Secondary calcium carbonate deposit growing under man-made structures
Calthemite straw stalactite growing from the concrete ceiling of an undercover car-parkCalthemite straw stalactite (right side) is bent due to direction of prevailing air movement during periods of its growth.
Calthemite is a secondary deposit, derived from concrete, lime, mortar or other calcareous material outside the cave environment.[1][2] Calthemites grow on or under, man-made structures and mimic the shapes and forms of cave speleothems, such as stalactites, stalagmites, flowstone etc.[3] Calthemite is derived from the Latin calx (genitive calcis) "lime" + Latin < Greek théma, "deposit" meaning ‘something laid down’, (also Mediaeval Latin thema, "deposit") and the Latin –ita < Greek -itēs – used as a suffix indicating a mineral or rock.[1][2] The term "speleothem",[4] due to its definition (spēlaion "cave" + théma "deposit" in ancient Greek) can only be used to describe secondary deposits in caves and does not include secondary deposits outside the cave environment.[3]
^ abSmith, G.K. (2016). "Calcite straw stalactites growing from concrete structures", Cave and Karst Science 43(1), 4–10. http://bcra.org.uk/pub/candks/index.html?j=127
^ abSmith, G K., (2015). "Calcite Straw Stalactites Growing From Concrete Structures". Proceedings of the 30th 'Australian Speleological Federation' conference, Exmouth, Western Australia, edited by Moulds, T. pp 93 -108
^ abHill, C A and Forti, P, (1997). Cave Minerals of the World, Second Edition. [Huntsville, Alabama: National Speleological Society Inc.] ISBN 1-879961-07-5
^Moore, G. W. (1952). "Speleothems – a new cave term". National Speleological Society News, Vol.10(6), p.2.
Calthemite is a secondary deposit, derived from concrete, lime, mortar or other calcareous material outside the cave environment. Calthemites grow on...
water. Calthemite is also a secondary deposit derived from concrete, mortar or lime, which can be mistakenly assumed to be efflorescence. Calthemites are...
which mimic the shapes and forms of speleothems, are classified as "calthemites" and are associated with concrete degradation. Flowing films of water...
outside the cave environment on exposed concrete surfaces as a type of calthemite, growing significantly faster than those formed on rock. These tubes form...
classified as "speleothems" due to the definition of the term. The term "calthemite" is used to encompass these secondary deposits which mimic the shapes...
the calthemites orange or red. The chemistry involving the leaching of calcium hydroxide from concrete can facilitate the growth of calthemites up to...
Fordite jewelry in Colorado, 2016. Trinitite Corium (nuclear reactor) Calthemite "These Gorgeous Stones Were Accidentally Created From Layers of Car Paint...
structures outside the cave environment; these are classified as calthemite coralloids. Calthemite coralloids also occur in "artificial caves", such as mines...
flowstone etc., outside the natural cave environment, are referred to as "calthemites". These concrete derived secondary deposits cannot be referred to as...
secondary deposits consisting primarily of calcium carbonate, are called calthemites and mimics the shapes and forms of cave speleothems to create stalactites...
speleothems. Such secondary deposits in man-made structures are termed calthemites. Calthemites are often associated with concrete degradation, or due to leaching...
Anthropocene. Calthemite is a secondary deposit, derived from concrete, lime, mortar or other calcareous material outside the cave environment. Calthemites grow...
may completely calcify over and block the calthemite straw tip. Lattice work or calcite rafts on a calthemite (soda) straw stalactite drop Calcite rafts...
Eighteen months after opening, in September 1977, mineral stalactites (calthemites) had started forming on the ceilings of some of the underpass walkways...
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