 |
|
|
By Greg Beckler
April 12, 2006
What is a marble cave?
Marble caves are somewhat different than the slower forming limestone caves such as Howe Caverns or Carlsbad, which may take millions of years to form.
Marble is a metamorphic version of limestone. When subducted by
tectonic forces, limestone changes its mineral structure under high
pressure and temperature. Like limestone, marble can also be dissolved
by acidic water.
Due to an unusual east/west trending fault, several rock layers, from
the harder, more erosion-resistant rocks (such as granitic gneiss) to
the softer layers (like marble) form complex folding patterns visible
at Natural Stone Bridge & Caves.
Family Inside Noisy Cave
In fact, our local caves are a microcosm of the mountains and valleys that make up the Adirondack region. Some of the marble is quite hard, while some can crumble apart and erode quite easily. According to scientists, these marble caves were formed about 10,000 years ago, as the Earth warmed up and exited from our last ice age.
Large volumes of waters resulting from the melting large Wisconsin glacier came rushing down Trout Brook, and rapidly wore away and disolved the softer sections of ancient adirondack marble to form the caves.
Every year in the spring, high flood waters resulting from the meting snow still give us some indication of the power of rushing water.
A View of the Whirlpool and Cave of Lost Pool
More News
[ top ] |
|
 |
|
