How to maintain stalactites and how to eat stalactites?

Water it once a day or two to keep it moist and vibrant, then wipe it with a dry cloth to keep it tidy. Some people apply tea seed oil, white oil, glazing wax or petroleum jelly to it when maintaining strange stones, etc., and use a flannel cloth dipped in wax and oil to wipe lightly to maintain the luster of the strange stone and avoid the vaporization and weathering of the stone skin.

Stalactites have important research value for ancient geological investigations, in the limestone, water containing carbon dioxide, infiltrated into the limestone cracks, and calcium carbonate reaction to form calcium bicarbonate soluble in water, when the water dissolved in calcium bicarbonate drips down from the roof of the cave, the decomposition reaction produces calcium carbonate, carbon dioxide, water. The dissolved calcium bicarbonate turns into a solid again.

—— Stalactites, also known as stone stalactites, are a general term for calcium carbonate deposits. Stalactites have electromagnetic radiation, which is not suitable for long-term room ornaments, and should not be eaten by yourself without medical advice.

Stalactites are stones and are inedible things.

The process of stalactite formation.

Stalactites are formed by the deposition of calcium carbonate and other minerals. Limestone is a calcium carbonate rock that is broken down by water containing carbon dioxide to produce a calcium bicarbonate solution. The chemical equation for this reaction is:

caco3(s) +h2o(l) +co2(aq) →ca(hco3)2(aq)

The aqueous solution travels down the rock until it reaches the edge. If the rock is on top of the cave, the water will drip down. When the solution comes into contact with air, a reverse chemical reaction is produced and the calcium carbonate is precipitated. The chemical equation for the reverse is:

ca(hco3)2(aq) →caco3(s) +h2o(l) +co2(aq)

Stalactites grow at an average annual rate of millimeters. The aqueous solution of fast-growing stalactites is often rich in calcium carbonate and carbon dioxide, and flows quickly, and this stalactite can grow up to 3 mm per year.

Each stalactite begins with a drop of water loaded with minerals. When the water droplets fall, a thin bits of calcite are left behind.

Stone stalactites. Circle. The next droplets continue to leave new calcite circles.

Eventually, these calcite circles form very thin (mm) hollow tubes, colloquially known as "soda tubes". Soda pipes can grow very long, but they are very fragile. If they are clogged by debris, water will flow through the outside and precipitate more calcite, forming cone-shaped stalactites.

Similarly, the falling water droplets precipitate more calcite after reaching the ground, eventually forming round or conical stalagmites. Unlike stalactites, stalagmites are formed without a hollow "soda tube". If it is long enough, stalactites and stalagmites will fuse together to form stone pillars.