Caves

Caves

• Cave = Empty underground space that is big enough for a person to enter.

• Caves form by weathering and erosion of the rocks by groundwater

• Groundwater = water that is in the saturated zone.

Remember Groundwater???

Formation of Caves

• Usually made by groundwater dissolving limestone– Chemical Weathering

• Groundwater usually has a small amount of acid (Like acid rain) to help it dissolve the rock.

• The water table lowers and the cave that was once filled with water is now empty.

Other Ways to Make Caves

• Waves wearing away at cliffs.– Mechanical Weathering

• Lava cooling and making hollow tubes– Rock Cycle (formation)

• Bacteria eating away at rock– Chemical Weathering

Link to show formation…

• http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/caves/form.html

Formations in Caves

• Stalactites– Long columns of rock that hang from the ceiling of

caves– Hold “tight” to the ceiling.

• Stalagmites– Long columns of rock that from the cave floor.

• Sinkholes– Holes in the roofs of caves that form when the

ceiling of the cave gets too thin.

http://www.preyerplanning.com/images/cavernpics/caverns-skyline-anthodites-02.jpg

http://web.cs.gc.cuny.edu/~natasha/Journeys/skyline_caverns.html

Cave Animals - Salamanders

Cave Animals - Beetles