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 0048-mf-2008s-011.jpg
Mandy Fu
Reñada
         
Red 0048.jpg
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          
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          
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          
Mushroom 1289-jc-2021s-13.jpg
Juan Corrin
Cave 1289
1289-jc-2021s-13.jpg
Juan Corrin
Cave 1289
1289-jc-2021s-13.jpg
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 0354-ps-2021w-05.JPG
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          
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
     
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          
Varied helictites, stalactites, stalagmites, popcorn
Andy Pringle
Simas del Picón
         
Mixed helictites, stalactite, gypsum, calcite
Rob Eavis
P. Encaramada