Speleogenesis

Speleogenesis is the formation and development of caves through geological processes, especially the dissolution of soluble rock by water.

Carbonic acid: A weak acid formed when carbon dioxide dissolves in water. Carbonic acid in groundwater dissolves limestone and helps initiate many caves.
Carbonate rock: Rock composed chiefly of carbonate minerals, including limestone and dolostone. Carbonate rocks host many caves because groundwater can dissolve their minerals.
Speleothem: A mineral deposit formed in a cave, such as a stalactite or stalagmite. Speleothems can preserve chemical records of conditions during and after cave formation.
Pseudokarst: Cave-like terrain formed by processes other than dissolution of soluble rock. Its cavities resemble karst caves but arise through different geological mechanisms.
Karst: Terrain shaped by the dissolution of soluble rocks, with features such as sinkholes, springs, and caves. Karst landscapes express the same dissolution processes that form many caves.
Dolostone: A sedimentary carbonate rock composed chiefly of the mineral dolomite. Dolostone can host caves, though its dissolution behavior differs from limestone.
Paleoclimatology: The study of past climates using evidence preserved in natural archives. Cave deposits provide dated records of rainfall and climate variability.
Lava tube: A tunnel formed when the surface of a lava flow solidifies while molten lava continues to drain beneath it. Lava tubes form by volcanic flow and cooling rather than rock dissolution.
Limestone: A sedimentary rock composed chiefly of calcium carbonate. Its mineral composition makes limestone especially susceptible to dissolution by acidic water.
Gypsum: A soft evaporite mineral composed of calcium sulfate dihydrate. Groundwater dissolves gypsum readily, allowing caves to develop faster than in limestone.

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