Mawmluh Cave and Depositional Features of Limestone Caves |ForumIAS

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News: Meghalaya’s limestone caves, including Mawmluh Cave, face threats from climate change and unregulated mining.

About Mawmluh Cave

The Mawmluh Cave is located near Mawmluh village, about 3 km from Sohra (formerly Cherrapunji), in Meghalaya’s East Khasi Hills district.
It is also known as Krem Mawmluh.
Meaning: In the Khasi language, Krem means cave, while Mawmluh refers to the name of the nearby village.
Key Features
- Length: It is the fourth-longest cave in the Indian subcontinent, with more than 7.2 km of mapped passages.
- First Exploration: British officer Lieutenant Yule first explored the cave in 1844.
- Geological Significance: A stalagmite found inside the cave helped define the Meghalayan Age, the latest age of the Holocene Epoch, which began around 4,200 years ago.
  - Its stalagmites preserve records of past rainfall, droughts and changes in the Indian summer monsoon.
- Recognition: In 2022, it was recognised among the First 100 Geological Heritage Sites by the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS).

Limestone caves contain different mineral formations created by the deposition of calcium carbonate from water over time.
Key Depositional Features
- Stalactites: These are icicle-shaped mineral deposits that hang from cave ceilings due to the repeated deposition of calcium carbonate from dripping water.
- Stalagmites: These are mound-like deposits that grow upward from cave floors when mineral-rich water drops fall from above.
- Columns or Pillars: These form when stalactites and stalagmites grow towards each other and eventually join.
- Soda Straws: These are thin, hollow mineral tubes formed by dripping water.
- Flowstones: These are sheet-like calcite deposits formed by flowing water along cave walls or floors.
- Helictites: These are unusual mineral formations that grow in twisted, curved or branching shapes instead of growing straight downward under gravity.