Which mineral precipitation change accelerates speleothem (stalactite) elongation?

💡 Explanation

Stalactites elongate faster given lower surface tension; drip water spreads, increasing CaCO3 deposition because diffusion of dissolved ions increases during evaporation across broader surfaces rather than narrow drips exposed at high surface tension. Therefore A is correct, rather than temperature or CO2 effects alone.

• Which mechanism primarily sculpts ventifacts in periglacial environments?
• Which process dominates mineral soil formation during pedogenesis?
• Which mechanism intensifies volcanic eruption explosivity when subducting slab dehydrates?
• Which outcome occurs in forearc regions when a subducting plate exhibits a shallow angle of descent?
• Which outcome typically results from higher volatile content within magma?
• Which outcome results when a persistent high-pressure system disrupts Hadley cell circulation?