Most of the world's caves are Karst features, i.e. primarily in Limestone. Karst caves need three materials: a soluble rock like Limestone or Gypsum, water and Carbon-dioxide (CO2). The last two combine to form a weak acid that dissolves the limestone. For a fuller account: The host limestone needs to be of appropriate physical structure and raised into hills, then subjected to reasonably consistent precipitation for many tens or hundreds of thousands of years. Limestone is a sedimentary rock of which the world's greater proportion was laid down in warm, relatively shallow, seas. The rock was laid in horizontal layers - Beds - separated by Bedding-planes which generally reflect geologically-brief changes in the environment. The suite of beds is known as a Formation, generally named after its "type area". Later continental uplift (tectonic processes) raise the formation along with its underlying rocks, usually tilting and folding it to at least some extent in the process. Since most rocks are brittle they cannot take much stress, and limestone beds crack into grids of fine fractures called Joints. The uplift and folding often also causes Faulting - major breaks with the rock mass one side of the Fault Plane being raised, lowered or moved horizontally past that on the opposite side. (Note: Plane - the "Fault Line" sometimes misused as a political metaphor is that of the fault-plane cutting the land surface.) Now we have the hills, next we need rain-water that has absorbed atmospheric CO2 to create Carbonic Acid (weak, natural soda water in fact!). It may be augmented by acids from the soil, too. This solvent permeates through all those joints, bedding-planes and faults; flowing very, very slowly under considerable pressure applied by its depth, from its sinks on the surface to its springs at the base of the formation. In doing so, it dissolves the limestone (chemical weathering), creating meshes of tiny micro-conduits that over many tens of thousands of years coalesce and capture each other to form cave passages. Once this happens, the rate of erosion can increase - though still to perhaps only a few millimetres per thousand years under generally temperate climates. A cave, or a series within a cave system, that still carries its formative stream is called "Active", and is still being developed. Surface changes such as the valley floor being lowered by erosion, or down-cutting within the cave by its stream, changes the water's route and the original, now dried-out, stream-way is called "Fossil" or "Abandoned". Such passages may be filled with silt left by floods as the main flow gradually abandons them; or may become richly decorated with Speleothems - calcite deposits such as stalactites and stalagmites precipitated from ground-water still oozing through the joints in the limestone above the cave. In time such passages may start to break down as there is no stream to dissolve away slabs falling from the roof as permeating ground-water attacks the rock above. In the end, surface lowering of the landscape as a whole, breaches and destroys the cave. Nothing is permanent in Nature! Caves in limestone are also parts of Karst Landscape. i.e. a landscape developed by the dissolution of limestone, giving surface features like Dolines, Limestone Pavement, and in the tropics, distinctive hills such as those represented in Chinese Willow-pattern images. 'Karst' is from the Slavic word 'Kras', the name for its world type-area. @@@@@ The above is purely an introduction to a vastly more complex and subtle series of processes, of course, and you need to refer to appropriate text-books on geology and cave studies to learn them. The scientific study of caves is Speleology - embracing geology, hydrology, Biology, Archaeology and other disciplines. Simply visiting caves to enjoy them for their scenery and the physical and mental challenges they present, is called Caving, though you can't study a cave unless you can negotiate its obstacles.
Yes, this is what forms sinkholes, and limestone caves.
because if they were made of soap they'd dissolve
Precipitated as stalactites, stalagmites etc - and it is the primary constituent of the limestone in which the vast majority of caves form!
Vgrdfgysdhva fgbhygb ghbgyyg gbbfgHhygg ghbgyb vgbvv
Caverns are formed when rain, run-off, or surface water mixes with the topsoil, then Carbon acid and Carbon Dioxide mix with the soil where plants grow, making an acid so powerful that it eats away at the limestone that is underground; making cracks. Over millions of years, this process makes caves, which also concludes that caves are made up of lots of other caves.
caves
Caves are typically formed from a combination of natural processes such as erosion by water, chemical weathering, and the dissolving of rock formations like limestone and dolomite. Over time, these processes create underground cavities and passages that can develop into complex cave systems.
Limestone caves are formed through a process called karstification, where rainwater picks up carbon dioxide from the air and soil, creating a weak carbonic acid. This acidic water dissolves the limestone rock over time, creating underground cavities and passages. As the water drains away, it leaves behind caves and unique formations such as stalactites and stalagmites.
Yes, this is what forms sinkholes, and limestone caves.
Limestone is the rock that is in Caves. When carbonate acid is reacted to the limestone in the caves, it will corrode forming strange caves landforms.
In areas where the rocks are made of limestone, water will dissolve the limestone and form underground caves. In these caves water containing dissolved limestone will drip from the roof. As the drips form some of the water evaporates and limestone is deposited out of solution. Thus, from where the drips are occurring and on the floor below, pilers start to form, the pilers on the floor are called 'stalagmites' and the pilers hanging from the roof are called 'stalactites'.
by limestone
Caves most commonly form in areas with limestone or other soluble rocks that are easily eroded by water. The process of cave formation typically involves the dissolution of rock by acidic groundwater, creating underground voids. Over time, these voids can develop into large cave systems through ongoing erosion and geological processes.
a karst
Water, erosion, and time. Limestone is a common rock that these geologic structures form in because of it's relative softness.
When limestone is eaten away, it forms various features such as sinkholes, caves, and underground tunnels. This process occurs due to the dissolution of the limestone by acidic groundwater. The result is the creation of unique and sometimes expansive underground landscapes.
Mainly limestone.