Crystal Mine · Minerals & magnets09 / 12

Rocks, minerals and stalactites: 8 facts for kids

Rocks hold metals that can be recycled again and again; the Earth is a giant magnet. Crystal Mine runs deep inside the mountain. Rocks are made of minerals, stalactites take many years of dripping water to grow, and magnets pull on iron but not on copper or wood. Your child sorts old materials for recycling and finds the cave life that glows.

01

Rocks and minerals

Rocks consist of one or more minerals with different structures and properties.

What is the difference between a rock and a mineral? Read more →

02

Magnets

Iron is strongly attracted to ordinary magnets; copper and wood do not stick like iron. Metals differ.

Why do magnets stick to iron but not to copper? Read more →

03

Reuse

Sorted and processed materials can be reused, reducing the need for new resources.

Why do we sort rubbish for recycling? Read more →

04

Cave formations

Mineral-rich drips slowly deposit material, forming stalactites and stalagmites.

How do stalactites and stalagmites form? Read more →

05

Cave life

Cave organisms have different adaptations; some glow, others rely on senses beyond sight.

How do animals live in pitch-dark caves? Read more →

06

Groundwater

Water can enter pores and fractures below ground; some forms pools or flowing water in caves.

Where does rainwater go when it soaks into the ground? Read more →

07

Bioluminescence

Some organisms emit light through chemical reactions, helping them attract prey, communicate or defend themselves. Not all cave life glows.

Why do some living things glow? Read more →

08

Crystal growth

Crystals can grow under suitable conditions, including from solutions. Sparkle is not necessarily emitted light.

How do crystals grow? Read more →