Geosphere Practice Test 2026 – All-in-One Guide to Mastering Earth Science!

Meteoric water infiltration leads to cave formation through chemical dissolution of soluble rocks. Rainwater seeps downward, absorbs CO2 from the soil and air, and becomes carbonic acid. This weak acid slowly dissolves rock such as limestone, enlarging cracks and conduits over time. As dissolution continues, passages grow and connect, forming a cave network that mirrors the rock’s permeability and existing fractures. The specific layout is shaped by how easily water can move through the rock—the flow paths and permeability determine where passages develop. Other ideas—water flow stopping cave formation, caves formed from lava tubes, or caves created by wind erosion—don’t match the dissolution-driven process that creates caves in soluble rocks.