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A gypsum cave is a natural karstic formation in gypsum. [1] Gypsum karst is very rare. It depends on deposits of gypsum or anhydrite, often also called alabaster. Chemically it is calcium sulfate, CaSO4.
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Gypsum caves can be found in several places on earth, including:
- Optymistychna Cave in Ukraine, considered the longest gypsum cave at 232 km [1]
- Orda Cave underneath the Western Ural Mountains, with 5.1 km length, including 4.8 km underwater [2]
- Cuevas de Sorbas in Almeria, Spain
Caves noted for large scale gypsum speleothems include:
- Cave of the Crystals in Chihuahua, Mexico
- Lechuguilla Cave in New Mexico, US
