VERTICAL SHAFT

vertical shaft: translation

These are formed by underground water dripping of flowing straight downward through the limestone along vertical cracks. Uniformly distributed dissolution of the rock results in a silo- or well-shaped passage so that most of them appear roughly circular in cross section when viewed straight up and down. They form above active tubular passages although they may intersect a limited number of passages along their length. At Mammoth Cave, they range in size from 30 feet across to 200 feet from top to bottom [15].

Synonym:dome-pit.

See alsocanyon passage; fissure cave; keyhole passage; passage; tubular passage; vadose shaft; vertical cave.