The cave was accidentally discovered in 1954 by M. Cangár and J. Prošek, employees of the East Slovak Ore Survey in Jelšava, while digging the Kapusta geological exploration tunnel. In 1955, it was inspected by the staff of Turist, np, and in 1956 exploratory sounding works were carried out. Opening works began in 1966 with the excavation of a 145 m long access tunnel, which enabled the cave to be opened to the public in 1972. The length of its accessible part is 230 m.
It is formed in a lens of early Lower Devonian crystalline limestones and ankerites situated in the middle of non-karst rocks - phyllites. The access tunnel opens into the cave at an altitude of 642 m. The wedge-shaped, upwardly narrowing corridors and halls were formed by the corrosive action of rainwater seeping along prominent tectonic faults. Different in shape, mostly horizontal corridors and halls are between parallel tectonic faults. They were created mainly by the corrosive action of slowly flowing water as a result of the mixing of waters of different temperatures and chemical composition, which is indicated by the number of irregular niches and ceiling domes. Along the former water table, which has fallen and stagnated for a long time, corroded level ceilings (cut off the lower parts of the ceiling domes) and lateral corroded notches on the rock walls have formed.
Three generations of aragonite were found in the cave. It is formed from aqueous solutions with a high content of Mg-, Fe- and Mn-ions in conditions of a stable microclimate. The oldest are milky cloudy kidney-shaped formations and their corroded remains (dated age 121-138 thousand years) with partially recrystallized aragonite, in places transformed into calcite. The most represented is the second generation of aragonite, which occurs in the form of several dm long needles and curved to spiral helictites (dated age 14 thousand years). These create bunch-like or bush-like formations (including the so-called iron flower), which are the most attractive for visitors. Second generation aragonite is still growing, maintaining its white color and clean appearance. The youngest generation of aragonite, which currently forms on sediments and ferruginous ochres, creates small fans (2 to 4 mm in size, sometimes larger), rarely miniature spiral formations.
The air temperature in the cave reaches 7.2 to 7.8 °C, relative humidity 92 to 97%. Ferrous ochres (they contain 47 to 56 wt.% water) contribute significantly to the stabilization of the cave microclimate, because they are able to release and absorb water vapor.
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