STALACTITES  &  STALAGMITES  &  COLUMNS

 

The general term for all syn- & post-cave formation mineral deposits is speleothem.  Between 200 and 300 different minerals have been reported to occur in various speleothems around the world.  The most common speleothem minerals are calcite (CaCO₃), aragonite (CaCO₃), and gypsum (CaSO₄·2H₂O).  Calcitic speleothem is often given the rock name travertine.  Relatively few speleothems are actively growing in Carlsbad Caverns in modern times, due to the present dry climate.  Available chronologic data has indicated that most of Carlsbad’s speleothems formed during the Middle and Early Pleistocene.

 

Stalactites & stalagmites are the most commonly encountered speleothem types.  They form by dripping water, and are thus varieties of dripstone.  Slowly dripping water results in large/long stalactites hanging from cave ceilings.  Rapidly dripping water results in large/tall stalagmites projecting upward from cave floors.  Stalactites usually have a hollow central canal through which water passes.  Stalagmites are solid masses.

 

The physical form of stalactites & stalagmites varies from nicely conical to irregularly conical to cylindrical.  Narrow, cylindrical stalactites are called soda straws.  If stalactites & stalagmites become physically fused, a column is formed.

 

How does dripstone form?  Typically not by evaporation, as is commonly supposed.  Water dripping from cave ceilings is slightly acidic and contains dissolved ions originating from the partial dissolution of overlying bedrock (typically limestone).  When water emerges from a cave roof, it loses carbon dioxide gas (CO₂), loses acidity, and dissolved ions precipitate (crystallize) out.  The crystals are usually CaCO₃.

 

 

STALACTITES

 

All stalactites shown below are composed of travertine.

 

Stalactites (dripstone), near Crystal Spring Dome, eastern side of the Big Room, Carlsbad Caverns, New Mexico, USA.

 

Stalactites (dripstone), near Rock of Ages, eastern side of the Big Room, Carlsbad Caverns.

 

Stalactites (dripstone) (looking upward at ceiling), Fairyland, western side of the Big Room, Carlsbad Caverns.

 

Stalactites (dripstone) (looking upward at ceiling), Fairyland, western side of the Big Room, Carlsbad Caverns.

 

Stalactites (dripstone), Fairyland, western side of the Big Room, Carlsbad Caverns.

 

Stalactites (dripstone), Papoose Room, King’s Palace Trail, Carlsbad Caverns.

 

Broken stalactites - naturally broken stalactites lithified in travertine; near Crystal Spring Dome, eastern side of the Big Room, Carlsbad Caverns.

 

 

 

STALAGMITES

 

All stalagmites & flowstone coverings shown below are composed of travertine.

 

Stalactite-stalagmite pair (dripstone), near the Chinese Theater, near northern end of the Big Room, Carlsbad Caverns, New Mexico, USA.

 

Stalagmite (dripstone), northwestern portion of the Big Room, Carlsbad Caverns.

 

Stalagmite (dripstone), northwestern portion of the Big Room, Carlsbad Caverns.

 

Twin Domes - two extremely large stalagmites in the Hall of Giants area, Big Room, Carlsbad Caverns.  They consist of dripstone (axial portions) and flowstone (flanking portions).  The taller of the two Twin Domes reaches almost 60' above the level of the walking trail.

 

Stalagmites (dripstone with flanks covered in flowstone), northwestern portion of the Big Room, Carlsbad Caverns.

 

Stalagmite (dripstone with flanks covered in flowstone), a little north of Crystal Spring Dome, eastern side of the Big Room, Carlsbad Caverns.

 

Breast of Venus (northwestern wall of the southern end of the Big Room, Carlsbad Caverns) - mammiform stalagmite (dripstone), formed by rapidly dripping water.  Less rapidly dripping water results in relatively narrow & tall stalagmites.  Very rapidly dripping water results in relatively wide & low stalagmites.

 

Stalagmites (dripstone), near Rock of Ages, eastern side of the Big Room, Carlsbad Caverns.

 

 

COLUMNS

 

All columns & flowstone coverings shown below are composed of travertine.

 

Column (dripstone with lower flanks covered in flowstone), northwestern portion of the Big Room, Carlsbad Caverns.

 

Giant Dome (on the right; Hall of Giants area, Big Room, Carlsbad Caverns) - an extremely large column reaching 62 feet above the level of the walking trail.  The column consists of dripstone in its axial portions and flowstone in the flanking areas.  The two large stalagmites on the left are the Twin Domes.

 

Column (dripstone), Queen’s Chamber, King’s Palace Trail, Carlsbad Caverns.

 

Columns & composite columns (dripstone), northwestern portion of the Big Room, Carlsbad Caverns.

 

Composite column (dripstone), Fairyland, Big Room, Carlsbad Caverns.

 

Column (dripstone), Chinese Theater, Big Room, Carlsbad Caverns.

 

 

Home page