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The vast majority are in limestone uplands of suitable geological, hydrological and long-term climatic conditions. Very simply, as the whole is very complicated and very specific to each cave's own area:
Rain absorbs CO2 from the atmosphere. This creates weak carbonic acid.
The water sinks into the natural tension-cracks ('joints'), faults and other discontinuities in the mass of limestone, and because it is acid, corrodes the rock slowly away.
In time, the resulting mesh of tiny conduits enlarges, the conduits coalesce and eventually discrete stream-passages form.
This all takes many tens or hundreds of thousands of years. Eventually the stream ceases to take that route and the passage is left high and dry.
The water can only flow if it has somewhere to go: outlets - springs or risings - at the base of the limestone where this outcrops, oftenat the foot of the hill as the resulting stream then forms a surface valley.
Wiki User
∙ 11y ago
Caverns are typically formed from the gradual dissolution of soluble rocks like limestone by groundwater. As water passes through the rock, it dissolves minerals and creates underground cavities that eventually develop into caverns. Over time, stalactites and stalagmites may form within these caverns from mineral deposits left behind by dripping water.
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What causes caverns?
Caverns are typically formed through a process known as karstification, where groundwater dissolves soluble rocks like limestone and carbonate rocks over time. This dissolution, along with other factors such as erosion and tectonic forces, can create underground cavities and passageways that eventually turn into caverns.
Do most caverns form above the water table?
No, most caverns form below the water table. Caverns are typically formed by the dissolution of underground limestone or other soluble rocks by water, and this process usually occurs below the water table where the rocks are saturated with water.
What cuvses caves caverns and sink holes?
Caves, caverns, and sinkholes are typically formed by the dissolution of soluble rocks such as limestone, dolomite, or gypsum by water. Over time, water erodes and dissolves the rock, creating underground cavities and passages. Eventually, these cavities can collapse or become exposed at the surface, forming caves, caverns, and sinkholes.
How was the Bluespring Caverns formed?
Bluespring Caverns, located in Indiana, was formed through a combination of natural geological processes. The caverns were created by water dissolving the limestone bedrock over thousands of years, resulting in the formation of underground passageways and chambers. The constant flow of water continues to shape and modify the caverns to this day.
How old is fantastic caverns in spring field mo?
Fantastic Caverns in Springfield, Missouri is estimated to be around 500 million years old, formed during the Paleozoic era.
What formed Carlsbad Caverns?
water
What is formed by the dissolution of limestone?
caverns, sinkholes, etc.
What causes caverns?
Caverns are typically formed through a process known as karstification, where groundwater dissolves soluble rocks like limestone and carbonate rocks over time. This dissolution, along with other factors such as erosion and tectonic forces, can create underground cavities and passageways that eventually turn into caverns.
How were the Florida cavern formed?
The Florida Caverns are limestone caves and were formed by rain water dissolving the limestone.
What are the caverns that rough water crashes into?
Sea caves (formed in cliffs by wave action)?
Caves and caverns are formed in carbonate rocks by?
The reaction of carbonic acid in rain and groundwater with the carbonate rock.
What is an agaric mineral?
An agaric mineral is a light, chalky deposit of calcium carbonate formed in caverns or fissures of limestone.
What can produce sinkholes cavern and formations?
Sinkholes and caverns are formed from carbolic acid. This carbolic acid dissolves rock which creates the spaces that form the sinkholes and caverns. The carbolic acid is created when carbon dioxide dissolves in water.
How is moaning caverns formed?
It's a normal karst cave, but I think (from memory) in marble rather than unaltered limestone.
How was the Bluespring Caverns formed?
Bluespring Caverns, located in Indiana, was formed through a combination of natural geological processes. The caverns were created by water dissolving the limestone bedrock over thousands of years, resulting in the formation of underground passageways and chambers. The constant flow of water continues to shape and modify the caverns to this day.
How did the caves in US form?
Almost all caves were formed by the actions of water. It dissolves the rock and and forms the caverns and spectacular views.
How were the Carlsbad Caverns formed?
Carslbad Cavern occurs in limestone that formed from a reef that thrived in a long gone ancient sea. The caves formed when acidic groundwater in cracks in the rock dissolved the surrounding limestone. +++ Another contributor on this site asked the same question and was told it was formed by acid solutions rising from below, like Lechuguilla - technically called a "hypogean" cave. I'd always thought Carslbad Caverns are a "conventional" karst cave, as you describe.
