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What Are Cave Decorations?
Popcorn, a type of speleothem not the snack, on the wall of Lower Cave, Carlsbad Cavern.
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There are at least 255 minerals documented from caves that make up a variety of speleothems.

Since many caves are formed in limestone and dolomite, carbonate minerals form the majority of speleothems.

Popcorn, a type of speleothem not the snack, on the wall of Lower Cave, Carlsbad Cavern. This speleothem is made of calcium carbonate.
Popcorn, a type of speleothem not the snack, on the wall of Lower Cave, Carlsbad Cavern.
Click on the Picture for Larger Image

Calcite is the most common mineral found in the cave formations that occur in the Rocky Mountains. But sometimes aragonite, which is made up of the same chemical elements but is built differently, is found in these speleothems too.

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Why There Are So Many Cave Decorations in One Cave and Not Many in Another

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How Dripping Water Makes Cave Decorations
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How Flowing Water Makes Cave Decorations
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How Seeping Water Makes Cave Decorations
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How Pooling Water Makes Cave Decorations

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What Caves Are
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Where Caves Are
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How Caves Form
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How Caves Are Decorated
Go to Further Reading About What Speleothems Are
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