Stalactites with "internal" and "external" feeding (UBSS Proceedings v.21(2))

Abstract: The conventional classification of stalactites by their feeding mechanisms seems to be wrong. The central channel of carbonate stalactites, with rare exceptions, is shown to have no special role in the stalactite feeding, appearing as a consequence of the growth mechanism and not as a cause. In the case of conical stalactites even partial feeding through the channel seems to be prohibited. Non-carbonate stalactites (except those growing from melts), have a structure and texture corresponding to that of tuflactites, corlactites, or crystlactites, not to real stalactites. Of these, there is a significant feeding role for the central channel only for tubular tuflactites.