Stalactites (stalactite), also known as stalactites, refers to the carbonate rock region within the cave in the long geological history and under specific geological conditions formed stalactites, stalagmites, stalagmites and other different forms of calcium carbonate precipitates.

The caves that produce stalagmites and stalactites are made of limestone. The main component of limestone is calcium carbonate, which can react with water and carbon dioxide to produce calcium bicarbonate, which is soluble in water. Calcium bicarbonate penetrates from the cracks at the top of the cave and adheres to the roof, after which, due to evaporation of water, decrease in pressure or change in temperature, some of the carbon dioxide in the calcium bicarbonate decomposes and precipitates calcium carbonate, resulting in the formation of a small protrusion, which then gradually grows in size and extends downward, forming a stalactite in the form of bells and milky stalactites over time. Stalactites grow very slowly, only 1 centimeter in a few hundred years. Stalagmites are formed by water droplets from the cave roof. It is the close companion of stalactites. When the water drops from the cave roof fall, the calcium carbonate contained in them is deposited a little bit on the ground and gradually forms a stalagmite like stalagmite. The stalagmite is firmer, so it grows faster than stalactites, sometimes forming towers more than 30 meters high.

We take the stalactites in the cave as an example, the main component of stalactites is calcium carbonate (CaCO3), the top of the cave will continue to have the surface or the underground river seeping down the calcium carbonate-rich droplets down:

The water dripping from the top of the cave contains insoluble calcium carbonate, which reacts with carbon dioxide and water in the air to produce calcium bicarbonate

First, CaCO3+. CO2 + H2O = Ca (HCO3) 2

Calcium bicarbonate is soluble in water, dripping down the stone in the imminent drop when the thermal decomposition, re-turned into calcium carbonate Ca (HCO3) 2 = CaCO3 ↓ + H2O + CO2 ↑

Here by the heat can be a small instantaneous increase in temperature or collision, etc..

Generated calcium carbonate precipitate attached to the stone, slowly gathered into a large number of stalactites we now see the formation.

Stalactites formation conditions

In the process of stalactites formation, will be affected by certain factors in nature. First of all, it must be the problem of materials, only in the place of calcium carbonate enough (such as Guangxi, Yunnan and other places have a lot of limestone) will form stalactites, and secondly, it is the water is more adequate place, stalactites and stalagmites in the process of the formation of underground water plays a decisive role. As long as it passes through the place there will certainly be traces left, either a ditch or a hole, some stalactites, some stalagmites, is that these are together constitute a beautiful cave, only to let us see those beautiful scenes.