Rare "fishtail" helictites in the Caverns of Sonora near Sonora, Texas.

Helictite at Treak Cavern (close up)

A Helictite at Treak Cliff Cavern in Derbyshire



Timpanogos Cave National Monument in Utah has one of the largest collections of these formations in the world.

Formation Edit

The growth of helictites is still quite enigmatic. Until now, there has been no satisfactory explanation for how they are formed. Currently, formation by capillary forces is the most likely theory, but another theory based on wind formation is also viable.

Capillary forces Edit

The most likely theory explains helictites as a result of capillary forces. If the helictite has a very thin central tube where the water flows like it does in straws, capillary forces would be able to transport water against gravity. This theory was inspired by some hollow helictites. However, the majority of helictites are definitely not hollow. Despite this, droplets can be drawn to the tips of existing structures and deposit their calcite load almost anywhere thereon. This can lead to the wandering and curling structures seen in many helictites.


Another theory names the wind in the cave as main reason for the strange look. Drops hanging on a stalactite are blown to one side, so the dripstone grows in that direction. If the wind changes, the direction of growth changes too. However this theory is very problematic, because wind directions change very often. The wind in caves depends on air pressure changes outside, which in turn depend on the weather. Wind caves are known to experience these windy conditions. The wind direction changes as often as the weather conditions outside change. But the dripstones grow very slowly - several centimeters in 100 years - meaning the wind direction would have to stay steady for long periods of time, changing for every fragment of a millimeter of growth. A second problem with this theory is that many caves with helictites have no natural entrance where wind could enter.

Piezo Electric ForcesEdit

A theory is proposed that slowly changing geological pressure causing stresses on the crystals at the base alters the piezo electrostatic potential and causes particle deposition to be oriented in some relationship to the prevailing pressure orientation.

Helictite growthEdit

Helictites at Jenolan Caves

Helictites at Jenolan Caves in Australia.

A helictite starts its growth as a tiny stalactite. The direction of the end of the straw may wander, twist like a corkscrew, or the main part may form normally while small helictites pop out of its side like rootlets or fishhooks. In some caves, helictites cluster together and form bushes as large as six feet tall. These bushes grow from the floor of the cave. When helictites are found on cave floors, they are referred to as heligmites, though there is debate as to whether this is a genuine subcategory.

For an unknown reason, when the chemical composition of the water is slightly altered, the single crystal structure can change from a cylindrical shape to a conical one. In some of these cases, each crystal fits into the prior one like an inverted stack of ice cream cones.

Wyandotte cave8

Helictite formations in Wyandotte Caves, Indiana, United States

History Edit

The first detailed description of helictites was made in 1665 by Olaus Worm.

See alsoEdit

References Edit