ENVIRONMENT:CAVE CREATION

Caves can for many where whether it’s in the surface of the Earth,underwater or even inside mountains.In fact,any lump of rock has the potential to turn into a cave because they’re created by erosion, which can happen by a number of means. The most common kind of cave is called a solution cave. These tend to be made of rocks such as limestone or gypsum, as they dissolve faster in water than other kinds of rock. Water falling as rain collects carbon dioxide from the atmosphere before descending through the ground. The carbon dioxide mixed with rainwater can form carbonic acid, which is a key ingredient in dissolving the rock, especially in places where there is an existing fi ssure. Further erosion and collapse transforms these cracks into networks of tunnels and caves. The water will either stay in the base of the cave once it reaches rock that it can’t dissolve, or flows out through a hole to begin the whole process again. Some of the most incredible formations in cave structures are stalactites and stalagmites. Stalactites are the pointy shards that descend from the roof of a cave. These are created when the dripping rainwater collects calcium carbonate on its way through the rock. Once it reaches the open space the calcium carbonate solidifies. This builds up as water drips along the stalactite before hardening. Stalagmites are made of calcium carbonate too, but build from the base of the cave upward if the water has dripped down before becoming solid. Underwater and overground caves are formed in similar ways. Rock is repeatedly attacked by a force of nature, such as ocean tides, winds or sand. This bombardment wears away at the rock, creating a dent that gets steadily bigger until a cave is formed

Four main types of cave 
Solution cave 
This is the most common kind of cave in the world. Formed from water moving through carbonate or sulphate rock, these types of cave grow to form some of the largest caverns on Earth.

Lava cave 

Created when lava is fl owing along a path and part of it cools and hardens. This leaves the still molten lava inside to continue fl owing, ultimately resulting in hollow lava tubes.

Glacier cave 

The most common cause is melt water running through, or under, the glacier. This widens crevices and carves out chutes, which will then increase in size during the summer months.

Sea cave 

Underwater and coastal rocks are constantly battered by waves. This action erodes the weaker parts of the rock. Some of these get flooded and become underwater cave systems.