Stalactite a cave it will drip down. When the solution comes into contact with air the chemical reaction that created it is reversed and particles of calcium carbonate are deposited. The reversed reaction is: An average growth rate is a year. The quickest growing stalactites are those formed by a constant supply of slow dripping water rich in calcium carbonate (CaCO) and carbon dioxide (CO), which can grow at per year. The drip rate must be slow enough to allow the CO to degas from the solution into the cave atmosphere, resulting in deposition of CaCO on the stalactite. Too fast
Pete's Paradise Cave is possible to crawl through a tight hole for eight metres to come out at what was called "Pearl's Chamber" because of the presence of "Cave pearls". These are formed around grains of sand and they become coated with calcium carbonate which can grow in time to be 3 cm in diameter. A moving body of water is required to keep these pearls turning whilst they form. The last, and described as the best, chamber is the "Hall of Pillars". This chamber contains another perfect rimstone. This is one of three in this cave and only one of three in