Pool Fingers

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Pool fingers are rather rare stalactite-shaped formations that form subaqueously, in cave pools. They are known from several sites in Lechuguilla Cave, New Mexico but have been seen in caves all over the world.. I shot photo #1 while diving in a large lake there, and was about 10 feet below the surface when I encountered them. These are thicker than most occurrences seen in the other photos. These are classed as biothems, as they are calcified organic material, such as bacterial stringers. U-loops, such as seen photo #2, are a common aspect of this type of pool finger. The third photo likely has a similar origin and is also often referred to as chenille spar, but is not as clearly indentified as a biothem.

AUTHOR: Dave Bunnell