E N C Y C L O P E D I A

Stalagmite

A stalagmite is a type of speleothem formed by the deposit of calcium carbonate which rises from the floor of a limestone cave due to the dripping of mineralized solutions. The corresponding formation on the ceiling above a stalagmite is known as a stalactite. Should both these formations grow together, meeting in the middle, the resultant formation is known as a column or pillar. The term "stalagmite" is derived from the Greek meaning that which drops; "stalactite," from the Greek meaning to fall in drops.



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