Nan Tor Cave is a natural cavity in the limestone rock outcrop above Wetton Mill in the Manifold Valley area of the Staffordshire Moorlands. It is one of many caves and sinks in the area.
The Milldale Limestone in which the cave is located is a type of limestone known as ‘Reef Limestone’ and is made from the remains of corals, crinoids, and shells.
The coral reef from which the ‘Reef Limestone’ originated would have formed within the tropical lagoon that covered the area c.325 million years ago.
This cave like the others in this area is formed by ‘acid rain’ as limestone is not soluble in pure water. Rainwater absorbs carbon dioxide and becomes slightly acidic allowing it to react with the solid calcium carbonate, limestone, to form a calcium bicarbonate solution.
Nan Tor Cave
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