"Speleothem" Natural Recordings by Native Speakers
A speleothem is a type of mineral formation that grows in caves, typically from the slow accumulation of minerals from solution. These formations are usually formed when water rich in minerals drips or trickles through the cave, depositing layers of minerals such as calcium carbonate or calcite, which gradually build up over time. Speleothems can take many different forms, including stalactites, stalagmites, flowstones, and helictites, and can be found in many different types of caves around the world.
Speleonectes, a genus of the family Speleonectidae, is a type of cave-dwelling, marine animal that is related to horseshoe crabs and arthropods.