Stalactites and stalagmites develop in a variety of forms 
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(left)
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. 
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The most common types are the thin straw stalactites and the broader 
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icicle stalactites. Stalagmites, drapes, columns, and gours (also called
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rimstone pools) are rarer. In the cave 
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(right)
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 are some fine some fine 
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examples of delicately colored stalactites–and of a column. The red color 
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of many of these is caused by iron impurities in the calcite; manganese 
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impurities–the other main type–stain stalactites and stalagmites various 
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shades of yellow.