A gypsum cave is a natural karstic formation in gypsum.[1] Gypsum karst is very rare. It depends on deposits of gypsum or anhydrite, often also called alabaster. Chemically it is calcium sulfate, CaSO4.
Gypsum caves can be found in several places on earth, including:
- Optymistychna Cave in Ukraine, considered the longest gypsum cave at 232 km[1]
- Orda Cave underneath the Western Ural Mountains, with 5.1 km length, including 4.8 km underwater[2]
- Cuevas de Sorbas in Almeria, Spain
Caves noted for large scale gypsum speleothems include:
- Cave of the Crystals in Chihuahua, Mexico
- Lechuguilla Cave in New Mexico, US
References
edit- ^ a b Alexander Klimchouk, Ukraine gypsum caves and karst, Researchgate.net, January 2012
- ^ Floro Mercene, The world's greatest underwater gypsum cave, Pressreader.com, 12 June 2017
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