From Mud to Cave

Ohio History

Crystal Water Droplets

Here are some of the first crystals we saw. They were tiny - only about an inch long - and hung above a rocky ledge at eye level. Did you spot the drop of water on the end of the foreground crystal? We watched (and used our imaginations) as each drop of water trickled down to leave its own tiny deposite of minerals, lengthening the crystal by . . . oh so little. The Ohio Caverns maintain a steady temperature of 54 degrees all year long, allowing a constant cycle of moisture. Indeed, although it felt both damp and chilly, this environment would be welcome in the freezing winter or summer heat!

Mud Division

 Our tour guide explained that when the caverns were first discovered, the tunnels were actually filled with mud anywhere from 3-6 feet deep. Many hours of man power drained the mud and poured the tunnels with concrete walkways. If you look closely at the picture above, you can see proof of the mud. Can you spot the crystal hanging from the ceiling a ways back that looks to have a bunch of mushroom roots at the bottom? Well, that was actually the base of the crystal, growing atop the mud. Now the mud is gone, but the crystal remains, no longer "planted" but now suspended.