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No-one knows!
If you trawl through the cave lists for every country that has caves in limestone, the answer will run into many tens, maybe some hundreds, of thousands from the near-400miles of the Flint Ridge / Mammoth Cave System down to the most modest little solutional tube.
Then there must be many more not known - or not yet anyway - because they lie in very remote regions or their entrances are concealed by natural run-ins, glacial till chokes and the like.
A quick estimate from the index in the guide-book for just one part of Northern England alone came to something like 800 caves.
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∙ 11y ago
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How long have caves been around?
Caves have been around for millions of years, with some of the oldest known caves dating back to at least 40 million years ago. Many caves are formed through a process called karstification, which involves the dissolution of soluble rocks like limestone over long periods of time.
What types of caves are there?
There are several types of caves, including limestone caves (formed by the dissolving of limestone), lava tubes (formed from solidified lava flows), sea caves (formed by erosion from ocean waves), glacier caves (formed by melting ice within glaciers), and karst caves (formed in soluble rocks such as gypsum or dolomite). Each type of cave has unique characteristics based on its formation process.
Why are there so many caves in limestone rock?
Limestone is a type of rock that is easily eroded by water, which can create caves over time. Water dissolves the limestone rock to form caves through a process known as chemical weathering. Additionally, limestone can also be carved out by underground rivers or other natural forces, resulting in the formation of caves.
Why are most caves made from limestone?
Most caves are made from limestone because limestone is a sedimentary rock that is easily dissolved by water. Over time, acidic groundwater seeps into the cracks and crevices, dissolving and eroding the limestone to form cave systems. The process is known as karstification and is responsible for the creation of many limestone caves.
Why many caves are found in limestone rock?
Many caves are found in limestone rock because limestone is a sedimentary rock that is easily eroded by water. Over time, the water dissolves the limestone, creating underground passageways and caverns. Additionally, limestone is often found in areas with abundant rainfall, which further contributes to the formation of caves through the process of water erosion.
In what sort of caves would you find stalactites and stalagmites?
Caves formed in limestone, as the vast majority are - but there are many caves that contain few or no "speleothems" as the formations are know collectively. The distribution and scale of the formations is subject to many, complex factors.
What kind of rock is located near caves?
It depends on the cave. Since many caves are limestone (water carves it nicely), you usually find limestone. But granite is common in New Hampshire & Vermont.
How long have caves been around?
Caves have been around for millions of years, with some of the oldest known caves dating back to at least 40 million years ago. Many caves are formed through a process called karstification, which involves the dissolution of soluble rocks like limestone over long periods of time.
What types of caves are there?
There are several types of caves, including limestone caves (formed by the dissolving of limestone), lava tubes (formed from solidified lava flows), sea caves (formed by erosion from ocean waves), glacier caves (formed by melting ice within glaciers), and karst caves (formed in soluble rocks such as gypsum or dolomite). Each type of cave has unique characteristics based on its formation process.
Why are there so many caves in limestone rock?
Limestone is a type of rock that is easily eroded by water, which can create caves over time. Water dissolves the limestone rock to form caves through a process known as chemical weathering. Additionally, limestone can also be carved out by underground rivers or other natural forces, resulting in the formation of caves.
What is the process that formed many of your large caves and caverns?
Most caves - of any size - are in limestone, and those are all formed primarily by dissoultion of the rock by weakly acidic ground-water penetrating the joints, bedding-planes, faults and other permeabl discontinuities within the rock mass.
Why are most caves made from limestone?
Most caves are made from limestone because limestone is a sedimentary rock that is easily dissolved by water. Over time, acidic groundwater seeps into the cracks and crevices, dissolving and eroding the limestone to form cave systems. The process is known as karstification and is responsible for the creation of many limestone caves.
Why are there so many caves in southern Indiana?
There are so many caves in Southern Indiana because of how much limestone there is undernealth the dirt, once moisture gets undernealth the dirt and into the limestone, it creates a small hollow hole, then slowley starts to increase in size when more water gets to the limestone.
What type of sedimentary rock made up many caves in the eastern US?
Limestone
Why many caves are found in limestone rock?
Many caves are found in limestone rock because limestone is a sedimentary rock that is easily eroded by water. Over time, the water dissolves the limestone, creating underground passageways and caverns. Additionally, limestone is often found in areas with abundant rainfall, which further contributes to the formation of caves through the process of water erosion.
Is there water found in caves?
Oh yes! Most caves in limestone (most caves in fact) are formed by water and very many still hold the streams that are in fact still developing them. Such caves are called "active". Some are completely full of water and explorable only by specialised cave-divers. Caves or cave passages that have lost their formative streams are called "fossil" or "abandoned", but even in these water drips in from the rock's joints through which it percolates.
How many caves are there in the Philippines?
There are thousands of caves in the Philippines, with around 400 caves documented and explored so far. The limestone karst landscape of the country provides ideal conditions for cave formation and exploration.
