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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.
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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.
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.