What is a stalactite called? Stalactites and stalagmites - what's the difference? Stages of formation of karst caves

How are they formed karst caves? Stalactites and stalagmites - what are they? Main breed Crimean mountains- limestone. Rocks riddled with cracks easily absorb moisture. Rain and melt water with dissolved carbon dioxide flows through them deep into the mountain. This very weak carbonic acid interacts with limestone (calcium carbonate), transforms it into a soluble state (calcium bicarbonate), and over the course of many millennia it washes and erodes its bed. This creates a growing, flooded cave. With time underground river may find a new crack and go down another one, two, three, or even all six floors, as in Kizil-Kobe (Red Caves). The lower “wet” caves continue to grow, while the upper ones retain their original shape.

Stages of formation of karst caves

1. Rain and melt water seeps through capillaries through the soil with rocks and absorbs carbon dioxide. Small streams gather along cracks into an underground river.
2. Water (weak carbonic acid) continues to wash its channel. The limestone becomes soluble and is washed out of the rocks, making the water hard.
3. In the middle of the cave, the water goes into a crack and begins to create another channel for itself. In an abandoned cave (already free from the river) stalactites grow.
4. The river is washing a completely new channel. Large stalactites grow in the cave.

How are stalactites formed?

Hard water drips from the cave roofs. These are sediments transformed into rocks that seeped from the surface of the earth through the “roof”, and the cave’s own condensate. A reverse reaction takes place on the surface of the stone. Calcium bicarbonate dissolved in water turns back into carbonate, releasing carbon dioxide. In everyday life, a similar process leads to the appearance of plaque in bathrooms, scale in pots and radiators.

First, a ring appears on the rock, then a growing tube. Until the hole becomes clogged, water drips from it, and a sharp, straight stone icicle gradually grows - stalactite. If the water flow is good, if there are no neighboring drops, the stalactite will be single and can grow large. Where there has been constant rain for centuries, a whole forest of stalactites grows, usually of different lengths and thicknesses, sometimes of different colors. If the droplet is very small, dense thickets of “straws” may appear, more than a meter long and several millimeters thick, transparent, shining in the light of a lantern, like an exquisite underground chandelier.

What are seasonal stalactite rings?

Outwardly, they look like tree rings. They can also be used to determine age, weather in times distant from us by thousands and even millions of years. To do this, determine the isotopic and chemical composition of the desired “ring”. It’s important not to make a mistake, because there are so many rings!

A modern ion mass spectrometer allows you to take samples from layers one hundredth of a millimeter thick - this corresponds to an analysis accuracy of one year.

How long does it take for stalactites to grow?

The growth rate of cave stalactites varies greatly. This depends on the amount and composition of water flowing from the “ceiling”, on the temperature and humidity of the air in the cave. It is difficult to even talk about any average values. In some caves, meter-high stalactites grow in a thousand years, in others - in five thousand years. But in any case, a broken “stone icicle” is irreparable damage to nature. The trace of a moral crime is like killing an animal for fun.

Stalagmites, stalagnates and other sinter formations

What other forms do sinter formations in caves have? In the place where the drop falls, first a speck appears, then a bump of insoluble salts (mostly the same calcium carbonate). The tubercle grows and turns into a stone stump - sometimes pointed, but more often flat or rounded by the random splashing of hard water. This is how it is formed stalagmite. Usually it is larger, thicker and stronger than a stalactite, because water flows down its walls and all the released carbonate is used for construction. And also because a stalactite sooner or later breaks off under its own weight, but a stalagmite never does.

If the movement of water is not disturbed, the stalactite fuses with the stalagmite. The strongest underground column is formed - stalagnate From now on, nothing threatens it except earthquakes, so stalagnates can grow to gigantic sizes.

Flowing down the inclined vaults of the cave, hard water leaves behind not specks, but stripes of calcium carbonate. These stripes grow in thickness and eventually turn into thin flat ones. sail. They can be smooth and wavy, like the edges of a tablecloth, they can cover the entire wall to the ground, or they can remain in the form of pasties, forming a “cornice” or “chandelier”, and then grow like ordinary stalactites. Everything depends on the movement of a whimsical, capricious, “lazy” water drop, which always chooses the easiest and most profitable path for itself. Usually scallops ring when you tap them with a stick, so walls covered with scallops are called xylophones or authorities.

The most interesting and unusual of karst deposits - helictites, or eccentrics. Starting to grow like stalactites, they bend strangely and bizarrely. Sometimes these are stalactites of the second order; they grow like branches on a tree trunk. Why do stalactites begin to grow to the sides, like druses of crystals, or even twist into a spiral, turning into helictites? Science doesn't give an exact answer. The mechanics and chemistry of helictite growth are borderline phenomena between two forms: sinter and crystalline. Helictites were found in the caves “200 years of Simferopol”, Nizhny Bair.

Helictites form in places where the air is still; there the same calcium bicarbonate, dissolved not in water dripping from the vaults, but in the moisture of the air, turns into a solid state.

Underground waterfalls also leave behind traces of limestone. It grows in a dense natural layer and will remain a decoration for tens and hundreds of thousands of years. Even after the unlucky river leaves the upper floors of the cave, we see frozen stone waterfalls…

Drops and streams flow into the baths, along the edges of which a limestone ridge grows - gurova dam. The gur baths have their own life: stone “water lilies” and “lotuses” with rounded “buds” and flat “leaves” lying in the water grow.

Matures in some baths cave pearls. Is not gem, but the composition of sea and cave pearls is the same. It is generally accepted that a grain of sand falling into a bath is rotated by a water flow and is gradually enveloped in limestone (which in its pure form is transparent, like glass). But pearls are also formed in very quiet backwaters...

A wet, soft, shapeless mass of white color, sometimes with a bluish tint, was called moon milk. This is still the same calcium carbonate. Moon milk decorates the caves in its own way, and when dried, it crumbles into a fine powder when pressed. How moon milk is formed, the true mystery of karst caves, is something that only vague assumptions are made about. Nothing in nature except calcite exists in this state. Moon milk can be dry and wet, liquid and dense, viscous and fluid. In reality, this substance is neither solid nor liquid, it is not at all clear what it is... Scientists avoid this topic, leaving exotic lovers a clear field for thought and imagination.

Aragonite crystals

When the water leaves, the growth of the cave stops, but its interior continues to be enriched with new decorations. Air humidity in deep stone cavities approaches 100%. Water vapor is saturated with calcium bicarbonate ions, and crystals grow on stones (usually along cracks).

The whimsicality and capriciousness of the figures of aerosol crystallization is incomparable to any deposits: created according to the laws of the microworld, they depend on the composition and concentration of ions, on the paths of movement of water molecules, on the rules for constructing crystal lattices with all their additions and deviations. Aragonite is a hard type of calcite. It is formed when sufficient low temperatures, most often underground - in caves, ore deposits, and cold springs.

In the caves you can find tiny crystals of aragonite. When there are a lot of them, they glow in the lantern’s beam, like celestial stars. Sometimes large, acute-angled crystals grow, and nearby there are small ones, collected into “twigs”, into “fluffs”, into “snowflakes”. These can be sharp-spined “hedgehogs”, “thriving” stalactites of various shades, individual and collected in inflorescences “cave flowers” ​​of different colors and unimaginable shapes.

The most interesting and varied underground decorations grow as a result of the combined action of liquid water and an ion-rich aerosol. Graceful anthropomorphic figurines, little animals, “hairy Agos”, “jellyfish” with a fringe of “tentacles” along the edges, “anemones”... In a word, get your camera ready, open your notebook, fantasize! But everything will be poor, everything will be wrong: we are mere mortals, and the caves were created by her majesty Nature. Unequal.

Nature never ceases to amaze us; there are so many unusual and interesting things in the world that, upon seeing them, a person freezes with delight. It is almost impossible to travel the entire planet and see all the sights, learn about all types of plants and animals, but still some natural monuments They are found in many countries, which allows a large number of people to become familiar with them.

Stalactites and stalagmites are among the extraordinary creations of nature. there are in many countries, so inquisitive tourists can easily satisfy their curiosity and explore them from the inside. You shouldn’t go far away, because such a miracle exists in Russia, Ukraine, stalactites and stalagmites of amazing beauty are found in Israel, China, and Slovakia.

Their size and shape depend on the size of the cave and its location. Many people are interested in the question of how stalactites and stalagmites differ. It is worth noting that both are formed from calcium and other minerals. Even in the highest rocky caves there are small cracks through which water penetrates. Since they have to go a very long way before they can get into the cave, on their way they wash away the existing mineral deposits. The water never flows in a stream: since the hole is too small, it comes in small droplets.

Stalactites translated from Greek mean “drop by drop”. These are nothing more than chemogenic deposits in karst caves. They are different types and species, mainly icicles, combs, straws and fringes. Stalagmite, translated from Greek, means “drop”; these are mineral growths on the ground that rise over time in the form of cones or pillars. They can be limestone, salt or gypsum. The main difference between these two growths is that stalactites grow from the ceiling, and stalagmites from the bottom of the cave.

Stalactites and stalagmites can in some cases join together to form a column called a stalagnate. This may take thousands, or even millions of years, because these huge blocks grow from billions of small droplets. This process occurs most quickly in low caves. It can be impossible to get through there because of the densely placed pillars.

Karst caves are considered a favorite place to visit for tourists. People are interested in looking at stalactites and stalagmites, taking pictures next to them, and touching them with their hands. Being next to this miracle of nature, you understand that it existed hundreds of thousands or millions of years ago and has survived to this day. In Cuba, in the Las Villas cave, the tallest stalagmite on the planet was discovered, its height reaches 63 m. The largest stalactite is considered to be a stone icicle hanging in Gruga do Janelao in Brazil, its height is 32 m. Europe also has its own giants, Thus, in Slovakia, a stalagmite 35.6 m high was found in the Buzgo cave.

Stalactites and stalagmites have the same origin, although they look different. The former are thinner and more graceful, while the latter are thick and wide.

Lime drip, calcareous icicle, sinter formation, helictide, muqarn, downward projection Dictionary of Russian synonyms. stalactite noun, number of synonyms: 8 projection (61) ... Synonym dictionary

STALACTITE, a sintered mineral formation consisting of tiny crystals of CALCIUM CARBONATE, hanging in the form of an icicle or fringe from the ceiling of CAVES composed of Carboniferous limestones. Stalactites are formed by water, slowly... ... Scientific and technical encyclopedic dictionary

STALACTITE, stalactite, husband. (from Greek stalaktos dripping) (mineral). A limestone build-up on the ceiling of a cave, formed by leaking drops of water containing lime. Ushakov's explanatory dictionary. D.N. Ushakov. 1935 1940 ... Ushakov's Explanatory Dictionary

STALACTITE, huh, husband. An icicle-shaped build-up of limestone descending from the ceiling of a cave, formed by seeping drops. | adj. stalactite, oh, oh. Ozhegov's explanatory dictionary. S.I. Ozhegov, N.Yu. Shvedova. 1949 1992 … Ozhegov's Explanatory Dictionary

Miner. a sinter formation that grows on the ceilings of caves and mines and goes down in the form of icicles. Formed during the evaporation of minerals. water seeping through limestone cracks. This water is hard because it contains... calcium carbonate... ... Geological encyclopedia

stalactite- a, m. stalactite f. gr. stalaktos dripping. A limescale build-up on the ceiling or upper part of the walls of underground voids (caves, galleries, etc.), formed by seeping drops of water containing calcium bicarbonate. BAS 1. Calcareous... ... Historical Dictionary of Gallicisms of the Russian Language

stalactite- A drip-like formation in the form of an icicle or fringe hanging from the ceiling of a karst cave, which occurs with a constant supply of carbonate in the form of calcite from seeping groundwater... Dictionary of Geography

STALAGMITE or STALACTITE (Greek, from stalagma, thickened drops). Limescale deposits that form at the bottom of caves due to the slow and continuous dripping of limewater from the vaults have the shape of cones with their apexes upward. Dictionary of foreign... ... Dictionary of foreign words of the Russian language

M. Sintered limestone formation in the form of large icicles on the ceiling or upper part of the walls of underground voids (caves, galleries, etc.), formed by seeping drops of water saturated with calcium and carbon dioxide. Ephraim's Explanatory Dictionary... Modern explanatory dictionary of the Russian language by Efremova

Stalactite, stalactites, stalactite, stalactites, stalactite, stalactites, stalactite, stalactites, stalactite, stalactites, stalactite, stalactites (

Nature has always been and remains a mystery to man, both in ancient primitive times and in modern world. One of these mysteries of our time is caves. Previously, people were not interested in where they came from - the main thing was that they served as a reliable shelter from bad weather and enemies. Today, the study of caves is carried out by a special science - speleology. Speleologists study in detail all the patterns of the appearance of depressions, the composition of rocks, the characteristics of flora and fauna, and also give forecasts for their development. The caves contain a lot of interesting things: unknown living creatures, various sources of water, shoots - stalactites and stalagmites. We will talk about them in this article.

How are stalactites and stalagmites formed?

Such processes are formed mainly in karst and caves - where it is contained a large number of mineral rocks. These include limestone, chalk, dalamite, marble, gypsum, and salt. Under the influence of rain moisture, which contains dissolved carbon dioxide, the rocks are eroded, and sedimentary water flows into such caves. The appearance of one or another type of shoot depends on the rate of water flow.

- an outgrowth consisting of mineral rock and forming from the ceiling of a cave. It is formed when water flows slowly and drops linger for a long time at the top of a cave cavity. In caves, low temperatures predominate, which is what helps the drops to solidify. So gradually flowing down and solidifying drops form a certain stone formation in the form of a thick needle, but most of all the shape of a stalactite resembles an icicle.

Stalagmite- an outgrowth consisting of mineral rock and forming from the lower surface of the cave. It occurs when sedimentary water flows quickly from the ceiling of a cave space and hits a single point on the floor. On the lower surface of the cave, the temperature is even lower than at the top and the drops freeze even faster. Under the force of gravity, the drop hits the floor and spreads a short distance in a circle from where the drop falls. This solidification of the drops forms a thick and dense base of the stalagmite, and it looks like a cone-shaped process with a pointed top.

The frequency of occurrence of stalactites and stalagmites depends on the degree of permeability of the cave surface and on the composition of the mineral rocks. If the rocks are mostly limestone or gypsum, they will dissolve faster and water will flow faster down the top of the cave. Stalactites and stalagmites in such rock will be fragile, so when examining such caves you need to be careful - do not touch the shoots, shout or stomp, otherwise injuries from falling such formations will inevitably occur. Sometimes stalactites and stalagmites merge into one continuous column - a stalagnate; such columns can form entire columns inside caves.

Stalactites can look different, depending on the composition of the rocks and the chemical processes occurring under the influence of carbon dioxide and water. Also, the temperature and air circulation in the cave have a great influence; if the wind often blows inside, then the threads and processes can be indirect, curved, arched. So in the cave you can see a fringe of stalactites, combs, drapery, threads, various figures, fungi. The shape of stalagmites can also be different - from simple conical columns to flattened fungi.

Formations in the form of shoots in karst caves can grow for centuries. In some they grow faster, in others they take a very long time. There are thousands of karst caves all over the globe, many of them have already been studied, many are still unknown to the world.

The world's most famous caves of stalactites and stalagmites

"Mammoth Cave" (USA, Kentucky)

According to scientists, it arose about 10 million years ago; it received its name due to its size; its length is about 600 km. Inside there is a whole system of shafts and branches. Mineral processes in this cave are located on entire floors; in many of its sections and halls, stone blocks stick out directly from the water. The spectacle impresses both speleologists and tourists, but you need to be careful - it’s very easy to get lost in it.

"Crystal Cave" (Mexico)

Inside the cave is filled with gypsum crystals, the largest branch reaches 11 meters in height, and its mass is 54 tons! It is unlikely that ordinary tourists will be able to visit such a cave, because the temperature inside reaches +50 degrees.

“Gorla Barloga Cave” (Russia)

The height of the cave is about 2800 meters; inside there is a whole system of halls of varying sizes, wells and streams. The filling in the halls varies from large pyramidal crystal processes to various clay and calcium deposits. Descending into such a cave is dangerous even for professionals.

Despite all the dangers associated with traveling through such masterpieces of nature, caves will always attract with their unique and enchanting beauty, and mysterious silence, where there is its own chronology and its own special course of life.

Video

Many people confuse these two concepts. Our educational program will put everything in its place.

As children, many people loved to climb caves, if they managed to take advantage of such an opportunity and found strange stone icicles sticking out of the floor or ceiling. These are stalactites and stalagmites, but who is who - what is the difference between them?

There is a science that deals with the study of caves - speleology. According to studies of speleology in caves, as a result of a long time, where rocks of limestone, chalk, gypsum, salt and water are present, mineral formations protruding from the floor, growths - stalagmites, as well as hanging like icicles or drop-like mineral growths - stalactites, are formed in spaces washed out by water.

Stalagmites, translated from Greek, means drop. It is a process emerging from the floor of the cave. It is formed when a drop of water flows from the ceiling and hits one point on the floor, forming a thick, spreading growth similar to a cone. Since the temperature on the floor is lower than above, a drop of water freezes faster, and therefore stalagmites can “grow” faster.

Stalactites translated from Greek - flowing drop by drop, represent rock formations hanging down like a needle. When a drop of water slowly drains from the ceiling and the temperature is low, the drop of water solidifies, forming a stone build-up in the form of an icicle or a thick needle.

The frequency and fragility of rock formations depends on the composition of the rock, the time of formation of growths and the volume in the cave.