Stalactite
Hey kiddo! Have you ever seen those long, pointy things that hang down from the ceiling of a cave or underground tunnel? Those are called stalactites!
But do you know how they get there? Well, water that trickles down from the top of the cave has minerals in it. As that water drips down, the minerals start to build up and create a hard deposit on the roof of the cave.
Over time, these hard mineral deposits grow longer and longer, like icicles, and eventually they start to hang down from the ceiling. That's when they become a stalactite!
Stalactites can come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, but they all start in the same way - with dripping water and mineral deposits. Some stalactites grow straight and narrow, while others are more lumpy and uneven.
Pretty cool, huh? Next time you're in a cave or underground tunnel, take a closer look at the ceiling and see if you can spot any stalactites!
But do you know how they get there? Well, water that trickles down from the top of the cave has minerals in it. As that water drips down, the minerals start to build up and create a hard deposit on the roof of the cave.
Over time, these hard mineral deposits grow longer and longer, like icicles, and eventually they start to hang down from the ceiling. That's when they become a stalactite!
Stalactites can come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, but they all start in the same way - with dripping water and mineral deposits. Some stalactites grow straight and narrow, while others are more lumpy and uneven.
Pretty cool, huh? Next time you're in a cave or underground tunnel, take a closer look at the ceiling and see if you can spot any stalactites!
Related topics others have asked about: