Water infiltrates between fractures, the exfoliation and the intercrystalline planes of gypsum.
Despite their compact appearance the gypsum strata are formed out of large crystals that can be up to 2 m long. Water can slowly infiltrate between the crystals and even along the intercrystalline planes (exfoliation planes) to dissolve the gypsum. Once it reaches the caves, this water tends to evaporate and leaves behind mineral salts in the form of gypsum speleothems (stalactites, stalagmites and many other concretion features).
Water infiltrates between fractures, the exfoliation and the intercrystalline planes of gypsum.