MCP Speleothems

MATIENZO CAVES PROJECT
Speleothems & Speleogens

   A project to record all the different kinds of stal (speleothems) in Matienzo, in all their different shapes, sizes, colours and minerals. Below is a list, which gives the type of formation, cave number, name (and possibly passage in the big systems), a thumbnail photo with a link to the full image, and the photographer's name.
    The names of the stal are generally based on the book 'Cave Minerals of the World' by Hill & Forti.
    It's a project that everyone can take part in, so please look through your photo albums and send any interesting pics to me (smith_peter2004[at]yahoo.es), or indicate photos already on the Matienzo Caves website that can be used. The blank spaces in this document show that there are lots more formations to record! Even the photos here might not be the best examples, or from the most characteristic Matienzo caves, so can be replaced.
    The aim is to concentrate on 'types' repeated in different sites, but there's room for the odd or weird stal you've seen. The list will be updated from time to time.
    Looking forward to seeing your photos; there must be a huge variety of formations in the Matienzo area.

Peter Smith, March 2021
Latest update: 12/2/2024. Mixed; pendants; gypsum
Contributors: Amata Hinkle, Andy Pringle, Bill Nix, Carmen Smith, Charlotte Meakin, Dave Cowley, Diane Arthurs, Frank Addis, Jason Kirby, Jez Wong, John Forder, John Gunn, Juan Corrin, Lauren Griffen, Mandy Fu, Nigel Dibben, Patrick Warren, Paul Dold, Paul Fretwell, Peter Eagan, Peter Smith, Phil Papard, Simon Cornhill, Tim Webber, Tom Howard, Tom Thomson, Tony Littler, Torben Redder, Andy and Mindy Filer, Rob Eavis.

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Type	Examples
Standard	Mandy Fu Reñada
Red	Peter Smith Reñada	Diane Arthurs Torca la Vaca
Twisted	Amata Hinkle Reñada	Tony Littler Cueva de Espada
Deflected	Peter Smith Sima de Andrés	Juan Corrin Cueva Vallina	Patrick Degouve Cueva Vallina
with new growth	John Gunn Cueva de Asiul	Peter Eagan Cueva Llueva
on tilted block with new growth	Mandy Fu C. de la Morenuca
Straws	Tim Webber Cueva de Tiva	Paul Fretwell Cueva Llueva
Oblique straw	Dave Cowley Reñada
Twisted straw	Andy Pringle Lenny's Cave
Swizzlestick straw	Amata Hinkle Extra Special Pot
Red straw with growth	Tim Webber Cueva de Tiva
Moonmilk stalactites	Andy Pringle Jivero 2
Moonmilk globe	Bill Nix Torca del Dron
Gypsum chandelier	Paul Dold Torca la Vaca

Type	Examples
Standard	Tom Thomson Lenny's Cave
with secondary growth	Peter Smith 4856: cave	Amata Hinkle Reñada
Red	Juan Corrin Reñada
Orange	John Forder Torca de Coterón
Red and black banded	Juan Corrin Reñada
Tilted or multiple stalagmite	Jason Kirby Torca del Risco	Peter Smith site 1544
Cactus stalagmite	Nigel Dibben Torca la Vaca
Moonmilk globe	Bill Nix Torca del Dron
Mushroom	Juan Corrin Cave 1289	Juan Corrin Cave 1289	Juan Corrin Cave 1289
Oddity!	Paul Fretwell Cueva Llueva	Pete Smith Cueva Cofresnedo

Type	Examples
Standard	Lauren Griffin T. del Mostajo	Peter Eaganl Reñada
with straw stalactite	Peter Smith 0328: cave
Large tiered columns	Amata Hinkle La Cuvia	John Forder Torca de Coterón	Phil Papard La Covarona

Type	Examples
Gypsum crust	Simon Cornhill Torca la Vaca
Popcorn floor	Simon Cornhill Torca la Vaca
Popcorn wall	Simon Cornhill Torca la Vaca
Coral	Phil Papard Reñada
Frostwork	Peter Smith Cave 0354

Type	Examples
Standard	Mandy Fu Reñada	Paul Dold Torca del Risco
Bacon	Amata Hinkle Lenny's Cave

Type	Examples
Gypsum flowers	Paul Dold Torca la Vaca	Carmen Smith Cueva Vallina	A & M Filer Cueva Vallina
Gypsum cotton wool	Carmen Smith Cueva Vallina
Gypsum helictite	Carmen Smith Cueva Vallina

Type	Examples
	Peter Smith 4856: cave	Amata Hinkle C. del Coverón
Canopy	Juan Corrin C. del Comellante
False floor	Phil Papard Cave: 1557
False floor shelf	John Gunn Cueva de Asiul
False floor with decorated under-surface	Phil Papard C. de las Perlas
'Organ' type	Peter Smith Cueva las Cosas
Moonmilk balls	Bill Nix Torca del Dron

Type	Examples
Filiform	Peter Smith Cueva Vallina	Juan Corrin C. de las Perlas	Tim Webber Cueva
Vermiform	Tom Howard T. del Mostajo
Antler	Nigel Dibben 0415: cave	Lauren Griffin T. del Mostajo	Mandy Fu T. del Mostajo
Helictite on straws	Tom Thomson Torca la Vaca
Right-angle helictite	Nigel Dibben 0415: cave
Oddities	Simon Cornhill Torca la Vaca

Type	Examples
Standard	Peter Smith C. de las Perlas

Type	Examples
	Amata Hinkle Cueva las Cosas	Phil Papard Cu. de las Perlas
red	Frank Addis Reñada
large old gour	Peter Eagan Cueva del Torno

Type	Examples
standard	Charlotte Meakin Cueva las Cosas
Rim formation	Peter Smith Reñada

Type	Examples
	Peter Smith Cueva las Cosas	Juan Corrin C. de las Perlas	Jez Wong 0415: cave
	Paul Fretwell Cueva del Torno
Hollow triangular crystal	Peter Eagan Cueva del Torno
Selenite crystal	Peter Eagan Cueva Llueva

Type	Examples
	Simon Cornhill Torcon de Riaño

Type	Examples
Calcited mud hoodoos	Amata Hinkle Lenny's Cave

Type	Examples
Anastomoses
Circular roof pocket	Juan Corrin C. Buena Suerte
Large scallops	Phil Papard C. de las Cefrales
Pendants	Frank Addis Cueva Hoyuca	Pete Smith C. Cofresnedo	Torben Redder Cueva del Llanío	Peter Eagan C. de la Morenuca	Peter Smith C. del Anderal 1

Type	Examples
Sculpted wall, coating, straws, columns, helictites.	Torben Redder Sistema del Risco
Flowstone, varied stalagmites, columns and gour	Paul Dold Sistema del Risco
Varied helictites, stalactites, stalagmites, popcorn	Andy Pringle Simas del Picón
Mixed helictites, stalactite, gypsum, calcite	Rob Eavis P. Encaramada