Stalactite
A
stalactite is a a type of
speleothem which hangs from the ceiling or wall of a
limestone cave. It is formed from the deposit of
calcium carbonate and the dripping of mineralized
solutions. The corresponding formation on the floor underneath a stalactite is known as a
stalagmite. Should both these formations grow together, meeting in the middle, the resultant formation is known as a column or pillar. The term "stalactite" is derived from the
Greek meaning to fall in drops; "stalagmite," from the Greek meaning that which drops.
To remember which formation hangs from the ceiling (stalactite) and which grows upward from the floor (stalagmite) think of:
- Stalactites hang "tite" to the ceiling above
- Stalagmites you "mite" trip over if you don't watch where you're stepping
See also