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Terms

For visitors who first visit the Obir dripstone caves, a lot of terms may be new and unknown. To help, we have provided some explanations:

• Stalagmite: a formation that grows from the bottom up – if water drips on the floor, drops suddenly increase their surface. In most, stalagmites are stronger than stalactites; the dripping water does not accumulate at the top, but escapes down the growing stalagmite, and deposits the containing limestone. In the limestone caves, the drops are so tight together, that a mighty cylindrical or tapered stalagmites or even stalagmite massif may arise.
• Stalactite: a formation that grows from the ceiling – if the site of the speleothem is not exactly defined, the result is a tapered plug. If at this point only a little water containing limestone runs, and this occur in the vicinity of the cave ceiling, a stalactite gets stocky shape. If, however, there is plenty of water, containing limestone, and is deposited over the entire surface of stalactites, a form of tapered slim is conceived. In some caves , the inflow of water is so constant, and the drops are so pure, that they become transparent. Stalactites are the most frequent sinter formations and in some cases may grow up to several meters. Weight and grip on the ceiling, put limits on their growth
• Speleothem pillars: Speleothem formations of stalagmites and stalactites, which have grown together. If these two stalactite and stalagmite formations have enough time to overgrow together, the result is a speleothem pillar. Over time, they lose their tapered shape, because limestone starts loading the entire length of the pillar.
• Flowstone drapery: A diverse sinter formation, resulting from the elimination of minerals from liquid water. These diverse sinter formations are often recognizable by their lines. If the water, that flows down, contains enough limestone, and flow on the blade for a long period of time, it may end up as an stalactite.
• Lake with sinter formations: Set of water containing secretions of minerals.
• Excentrique: cross-growing sinter formation (apparent growth against gravity). The total effect of the capillaries, flowstone, and a slight movement of air, form the most fragile, but also the most special speleothem formations. They arise out of thin cracks on the walls of the sinter cracks or macaroni. They are composed of calcite, and possibly containing one or more capillary channels through which they supply themselves. With even the slightest wind, the growth direction of an excentriquea can change. This gives rise to a wide variety of forms, which sometimes resemble the coral, flowers, spirals or small trees. The most recognizable formation in the Obir dripstone caves is the hook for clothes in Mala Jama (little cave).
• Macaroni: thin and young speleothems on the ceiling of the hall. They are born in small quantities with the precise drip water intake on the ceiling of the cave. In doing so, the water flows into the inside of the sinter tubes, so every drop of imposing limestone in centered solely on the lower part. In favorable conditions, macaroni may grow up to several meters.
• Dripstone candles: These are sharpened stalactites with a slim design – under the influence of speed, drops are becoming slimmer and often end with a bent shape. In the high halls, the force of the drops is so strong, that flat tabs can also arise.
• Sintered beads: sinters are formed in depressions with slightly moving water – described as jewelry of the cave and mining world. Enriching, like speleothems, with dripping, and they get their pearly shape with rubbing gently with a moving flat water sinter basin.

Even more interesting information can be found in the Downloads section.