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There is a discussion about whether touching a stalagmite or a stalactite would stop it from growing or not: https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090629155053AAYFhCM . The results are that the oil on human body does prevent a stalagmite or a stalactite from growing, a short while though.
My question is, how long does it takes for the oil to completely vanish and allow the stalagmite or stalactite to resume growing.
The duration cannot be estimated as it is dependent upon many other factors, such as the diameter of stalagmite/stalactite, its age etc.
Normally these are formed in limestone caves and sometime in salt mines as well.
