| Frothing, turbulent lava flowing through a tube,
or breakdown falling into molten lava, can splash stalactites on the ceiling,
coating them with additional lava. The ends of such stalactites are likely
to be irregular, as dripping lava hardens. In the first photo, a later
flow of red lava has splashed the pre-existing stalactites.
Another scenario occurs when a lava flow rises and falls, repeatedly dipping a set of stalactites and building up a series of concentric layers. This builds more symmetrical stalactites, as shown in the second photo. |
Interested in caves? Get tips on how to organize your earth science curriculum and geography lesson plans to focus on the best places to find stalactites and and caves in the US.
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Created: August 4, 2000
Author: Dave Bunnell |