Stalactite

A mineral deposit that hangs from a cave ceiling, commonly formed when mineral-rich water loses carbon dioxide or evaporates and leaves calcium carbonate behind.

Speleothem: A mineral deposit formed in a cave by the deposition of dissolved minerals. Stalactites are ceiling-growing members of this broader class of cave formations.
Stalagmite: A mineral deposit that grows upward from a cave floor, often beneath a stalactite. It forms where water dripping from a stalactite deposits minerals on the floor.
Speleothem paleoclimatology: The study of past climate using chemical and physical records preserved in cave mineral deposits. Stalactite layers and isotopes can preserve evidence of changing rainfall and climate.
Limestone: A sedimentary rock composed chiefly of calcium carbonate, often derived from marine organisms. Limestone is the common source of dissolved calcium carbonate in stalactite-forming caves.
Calcite: A crystalline form of calcium carbonate and a common mineral in limestone caves. Calcite is the principal mineral deposited in many stalactites.
Column (cave formation): A cave formation created when a stalactite and stalagmite join. It marks the eventual connection of a ceiling deposit and its floor counterpart.
Uranium–thorium dating: A radiometric dating method that uses the decay of uranium isotopes into thorium. It can determine the ages of carbonate layers in stalactites.
Calcium carbonate: A chemical compound found in minerals such as calcite and in limestone, chalk, and marble. It is the main substance deposited in most limestone-cave stalactites.
Carbon dioxide: A colorless gas produced by respiration and combustion and dissolved in natural waters. Its escape from dripping water helps trigger calcium carbonate deposition.
Flowstone: A sheet-like cave deposit formed when mineral-rich water flows over a surface. Unlike a stalactite, it spreads across walls or floors rather than hanging from a point.

Linked from 15 pages