Stalagmite and stalactite: ways of education, similarities and differences

Many of us believe that rocks and mountains are strong, and we often use these words as epithets. But if they were in fact such, then man would never have seen stalagmite and stalactite. This is due to the fact that a drop of water, flowing through the thickness of the rock, descends into the cave, carrying with it an insignificant amount of limestone. Then it passes through the earth into the lower layers of the mantle and evaporates in them under the influence of the heat of the earth's core. But the material that she pulls behind her remains on the floor or on the ceiling of the cave, through which our drop has managed to seep.

Stalagmite and stalactite are limestone outgrowths that are formed in the process of water deposition. However, the pressure of water is not significant, so the data of education have a fairly slow growth. In addition to the fact that the drops wash the limestone into the depths of the caves, they also collect calcium and some other substances. This can explain the variety of colors and shades that have stalagmite and stalactite.

Depending on the speed with which water enters, the caves under consideration are formed in the caves. When it drips slowly, a stalactite appears that has a beginning on the ceiling. And if the water drips fast enough not to linger on top and wash various substances on the floor of the cave, a stalagmite is formed. Sometimes it happens that the age of these growths reaches a high level, and they combine into one column. Since their connection, they have become stagnatam. Most rarely you can see how the cave room is divided into two separate halls by stagnant formation. This is called drapery. It is worth noting that in the stalagnata you can often see glittering stones. These are crystals of crystal, which is formed in the mountains. Often, drapery and stalagnata are broken in order to get these sparkling pebbles.

Despite all the differences, stalagmite and stalactite have similarities. It consists in composition. In one cave there can not be different stalactites and stalagmites. All those elements from which they are composed will be similar to each other. The growth of formations is a long process. One centimeter of the stalactite can be formed in a hundred years, or even more. And stalagmites generally grow even longer. This is due to the fact that the water slows down during its journey through the rocks. And rarely when it is able to maintain sufficient pressure to fall to the floor of the cave along with limestone.

You can not even imagine how beautiful stalactites and stalagmites are. The photo is able to convey their appearance in general terms, but when you look at them from different angles or shine with a flashlight, they seem to change their colors and shapes.

There is another theory of the formation of these cave growths. It was introduced in 1970 and was guided by the fact that stalactites and stalagmites are formed under the influence of a special fungus. When a favorable environment for its growth is created, it begins to develop. However, if this theory is correct, why has not an artificial cave with stalactites been created so far? In any case, no matter how secret these extraordinary cave elements in themselves are stored, they delight the views of those happy people who had the opportunity to see them at least once.