Caves and Speleogenesis
• The formation and development of caves is
known as speleogenesis. Caves are formed
by various geologic processes. These may
involve a combination of chemical processes,
erosion from water, tectonic forces,
microorganisms, pressure, atmospheric
influences, and even digging.
• Speleogenesis is the origin and development
of natural caves. Most caves develop through
dissolution in readily soluble rocks, such as
carbonates and evaporites. Speleogenesis
can be adequately understood only within
the broader context of the hydrogeologic
setting and evolution of karst. In its turn,
speleogenesis is a primary process that
determines essential features of the
hydrogeology of karst, and guides its
evolution in many ways.
SOME UNUSUAL FORMATIONS
Lechuguilla Cave
• Lechuguilla Cave is, as of 2006, the fifth
longest cave (120 miles (193.12128 km))
known to exist in the world, and the deepest
in the continental United States , but it is most
famous for its unusual geology, rare
formations, and pristine condition.
• Lechuguilla happened when hydrogen sulfide
gas bubbled up from nearby oil reservoirs deep
in the ground. What caused the hydrogen sulfide
to be released was the uplifting of the
surrounding mountains, which created deep
cracks in the earth over the oil reservoirs. A
chemical reaction between the hydrogen sulfide
gas and the oxygen molecules in the
groundwater created a very powerful acid sulfuric acid. The sulfuric acid ate through the
layers of limestone underground, leaving a maze
of open cracks and caves. Unlike most caves that
were formed from the top down, Lechuguilla
was created from the bottom up.
These are the
largest known
gypsum
stalactites in
the world.
Each is tipped
with a spray
of gypsum
crystals.
Stalagmites,
stalactites, and
draperies by a
pool in
Lechuguilla Cave,
New Mexico, USA
The Pearlsian Gulf in Lechuguilla Cave.
This is an
Aragonite
formation
found in
Lechuguilla
Bottlebrushes
form when
Stalagtites
are in water
for extended
lengths of
time.
Skyline Caverns
• Located in Front Royal, Virginia, Skyline
Caverns is the closest natural wonder to the
Nation's Capital. As one of the only places on
Earth where rare Anthodites are displayed,
the guided tour is as impressive as it is
educational. Whether it's your first time
underground, or you're an expert, our staff of
knowledgeable and well trained guides are
ready to answer any question. Individuals,
families, tour and/or school groups are
welcome all year long... regardless of the
weather above.
One example of an Anthodite
formation.
"Reflecting Pool", an optical illusion which forces the
viewer to believe the pool of water is many feet deep,
when it is only a few inches deep
An example of a helictite.
Ogof Craig a Fynnon, South Wales
• The cave is renowned as one of the most
well-decorated caves in Britain.
• The cave contains some early short crawling
sections (and what is known as an arduous
and uncomfortable boulder choke) and some
wet passages with voluminous quantities of
mud before developing into a series of large
sections lavishly decorated with mud and
calcite formations. The most spectacular of
these is the Hall of the Mountain King, a large
cavern liberally adorned with flowstone.
Speleothems
in Hall of
Mountain
King, Ogof
Craig a
Fynnon, South
Wales
Finely decorated streamway
Fine Straw Formations
Severn Tunnel
Fine Straw & Helictite Formations
Mammoth Cave
• Beneath the sandstonecapped ridges of Mammoth
Cave National Park lies the
most extensive cave system
on earth, with over 350 miles
of passageway mapped and
surveyed. And yet after 4,000
years of intermittent
exploration, the full extent of
this water-formed labyrinth
remains a mystery.
Staircase tower
in Mammoth
Dome,
Mammoth
Cave, Kentucky.
Canyon
passage in
Mammoth
Cave, the
world's
longest cave.
Did You Know?
• Creatures that spend their entire lives in
Mammoth Cave adapt to the dark world.
Some types of cave fish, for example, do not
grow eyes – supporting these extra
unnecessary organs would consume precious
energy in their nutrient-poor environment.
Fairy Cave
• Glenwood is home to many
caves, including Fairy Caves and
Glenwood Caverns, whose
subterranean caverns,
grottoes, and labyrinths are
truly a marvel of nature (the
area was touted as the "Eighth
Wonder of the World" upon its
public opening in 1887). Now
part of the Glenwood Caverns
Adventure Park (think tourist
trap), the still-amazing caves
are easily accessible via the
Iron Mountain Tramway, a
seven-minute gondola ride
affording a bird's-eye view of
Glenwood Springs and the
surrounding landscape.
Kings row in Fairy Cave Colorado
Caverns of Sonora, Texas
• The Caverns of Sonora is recognized as the
most beautiful cave in Texas and one of the
most beautiful show caves in the world. The
Caverns of Sonora is located on Interstate 10,
about half-way between Big Bend National
Park and San Antonio Texas. In 1966 the
cavern was designated as a National Natural
Landmark by the United States Department
of the Interior, and is one of the most active
caves in the world with over 95% of its
formations still “growing”.
Caverns of Sonora, Texas
Caverns of Sonora
(crystal pistol)
Halo Lake
The Butterfly: Sonora’s trademark
formation
The
Corinthian
Room
Baby Grand
Canyon
(note the
people)
Carlsbad Caverns
• As you pass through the Chihuahuan Desert
and Guadalupe Mountains of southeastern
New Mexico and west Texas—filled with
prickly pear, chollas, sotols and agaves—you
might never guess there are more than 300
known caves beneath the surface. The park
contains 116 of these caves, formed when
sulfuric acid dissolved the surrounding
limestone, creating some of the largest caves
in North America.
Chocolate high section of Carlsbad
Caverns
Pencil stalagtites
Columns in Carlsbad Caverns
Witch’s Finger in
Carlsbad Caverns
A Virgin Cave in Guadalupe Mountains,
New Mexico (Carlsbad)
Wind Caves
• One of the world's longest and most complex
caves and 28,295 acres of mixed-grass prairie,
ponderosa pine forest, and associated
wildlife are the main features of the park.
The cave is well known for its outstanding
display of boxwork, an unusual cave
formation composed of thin calcite fins
resembling honeycombs.
Special Formations
This is Boxwork. It is a type of rock formation
found in caves. About 95% of the world's
boxwork formations are found in this one cave
system.
Wind Cave
Potato Chips Formation
Lewis & Clark Caverns
• Lewis and Clark Caverns is Montana's first and
best known state park. Hidden in the white
limestone cliffs above the Jefferson River, 15
miles southwest of Three Forks and 10 miles
east of Whitehall, are two dark holes. These
openings are gateways to an underground
world of spectacular caves that are naturally
air-conditioned and feature multi-tiered
columns, stalagmites, stalactites, frozen
waterfalls and rock icicles.
Lewis & Clark Caverns
This formation is
96 feet tall. Note
the ranger in the
picture.This
picture was taken
in 1975 in New
Cave.
Mystic Cavern
• Mystic Caverns is a commercially operated
show cave located on the Newton County and
Boone County line in North-Central Arkansas.
It is near Marble Falls, AR and 8 miles south of
Harrison, AR.
In an area in Mystic Cavern called the "Ballroom", on
the largest in mass formation in the cavern, there is
some "cave coral" with an odd shape. It is shaped
like the roots that grow on potatoes.
OTHER CAVE-LIKE FEATURES OF
INTEREST
Exploring a Lava Tube in Hawaii.
Painted Cave, Santa Cruz Island
• Painted Cave on Santa Cruz Island - largest
sea cave in the world. Painted Cave, is on the
northwest coastline of Santa Cruz, and is so
named because of its colorful rock types,
lichens, and algaes. Painted Cave is a quartermile long and 100 feet wide, with an
entrance ceiling of 160 feet.
Painted Cave, a large sea cave, Santa Cruz
Island, California
Glacier Cave in Big Four Glacier
• Just because it is not a true glacier, don’t be
fooled into thinking it is as safe as an
ordinary snowfield. Glaciers have crevasses
and solid flow features and these same
features are the main reason this mass is
called “glacier.” If you wander thoughtlessly
across its surface you may be viciously
swallowed by deep crack or a hole invisibly
covered by thin snow.
Glacier Cave in Big Four Glacier, Big
Four Mountain, Washington, ca 1920
One of the “Big Four”
Paradise Ice Caves (the water passage)