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Wind Cave National Park Gypsum Needle
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Wind Cave National Park
Speleothems - Gypsum Features
 
Gypsum Needles near the Muddle Room
NPS Photo by Larry Toole
Gypsum Needles near the Muddle Room
 
Gypsum crystals are common in some of the dryer parts of the cave. Gypsum, a mineral containing both calcium and sulfur, sometimes takes the form of needle-like crystals that radiate from clusters on the floor of the cave; in other cases, gypsum resembles puffs of cotton, or forms clusters of curved or coiled crystals called gypsum flowers.
 

More Speleothems:
Boxwork | Calcite Rafts | Cave Popcorn |
Dogtooth Spar | Flowstone/Dripstone |
Frostwork | Helictite Bushes

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Last Updated: August 10, 2007 at 19:58 MST