Please title this page. Speleothems are cave formations or decorations. They are cave features formed by the deposition of minerals. The word spelethems is derived from Greek words spelaion meaning cave and thema meaning deposit. The spelethems that most people are common with is stalactites, stalagmites, columns, flowstone, and popcorn.
Stalactites grow from the ceiling of a cave.
A stalagmite grows up from the bottom of a cave. It's easy to remember which is which on how to spell and remember, stalactites have a T for top and stalagmites have a G for ground. Speleothems form because of water. Rainwater seeps through cracks in the ground and through rocks. It passes through organic minerals it picks up carbon dioxide gas, and it creates carbonic acid.