| SODA STRAWS |
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HOW DO THEY FORM? Soda straws are baby stalactites. Water seeping into a limestone cave drips from the ceiling and leaves calcite forming thin, hollow tubes. When water starts to flow over the outer surface of the soda straw, depositing calcite, stalactites begin to form. WHERE ARE THEY FOUND? Soda straws are found hanging from the ceiling of caves, or hanging off other formations. They can be found in all of our caves and are in abundance in the ceiling of Black Chasm's Landmark room (top) and California Cave's Jungle Room (bottom). HOW ARE THEY IDENTIFIED? Soda straws are thin, usually straight hollow tubes. They can be combined with other formations, including helictites as the top photo shows, and are often found among groups of stalactites. |
| For more detailed information on speleothem formation, go to our Cavern Geology lesson plan's section on speleothems by clicking HERE. © 2006 Sierra Nevada Recreation Corporation. All rights reserved. |
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