Do the plate tectonics have effect on the formation?

Plate tectonics is a process where large sections of earth crust break up and move horizontally across
the earth surface. This process aids in the formation of mountains, volcanoes, trenches, caves and
many other geological structures. Moreover, plate tectonics process started when Wegener proposed
about the continental drift. It is a continuous process and occurs throughout the earths lifespan. So,
the plates will move at different rates in different directions yearly over the Earths crust. There are
two main types of plates which are oceanic (ocean) and continental (land). These plates are further
divided into two sub categories of Major Plates and Intermediate Plates. Currently, there are seven
major plates comprises of Eurasian, African, Australian-Indian, North American, Pacific, Antarctic
and South American. The plates only merge at places called plate boundaries. Examples of plate
boundaries are divergent, convergent and transform. A divergent boundary occurs when two plates
moving apart from each other between oceanic-oceanic and continental-continental plates.
Meanwhile, convergent boundary happens when two plates move toward each other. This takes place
between oceanic-oceanic, continental-continental and oceanic-continental plates. Lastly, transform
boundary takes place when two plates moves in the opposite direction which is the major cause of
earthquake and tsunami to occur. Convergent boundary between the plates is the cause of formation of
cave, volcanic island and mountains. The Mammoth Cave is on the North American plate tectonic
region and formed by convergent boundary. Yes, the plate tectonics do have effect on the formation of
Mammoth Cave. Formation of the cave started during the Mississipian Period which is 340 Million
years ago. Initially the place undergone oceanic-oceanic convergent boundary. During the
Pennsylvanian Period, continuous movement of the plates causes the eastern side of North American
plate to converge with other plate which resulted decrease in the oceanic width between the two
plates. Around 140 million years ago during the Cretaceous Period, converging process of the
continental plates through convergent boundary forms land at eastern side of the North American
plate. Mountains had started to form during the Paleogene Period which is around 25 million years
ago. In addition, it was predicted that Mammoth Cave begun forming approximately 15 million years
ago which falls in the Neogene Period. The upper levels of the cave started to form around 8 million
years ago. Previously the place where Mammoth Cave formed was a water source due to that a large
underground river started to flow through the Rotunda and other upper level passages in the cave.
Meanwhile, the lower level of the cave started to form 1 million years ago during the Quaternary
Period. The cave is still active till today due to plate tectonics. These facts proves that plate tectonics
have effect on the formation of Mammoth Cave.

What type of rocks?

Sedimentary rocks are found in Mammoth Cave. This type of rock is formed by the accumulation of
sediments. The sedimentary rock in Mammoth Cave is limestone, calcium carbonate (CaCO 3).
Limestone is composed with at least 50% calcium carbonate in the form of calcite by weight. The
limestone have a clastic texture and it is classified as a hard rock. The rock found in the cave is light
coloured which is grey through yellow colour. Limestone in the cave forms speleothems, stalactites,
stalagmites and columns. Speleothems are shapes formed on limestone by the corrosion action of
mineral rich water flowwing on top the limestone surface. This formation is considered as cave
decorations. For example, Frozen Niagara is a speleothems formed inside the Mammoth Cave which
is a flowstone of 75 feet high and 50 feet wide. Other than speleothems, stalactites, stalagmites and
columns are also the rocks formed from limestone. Stalactites and stalagmites are rocks that grow
from the floor or ceiling and these formations are created when water flow through cracks in
limestone and drops from ceiling to floor. The leftover calcium carbonate residue is the source of
creation of this spectacular formation. Meanwhile, the most outstanding stalagmites, stalactites and
other cave decorations are located at Rainbow Dome near to Frozen Niagara. Cave decorations found
in the cave can be in strange shapes because it all depends on the flow of water. Moreover, Draperies
Formation are also found in the cave. The connected stalactites and stalagmites and other strange
shapes rocks are called draperies. Although the rocks have different names and appears to be vary in
different locations in the cave, the rocks are mostly made up of limestone. The concentration of
limestone is high in the Mammoth Cave compared to other cave because initially the place was
covered with oceanic salt water and contnious movement of earth crust and sedimentation of rocks
and salt water formed layers of limestone. Those are the layers which leads to the formation of
Mammoth Cave. In addition, Mammoth Cave is the longest cave system in the world with a explored
distance of 365 miles. Thus it can be concluded that Mammoth Cave have high concentration of
limestone in that area compared to other caves.