Stalactite of the abundance of limestone caves. The corresponding formation on the floor of the cave is known as a stalagmite. The most common stalactites are speleothems, which occur in limestone caves. They form through deposition of calcium carbonate and other minerals, which is precipitated from mineralized water solutions. Limestone is the chief form of calcium carbonate rock which is dissolved by water that contains carbon dioxide, forming a calcium bicarbonate solution in underground caverns. The chemical formula for this reaction is: This solution travels through the rock until it reaches an edge and if this is on the roof of
Calcium cycle layers of shell which over time cement to form limestone. This is the origin of both marine and terrestrial limestone, formed over long periods of time . The concentration of marine calcium depends on the depth of the ocean, as its solubility is altered with pressure. In deep ocean, roughly 1% more calcium is present when compared to surface concentrations. This is due to the solubility of calcium at higher pressure, thus associating higher concentration with increasing depth. The higher pressure stops calcium carbonate precipitation, whilst simultaneously enabling the dissolution of calcium carbonate sediment such as shells. As a result,