Today, 10 /21/09 we watched part of the planet earth series on caves.
Most caves are composed of limestone
water is a HUGE part of the formation of caves. the rivers pick up carbon dioxide from the soil, making it acidic then the rtivers erode away at the limestone creating deep winding subteranian river. as the river hits a more resistant bed of rock the rivers path is altered.
Calcite from the limestone is deposited throughout the caves creating stalactite and stalacmites
stalacmite: calcite formations created when water dripps from the ceiling fast and deposite calcite on the ground slowly building a calcite stucture.
Stalactite: calcite formations hanging from the ceiling crested when calcite rich water drippes slowly off the ceiling of the cave creating icicle looking formations.
Colomn:Created when stalactites and stalacmites meet
Cenote: gigantic freshwater well
Halocline: a meeting of fresh water and salt water
Fresh VS. Salt water caves: salt water does not erode limestone as well as fresh water so most sea caves are created by the mechanical movement of the waves.
UP NEXT ................CLAIRE GILBERT
Most caves are composed of limestone
water is a HUGE part of the formation of caves. the rivers pick up carbon dioxide from the soil, making it acidic then the rtivers erode away at the limestone creating deep winding subteranian river. as the river hits a more resistant bed of rock the rivers path is altered.
Calcite from the limestone is deposited throughout the caves creating stalactite and stalacmites
stalacmite: calcite formations created when water dripps from the ceiling fast and deposite calcite on the ground slowly building a calcite stucture.
Stalactite: calcite formations hanging from the ceiling crested when calcite rich water drippes slowly off the ceiling of the cave creating icicle looking formations.
Colomn:Created when stalactites and stalacmites meet
Cenote: gigantic freshwater well
Halocline: a meeting of fresh water and salt water
Fresh VS. Salt water caves: salt water does not erode limestone as well as fresh water so most sea caves are created by the mechanical movement of the waves.
UP NEXT ................CLAIRE GILBERT
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