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Stalagmite

From Biocrawler, the free encyclopedia.

The Witch's Finger in the Carlsbad Caverns

A stalagmite (from the Greek stalagma, "drop") is a type of speleothem that rises from the floor of a limestone cave due to the dripping of mineralized solutions and the depositation of calcium carbonate. The corresponding formation on the ceiling of a cave is known as a stalactite. If these formations grow together, meeting in the middle, the result is known as a column or pillar.

The Hall of Giants in the Carlsbad Caverns

There are various mnemonics (ways to remember) for which hangs from the ceiling (stalactite) and which rises from the floor (stalagmite):

StalaCtite has a "c" for "ceiling".
StalaGmite has a "g" for "ground".

Stalactite is stretched "tite" (tight) by hanging from the ceiling.
Stalagmite pushes up with all its "mite" (might) from the floor.

The term "stalagmite" is derived from the Greek noun stalagma ("Σταλαγμίτης"), meaning "drop" or "drip"; the term "stalactite" comes from the related adjective stalaktos, meaning "dropped".

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