The Cave of the Winds was formed in an interesting way. Over 1.8 billion years ago, the Rocky Mountain area was once covered by ocean, with shellfish living in the ocean, which typically dropped to the sea floor and began decomposing. Sediments grew up to approximately 40,000 feet high. As they did this, the sediment concreted and compressed into sedimentary rock. During a period of progeny, it became the Idaho Springs Formation.
500-600 million years ago, the Pikes Peak granite and Idaho Springs metamorphic occurred, and the sea began transgressing. About 425 million years ago, the Manitou Formation was formed, where the Cave of the Winds is located. The sea got deeper again, retreated, and repeated this pattern until around 135 million years ago, when it became a swamp land and shellfish became limestone, and compressed. As the ocean retreated, the limestone was exposed.
The Laramide Orogeny, which began approximately 75 million years ago in the Late Cretaceous period, then caused the uplift of the Rocky Mountain region. This resulted in the 
Ute Pass and Rampart Range Faults becoming active, which caused folding, faulting and jointing of rock. This allowed water mixed with carbon dioxide to flow through the rock, dissolving the limestone.
Ute Pass and Rampart Range Faults becoming active, which caused folding, faulting and jointing of rock. This allowed water mixed with carbon dioxide to flow through the rock, dissolving the limestone. When the water table finally fell below the level of the caves, which resulted in the cave system being filled with air. As the remaining carbonic acid (water mixed with carbon dioxide) dripped through the folds, faults and joints in the cave system’s ceiling, it formed the stalactites and stalagmites and other formations that you can see when you walk through the caves. That is what formed what we now call Cave of the Winds and the surrounding caves. Additional uplift created the erosion of overlying sediment, which helps scientists to age the different caves and passageways.
Cave Map, http://carsologica.zrc-sazu.si/downloads/361/luiszer16.pdf
Cave of the Winds is a cave system suspected to be at least 70 million years old. There is an alluvial terrace sitting above the caves, which can be used to help date the youngest stream deposits in the caves. Scientists are currently in the process of dating this alluvial terrace. The fact that the Cave of the Winds is caused by erosion makes it very difficult, if not impossible, to determine its exact age. However, there are certain clues that help determine the ages of certain areas of the caving system. Some of the paleo-caves and paleo-sinkholes are filled with sediment that dates back to the Devonian to Late Mississippian periods, and the initial cave contain sediment rich in shale beds from the Pennsylvanian and Late Cretaceous periods.
Hydromagnesite,
http://www.mindat.org/loc.php?loc=133211&ob=4Some important minerals are found in the Cave of the Winds. Aragonite is a polymorph of natural calcium carbonate formed from low-temperature and pressure aqueous solutions. Calcite forms as a chemical sedimentary deposit, such as limestone, and can be regionally or contact metamorphos
ed into marble. Hydromagnesite is a hydrated magnesium carbonate, formed in cool, hydrothermal areas.
ed into marble. Hydromagnesite is a hydrated magnesium carbonate, formed in cool, hydrothermal areas.
Most of the walls of the cave are gray and tan, although in some areas, like the Mysterious Temple of Silence, ther
e are red, green, blue, and yellow colored lights, casting an eerie feel to the room. There are several small channels reaching up to the outside, and you can see where the old passageways used to be. Some of the stalactites and stalagmites are greasy from being touched and you can see where people have tossed coins and hair clips for good luck. It is almost sad what humans do to nature, and at the same time, humans are nature.
e are red, green, blue, and yellow colored lights, casting an eerie feel to the room. There are several small channels reaching up to the outside, and you can see where the old passageways used to be. Some of the stalactites and stalagmites are greasy from being touched and you can see where people have tossed coins and hair clips for good luck. It is almost sad what humans do to nature, and at the same time, humans are nature.The Cave of the Winds is as interesting geologically as it is beautiful to look at and discover. As you walk through the various caves, you learn so much about geology, caves, history, and even mankind as you see the old rope ladders and the natural formations. It is a sight to explore in length, as there are a couple different guided tours you can take throughout its passageways.
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