The trick consists of the prolonging of the aggregate's existence due to the brevity of the life of individuals. Large gypsum and all epsomite formations grow only in places with the intensive drawing of air. Therefore, the seasonal fluctuations of wind cause the fluctuations of humidity near the entrances of the caves. According to the physics of evaporation and condensation, the former process is more active on the edges of the cave, and the latter prevails in the cavities. Thus, the crusts of soluble minerals undergo permanent recrystallization, corroding on one side and growing on the other.
Stalagmites rapidly turn into corallite crust formations which are hollow inside.
In particular cases, the process is so intensive that the crust that grows up during the dry period fall off in humid the period. Actually, this does not prove the transportation of gypsum by air, but attests instead to the role of wind and humidity in crystallization processes. To the point that the above mentioned gypsum chandeliers in Lechuguilla are also located where the lower humid levels of the system approach the canyon floor. It is interesting that as soon as the concept of permanent recrystallization was advanced, the gypsum massifs in the Cupp-Coutunn System immediately and with good results became considered as one of the most important exploration tools for substantial continuations of the cave system. During the mining exploitation, the caves were opened by several adits, which entirely reorganized the air circulation system.