Another Journey of us

It was Our next journey after we spend sometimes at SriGethuk Waterfall. We continued our pleasure time to Rancang Cave. It still at Nggoran, Bleberan, Playen Gunungkidul, Yogyakarta, right next to Srigethuk Waterfall. We were ride an open cap car, that we call "colt". Yup, it was a little bit dangerous, but that was the only car we can rent. So we had to use it carefully. And we made it.

We inspected our group when we get there. Counting our members and asking their condition personal to personal. So we wont be bothering by our members condition inside the cave. 

The journey leader asked us to be fully concern about  our physical condition and the environment around the cave and inside it. There must be some untamed animals such as snakes and scorpions inside the cave.

This are stalactites. Stalactites are formed by the deposition of calcium carbonate and other minerals, which isprecipitated from mineralized water solutions. Limestone is the chief form of calcium carbonaterock which is dissolved by water that contains carbon dioxide, forming a calcium bicarbonatesolution in underground caverns. The chemical formula for this reaction is:

CaCO₃(s) + H₂O(l) + CO₂(aq) → Ca(HCO₃)₂(aq)

This solution travels through the rock until it reaches an edge and if this is on the roof of a cave it will drip down. When the solution comes into contact with air the chemical reaction that created it is reversed and particles of calcium carbonate are deposited. The reversed reaction is:

Ca(HCO₃)₂(aq) → CaCO₃(s) + H₂O(l) + CO₂(aq)

An average growth rate is 0.13 mm (0.0051 inches) a year. The quickest growing stalactites are those formed by fast-flowing water rich in calcium carbonate and carbon dioxide, these can grow at 3 mm (0.12 inches) per year.^[3]

Every stalactite begins with a single mineral-laden drop of water. When the drop falls, it deposits the thinnest ring of calcite. Each subsequent drop that forms and falls deposits another calcite ring. Eventually, these rings form a very narrow (0.5 mm), hollow tube commonly known as a "soda straw" stalactite. Soda straws can grow quite long, but are very fragile. If they become plugged by debris, water begins flowing over the outside, depositing more calcite and creating the more familiar cone-shaped stalactite. The same water drops that fall from the tip of a stalactite deposit more calcite on the floor below, eventually resulting in a rounded or cone-shapedstalagmite. Unlike stalactites, stalagmites never start out as hollow "soda straws." Given enough time, these formations can meet and fuse to create columns.

Stalactites can also form in lava tubes, although the mechanism of formation is very different. 

 Inside the cave we were watching anything. The stones, stalactites, stalagmites or even the big tree that stands still and tough inside the cave and the branches are spreads up outside the cave.

After the observation inside the cave, we joined together outside the cave. we seated on the stones around outside the cave. The team leader lead us sang a song to relaxing us. 

 

Mean while the leader set up a doorprize for on of us who had birthday that day. And the principal gave the "happy birthday" students a huge present box.

That was our Journey on June 15th 2011. And all of us enjoy that day. 

So.... Let see where will we go next time.