helictite

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helictites are contorted depositional speleothems wich grow in many directions. Their twisted shapes seems to be due to many factors,like -for instance- impurities in deposited calcite. Plugging of the central channel may occur in dry periods, and when flow resumes, the pressure may force a new channel out the side of the original one.
(Grotta del Bue Marino, -partial show cave- Sardinia.)

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Viewing: 1-16 of 16

Eric Sandbo

Bizarre!

Voted 10/10

Thanks for this and your other cave pictures. They're beautiful and whimsical. And thanks for the descriptions and explanations.

Posted Mar 24, 2007 6:46 am


	banzai.barbara	Re: Bizarre!
	Hasn't voted	Thank You, Eric I'm glad you liked them. Thanks also for improving my english: didn't know the word "whimsical" ;-) Take care of your foot and have a good time wherever you go. - I saw your pics, by the way...what beautiful places you've seen!! cheers.
		Posted Mar 24, 2007 12:35 pm

Jack B

It's art!

Voted 10/10

Nature's art. Amazing.

Posted May 15, 2007 6:53 pm


	banzai.barbara	Re: It's art!
	Hasn't voted	you're so right...nature's the greatest artist with its colors and shapes. It's art indeed. :)
		Posted May 16, 2007 4:44 am

mtybumpo

Weird!

Voted 10/10

I've been in a few caves but I've never seen anything this crazy! Great Pic!

Posted May 21, 2007 10:24 pm


	banzai.barbara	Re: Weird!
	Hasn't voted	thanks! I don't wanna be boring explaining in details but calcite speleothem's growth, including helictites, is due to many factors including water/cave temperature. I assume the caves you visited were too cold. To give you an idea, sardinian caves' average temperature variates between 8-16 C°. Helictites are pretty common here, in the warmer ones. (from 12/13 C° on) I assume the caves you visited were too cold, so, or may had a non-limestone karst genesis. (like lava tubes,for instance, which are totally different)
		Posted May 22, 2007 11:02 am


	mtybumpo	Re: Weird!
	Voted 10/10	Yeah your probably right. They were pretty cold. Don't worry about being boring cause what you said was very interesting. Thanks for the great picture and the info!
		Posted May 22, 2007 5:05 pm

Dan Dalton

This is amazing...

Voted 10/10

could you please attach it to the rocks, minerals, and fossils alubum? Thanks!

Dan

Posted Jun 8, 2007 1:42 pm


	banzai.barbara	Re: This is amazing...
	Hasn't voted	here you are...both aragonite and helictite in your smart album. It's my pleasure being part of it ...it looks we have the same passion for rocks/minerals/fossils...not the same ability in sport climbing, though: you're soooo much bettere than me ;-) cheers. b.
		Posted Jun 8, 2007 3:05 pm


	Dan Dalton	Re: This is amazing...
	Voted 10/10	Thanks again for the contributions, they are really awesome shots. I think it is always important to know the history of the rock that you are exploring, it adds that much more to the adventure. Great shots, I look forward to seeing more of you doing some sport!! Dan
		Posted Jun 11, 2007 12:27 pm

markmay

What a Wild Thing

Voted 10/10

How big are speleothems like this and how long do they take to form? I wonder if anything like this exists in the U.S.

Posted Sep 22, 2007 10:31 pm

Mark Straub

Very strange!

Voted 10/10

Great picture! I am so glad to have seen your account. I have already learned many things about caves that I have never imagined!
-Mark

Posted Jan 17, 2008 5:54 pm


	banzai.barbara	Re: Very strange!
	Hasn't voted	again shown that you're too kind.. I'm glad you find caves and speleothems interesting. Check this website out, I think it's pretty cool and has some great cave pictures too. http://www.goodearthgraphics.com/virtcave/
		Posted Jan 21, 2008 1:31 pm


	Mark Straub	Re: Very strange!
	Voted 10/10	Thanks for the website! I would like to go caving eventually, but first I would have to find a cave. -Mark
		Posted Jan 22, 2008 9:09 am