stalagmite
Sign in to savethumb|upright=1.75|Image showing the six most common speleothems thumb|upright|The "Witch's Finger" in Carlsbad Caverns, New Mexico
AI overview
A stalagmite is a cone-shaped formation that builds up from the floor of a cave as mineral-rich water drips and deposits layers of rock over thousands of years. These formations are scientifically valuable because their mineral composition can reveal information about past climate and environmental conditions.
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Article
9 sectionsContents
- Formation and type
- Limestone stalagmites
- Lava stalagmites
- Ice stalagmites
- Concrete derived stalagmites
- Records
- Photo gallery
- References
- External links
thumb|upright=1.75|Image showing the six most common speleothems thumb|upright|The "Witch's Finger" in Carlsbad Caverns, New Mexico
A stalagmite (, ; ; ) is a type of rock formation that rises from the floor of a cave due to the accumulation of material deposited on the floor from ceiling drippings. Stalagmites are typically composed of calcium carbonate, but may consist of lava, mud, peat, pitch, sand, sinter, and amberat (crystallized urine of pack rats).