Earth and the Environment

How are a stalactite and a stalagmite formed?

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Groundwater trickling through cracks in the roofs of such caverns contains dissolved calcium bicarbonate. When a drop of water comes in contact with the air of the cavern, some of the calcium bicarbonate is transformed into calcium carbonate, which is precipitated out of the water solution and forms a ring of calcite on the roof of the cavern. By repetition of this process the length and thickness of the stalactite is increased. the stalagmite being formed as a result of further evaporation and precipitation from solution after the trickle of water falls from the stalactite.

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