how are stalcities and stalagmites formed?

Answer 1

Its the evaporation of water leaving behind the calcium salts dissolved in it. The Stalactites hold tight and form on the cave roof, the stalagmites like 'mice' form on the floor. The water is dripping or dropping at a sufficiently slow rate for the evaporation to take place as opposed to a torrent tending to wash the calcium salts away. Eventually the two might join to form a continuous column from floor to ceiling.

Answer 2

Of course, you know the difference between a stalactite and a stalagmite. They occur in limestone caves. The stalactite is above, and hangs downward like an icicle; the stalagmite is below and sticks up. They grow in pairs, the slightly acidic water dissolves some of the limestone, carrying it downward. When the water evaporates, the limestone appears to have flowed downward. Some of the water does not evaporate until it has fallen through the air, and landed on the floor, the remaining limestone building the stalagmite. Sometimes the stalactite is missing, as they sometimes break off and fall; you will often see their pieces on the floor. Or human visitors may break them off, and take them away. Often, the stalactite and stalagmite will connect, and become a column.

Answer 3

A stalactite (Greek stalaktos, (Σταλακτίτης), "dripping" or "dropped"), or dripstone, is a type of speleothem that hangs from the ceiling or wall of limestone caves.

Stalactites are formed from the deposition of calcium carbonate and other minerals, which is precipitated from mineralized water solutions. The corresponding formation on the floor underneath a stalactite is known as a stalagmite. Given enough time, these formations can meet, resulting in a formation known as a column or pillar.
Every stalactite begins with a single mineral-laden drop of water. When the drop falls, it leaves behind the thinnest ring of calcite. Each subsequent drop that forms and falls deposits another calcite ring. Eventually, these rings form a very narrow (0.5 mm), hollow tube commonly known as a "soda straw" stalactite. Soda straws can grow quite long, but are very fragile. If they become plugged by debris, water begins flowing over the outside, depositing more calcite and creating the more familiar cone-shaped stalactite.


Mineralized water drop forming at bottom of stalactites.
The same water drops that fall from the tip of a stalactite deposit more calcite on the floor below, eventually resulting in a rounded or cone-shaped stalagmite. Unlike stalactites, stalagmites never start out as hollow "soda straws."

Answer 4

Mineral-rich water evaporating before it drips, leaving the minerals behind on the roof of a cave form the stalactites. If it drips and then evaporates, it adds to a stalagmite below.

Answer 5

Stalactites are formed when water running through rock dissolves the minerals and then evapoartes leaving the minerals behind. Stalacmites from from a similar principle but are formed when the water drops to the floor and evaporates leaving the mineral deposits behind. Over a prolonged period of time the two may meet and form columns.

Answer 6

Stalactites, which form from the top of a cave, are formed from the minerals left by water evaporating and grow downwards. Stalagmites are formed from minerals, which form from the bottom of a cave by water evaporating from the bottom of a cave.

Answer 7

I once learned a song about them.

Stalagmites and stalactites,
Are formed in caves underneath the ground.
Stalagmities and stalactites,
One's up and the other is down.

It does sound better with a piano accopmaniment. And a tune. And it doesn't answer the question so sorry. And it doesn't even tell you which is which (but I knew that anyway) so a really useless song. But someone before me has answered correctly so at least you have a coherent answer!

Answer 8

they are formed when water full of minerals drip from the ceiling to the floor. each time it drips it lays a layer of mineral, and the minerals hang from the ceiling are called stalcities and the ones on the floor are called stalagmites.

Answer 9

Hi > that is easily looked up, but it is all to do with salt deposiyes. The ones that drip don from, say a cave roof, solidify.
When they drip onto the floor, they dry out to un upwards job.
Easily remembered, if you will excuse this, is that tights go down, and mites grow up.
Heu go pot-holing, it is interesting dragging along a cold box of beers & food, and a small keyboard.
Anyway, all to do with salt / lime solutions dripping down.
Bung a solution of salt onto blotting paper over a jug, leave it for a couple of weeks, and lo and behold.
Little stalectites & stalegmites.

Bob

Answer 10

water that has drained through a soluable rock such as limestone, erodes the limestone and disolves it into soltuion

as the water drips out it deposits the mineral back forming a pillar
Stalagmites go up, stalagtites go down

an old schoolboy rhyme used to be as the tights go down the mites go up