Caves, Great Basin National Park, 2013.

These common cave formations occur through various geological processes. Stalagmites, found on the floor of the cave, are rock formations created by the accumulation of materials deposited on the floor from ceiling drippings. Stalactites hang from the ceiling of a cave and are created by precipitation of minerals from water dripping through the cave ceiling. Any soluable material can be deposited as a stalactite. When stalactites grow long enough to connect with stalagmites on the floor, they form a column. Stalactites and stalagmites may be collectively referred to as dripstone.