A stalactite is a type of speleothem that hangs from the ceiling or wall of limestone caves. Every stalactite begins with a single mineral-laden drop of water. When the drop falls, it leaves behind the thinnest ring of calcite. Eventually, these rings form a very narrow hollow tube commonly known as a "soda straw" stalactite. The same water drops that fall from the tip of a stalactite deposit more calcite on the floor below. Eventually resulting in a rounded or cone-shaped stalagmite. The longest stalactite known hangs in the Chamber of Rarities in the Gruta Rei do Mato, It is 20 metres long. A cone of carbonate of lime attached like an icicle to the roof of a cavern. formed by the dripping of water charged with the carbonate from the rock above. Stalactites are formed from the deposition of calcium carbonated and other minerals. Sala Ctite has a "c" for ceiling, Stalactites hang "tite" to the ceiling above. When the drop falls, it leaves behind the thinnest ring of calcite. Eventually, these rings form a very narrow hollow tube commonly known as a "soda straw" stalactite.

Another type of stalactite is a lava stalactite. A lava stalactite is a cone of dripping lava on the roof of  a tunnel. .Tubular lava stalactites are common in many lava tubes and have a concentric tubular shape. They are formed by "segregations extruded by expanding gas into cave passages. Lava stalactites are natural conduits through which lava travels beneath the surface of a lava flow. Formation of most stalactites is initiated as soda straws. If water flows on their external surface, they begin to grow in thickness and obtain a conical form. If a stalactite curves along its length, it is called a deflected stalactite.

Tim And Dominique