Have you ever wondered why are cave formations different shapes? Over the years, the water level in the Ruby Falls cave lowered, allowing air to enter. When that happened, the conditions were right for the creation of speleothems, or cave formations. Speleothems are formed when water moving through the coil absorbs the minerals in the limestone. As the water evaporates or drips, it leaves minerals behind, creating formations over a period of time. How the water flows dictates the shape of the fo