Flowing Stone by Svarg

Photography • Science/Medical • posted on Feb 18, 2009

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Description

Deep within Mammoth Cave, Kentucky. How these shapes are formed: When rainwater falls where limestone is the bedrock it is capable of dissolving the calcium carbonate that makes up the limestone. As it seeps through layers of broken rock and decayed vegetable matter it picks up a considerable amount of carbon dioxide from the "soil air". The amount of calcium carbonate that can be dissolved in water increases with the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) dissolved in the water. It seeps through tiny fissures in the underlying bedrock becoming chemically saturated with calcium carbonate. Eventually the water droplets make their way through seams in the bedrock to the interior of a cave and find themselves hanging from the roof surrounded by the atmosphere of the cave. Cave air is very like normal air - with little carbon dioxide content. So the droplets, heavily laden with this gas, diffuse their excess CO2 into the air. Then the water is unable to carry as much calcium carbonate and so it too is released and collects as stalactites hanging from the ceiling. The droplets fall, releasing more CO2 and, where they hit, releasing still more calcium carbonate forming the stalagmites that build up from the floor. Sometimes the hanging stalactites meet with jutting stalagmites and together they form columns. When the water simply runs down the wall rather than dripping it forms what is called flow stone and sometimes "draperies". They are all very beautiful and very difficult to photograph without a tripod (not allowed in the cave). Thanks for Looking! Ken

Comments (12)

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mnmpm

9:53PM | Wed, 18 February 2009

SPOOKY!!is nice to know more!!

MrsLubner

10:24PM | Wed, 18 February 2009

The "mites" and "tites" are marvelous but let me say that the ripple formation on the floor of the cavern catches my eye quick. That is a fabulous look and the pov you took really shows the undulations spectacularly.

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kelvinhughes

11:33PM | Wed, 18 February 2009

excellent image my friend well done

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Bondini

11:40PM | Wed, 18 February 2009

Never get tired of it. Great stuff!

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cfulton

11:51PM | Wed, 18 February 2009

Brilliant! Well done being hand-held and all! Cheers, Clive

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jif3d

2:51AM | Thu, 19 February 2009

Awesome nature display and without a tripod, I'll have to call you Steady Eddie from now on Ken ! Great capture and bonus info, BTW, you didn't bump into Lara or Indy on your visit did you ? Kool stuff & ~Cheers~

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Svarg

6:01AM | Thu, 19 February 2009

The ripples on the floor are calcite dams, sort of inverted draperies made by water standing in pools. Thanks for your kind words!

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dragonmuse

9:34AM | Thu, 19 February 2009

Wonderful capture. Quite an array of formations in this shot.

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blondeblurr

5:56PM | Thu, 19 February 2009

Amazing underground formations, the stuff you find in National Geographic magazines...(I bet they used a tripod !) Now, if that was above ground, it would make a nice background for a stageplay. Great effort, Ken. Cheers BB

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