Cave / Karst Systems

Boxwork, a calcite formation common in Wind Cave, protrudes about 3 inches as thin, brown fins from lighter colored limestone on a cave ceiling. The fins intersect in numerous places, creating box-shaped openings.
Boxwork, a calcite formation common in Wind Cave.

NPS Photo

Mount Rushmore National Memorial is located in the granite core of the Black Hills. While there are no caves located within the memorial, numerous caves can be found in a ring of limestone that is exposed around the edge of the Black Hills. This limestone layer was laid down at the bottom of a shallow sea that covered the area around 350 million years ago.

Two of these cave are National Park Service sites, Wind Cave National Park and Jewel Cave National Monument. Visit their websites to learn more about the formation of each of these caves and which special features they contain.

 
Knobby, light-colored nailhead spar calcite crystals cover a cave wall on the right side of the image. Caramel-colored dripstone formations that look like folded curtains cascade over rocks on the left side of the image in Jewel Cave.
Nailhead spar calcite crystals and dripstone formations in Jewel Cave.

NPS Photo by D. Luchsinger

Jewel Cave

Last updated: January 23, 2023

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Mailing Address:

13000 Highway 244
Building 31, Suite 1

Keystone, SD 57751

Phone:

605 574-2523
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