOW STALACTITES AND STALAGMITES ARE FORMED
When water seeps down through the soil and to the roof of a cave, it brings minerals dissolved in the water (as described above). As this water drips from the roof of the cave, it reacts with the air in the cave and some of the minerals come out of solution and become solid again, on the roof or floor of the cave. After many years, the minerals will build up to make larger and larger deposits.

This cave, like most caves that have such formations, is in a hill comprised mainly of limestone. The formations are made of calcium compounds that have formed into a range of shapes, and some of these are quite spectacular. The term used to refer to these cave deposits is “speleothems”, and following is a simple description of the main types of speleothems.

TYPES OF SPELEOTHEMS
Dripstones
Dripstones are formed when water droplets fall from the cave roof.

• Soda Straws are long, thin, straw-shaped formations. Most stalagtites start as straws but as they get larger, tend to get more conical.
  
• Stalactites are formations falling from the roof of a cave. If you get the terms “stalagtites” and “stalagmites” confused, an easy way to remember is that stalagtites need to hold tight to the roof, stalagmites might get there sometime! Chandeliers is a name we give to elaborate, complex stalactites that resemble chandeliers. Ribbon stalactites are thin and ribbon-like.
• Stalagmites form on the floor of a cave where the water drips onto it, and tend be more rounded  than stalactites. Broomstick stalagmites and totem pole stalagmites are tall and thin and resemble their namesakes. Fried egg stalagmites tend to be low and flat, like a fried egg.
  
• Columns occur when a stalagmite and stalactite meet, forming a continuous column from floor to ceiling.

Flowstones
Flowstones occur when the water flows over the rock surface rather than dripping.

• Flowstone occurs when water flows over a piece of existing rock and forms a coating of calcite.
  
• Draperies, curtains, or shawls are thin sheets falling from the ceiling or wall of the cave. The calcite forms in sheets because the water trickles along the wall of the cave rather than dripping. Sometimes it has bands of colour created by other minerals.
  

Pore Deposits
Pore deposits occur when the water enters so slowly through a crack that a droplet doesn't form.

• Helictites are stalactites with worm-like or spiral projections that grow at unusual angles.
  
• Cave popcorn or cave coral are small, knobbly clusters of calcium carbonate.
  

PoolDeposits
These deposits occur on the floor of the cave, in a pool of water.

• Rimstone dams look like a small dam wall, that occur in pools of water, and sometimes still hold water.
  
• Cave pearls are round balls of calcium carbonate which start as small crystals which roll around in water that is being constantly disturbed by drops entering it.
  
• Calcite rafts are thin rafts of calcium carbonate on the surface of cave pools
  
• Dogtooth spar appears as large crystals, and forms when the water is very still.
  
• Lily Pads develop at the edge of pools.
  

Because your GPS won’t work inside the cave, navigate yourself to the given co-ordinates and follow the instructions to complete the Earth Cache.

1. Walk up the front stairs. At the top of the stairs, you will see a little structure with a yellow roof. What is under the roof?
2. Continue through the cave. Don’t forget to look up when you are in the main cavern! Head up the large set of stairs. Take care here and throughout the entire cave, as dripping water makes the concrete floor quite slippery.
3. Walk towards the light, and head up the staircase on your right. At the top of the staircase, look at the formations around you. The large formation is impressive, but don't forget to also turn to your left when you get to the top of the stairs, and walk up the tiny path. If you're tall, you will hopefully see something interesting. Note all the limestone formations from the listing above that you can identify.
4. Climb down those stairs, cross the cave and climb the flight of stairs opposite. Try to identify some of the formations there also.
5. Enjoy the rest of the area. Do some of the other caches in the vicinity, relax in the gardens, look at the fascinating landscape, do some “foot reflexology”, and relax in this peaceful haven.