The link to the video below shows how just a small amount of static electricity affects falling water.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VhWQ-r1LYXY It might seem after watching that, that this is one likely explanation for helictites. The question is what in the air is causing the static electricity. Maybe crickets, or other insects, or maybe the dust particles in the air of the cave ? But the problem with that theory is there would be helictites in most caves. Right ? It would seem caves rich in helictites must have something interesting in the air worth taking a look at, in order for that theory to work. Am I missing something ? On a related note, I am curious how many of you have seen with your own eyes the onion ring formation helictite in west Texas ? I could not find a photo of it on the internet. But I have seen copies of copies of the photo before. I bet James has seen it. Is there more than one onion ring speleothem ? Who has the original photo print ? David Locklear Ref: Here is one example of a curved helictite: http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GrFuu14KZvE/T6ZUsjUXu0I/AAAAAAAArMo/bswylV0Orew/s1600/DSC05150.JPG http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helictite _______________________________________________ Texascavers mailing list | http://texascavers.com Texascavers@texascavers.com | Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/texascavers@texascavers.com/ http://lists.texascavers.com/listinfo/texascavers
