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14-2-1-Features of stalagmites in Zhijindong Cave
Timer：2024-05-09
The abundant stalagmites are main chemical sediments in Zhijindong Cave, which are densely distributed at the 3rd and 4th layers of caves of the first main cave (cave entrance-Moon-Sun Pond-Wanshan Lake-Moon Palace-Shiwan Mountain). Most of them are huge and large stalagmites, which are grand in size, beautiful and colorful in morphology and unique in style with common shape, helmet shape, hill shape, tower shape, mushroom shape, deodar shape, lampstand shape, crutch shape, torch shape, breast shape and cup shape.
Main morphotypes and features of stalagmites in Zhijindong Cave
| Morphotype | Main development features | Main development area | Typical geosites | ||
| 1. Common stalagmite | They are different in sizes, and most of them are slim at the upper section and thick at the lower section, with nodular bodies or palm slices in different sizes developed surrounding their surface, which makes them shape more vivid, real and gorgeous. | Widely distributed in everywhere of the cave, large in quantity and common in sightseeing | Gurong Zhenghui, Shihua Douyan | ||
| 2 Helmet-shaped stalagmite | At the lower part is helmet shape, while at the upper part is slender rod shape in different lengths. The difference between two shapes, diameter is up to 7 to 10 times, making it look like the helmet of ancient generals. | It is the treasure and monopoly sightseeing landscape of the cave for its rareness,mainly distributed in the Moon Palace and Crystal Palace | Overlord Hamlet, Chuidiao Zhijin (Fishing in Zhijindong Cave), Tangu Lunjin (A scenery integrating ancient and modern times.) | ||
| 3 Round stalagmite | They look like round hills, which are thick and grand; there is little difference between their diameter and height, generally within 2 to 6m, and 12 to 19m in the maximum; its height is between 3m and 16m, and most of them are large or huge stalagmite. | They are important sightseeing landscapes which widely distributed anywhere in the cave. | Fu-Lu-Shou, Natural Roundness, Silent mountains | ||
| 4 Tower-shaped stalagmite | They are of high tower shape with grand scale and can reach more than 40m in the highest position. Their diameter is smaller than their height with the difference about 2-5 times, which are mostly large or huge stalagmite. | Buddha statue, Yi village in remote mountains,Twin-tower of Zhijin | |||
| 5 Mushroom-shaped stalagmite | It is small stalagmite under development, looking like mushroom or umbrella with the diameter between 15 and 30cm; the crystal of calcium carbonate is thick and big, and the thickness of white mushroom slice is between 2 and 6cm. | Scarcely distributed, mainly developed in cave section from Hall of Miraculous Mist to the end of Shiwan Mountain | |||
| 6 Deodar-shaped stalagmite | Palm slices of different sizes and scales develop surrounding the surface of stalagmite (length: 10-30cm; width: 10-30cm), presenting an imbricate arrangement vertically with narrow clearances. The “thickness at the lower part and slimness at the upper part” makes it look like a deodar standing in the snow. | Widely distributed in all places of the cave | Poxi Qingshen(Harmony between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law), Qingqing Wowo(Whispers of love), Blossom scenery of ironwood, Silver Rain Tree, Sibling Jade Tree | ||
| 7 Lampstand-shaped stalagmite | It looks like an ancient quenchless lampstand which is slim in both ends and thick in the middle, with nodular bodies or palm slice in different sizes developing on the surface. | Mainly developed in Hall of Miraculous Mist | Ancient lampstand and Overlord’s whip | ||
| 8 Crutch-shaped stalagmite | The lower part of stalagmite is quite slim, and its upper part has developed to a certain direction, which makes it look like a walking stick. | Scarcely distributed, mainly developed in cave section from Hall of Miraculous Mist to the end of Shiwan Mountain | |||
| 9 Torch-shaped stalagmite | It looks like a firing torch or world cup which is slim in the lower part and thick in the upper part, with palm slice in different sizes developing on the surface. | An important sightseeing landscape which is scarcely distributed and mainly developed in Guest-Greeting Hall | World Cup | ||
| 10 Breast-shaped stalagmite | It looks like a breast of a lady, large in scale, thick and long at its lower part and slim at its top. Its length and diameter are almost the same. The common height is 9-12m, and diameter is 30-50cm, most of them are large or huge stalagmites. | Dispersedly distributed anywhere and scarce in quantity | |||
| 11 Cup-shaped stalagmite | It looks like round cup, which is small in scale. Its height is no more than 30cm, and the diameter is 10-20cm; most of them are milk white and ivory yellow, and are still under development. | Widely distributed everywhere of the cave, large in quantity and common in sightseeing | |||
