Structure formed in a cave by the deposition of minerals from water
For secondary deposits, derived from concrete, lime, or mortar, outside the cave environment, see Calthemite.
Cave labeled with the six most common types of speleothems: flowstone, columns, drapery, stalagmites, stalactites and straws
A speleothem (/ˈspiːliəθɛm/; from Ancient Greek σπήλαιον (spḗlaion) 'cave', and θέμα (théma) 'deposit') is a geological formation by mineral deposits that accumulate over time in natural caves.[1] Speleothems most commonly form in calcareous caves due to carbonate dissolution reactions. They can take a variety of forms, depending on their depositional history and environment. Their chemical composition, gradual growth, and preservation in caves make them useful paleoclimatic proxies.
^White, W. B. (2019). "Speleothems". Encyclopedia of Caves: 1006–17. doi:10.1016/B978-0-12-814124-3.00117-5. ISBN 9780128141243.
A speleothem (/ˈspiːliəθɛm/; from Ancient Greek σπήλαιον (spḗlaion) 'cave', and θέμα (théma) 'deposit') is a geological formation by mineral deposits that...
(crystallized urine of pack rats). A stalactite is not necessarily a speleothem, though speleothems are the most common form of stalactite because of the abundance...
straws and columns. These secondary mineral deposits in caves are called speleothems. The portions of a solutional cave that are below the water table or...
earliest primates were discovered. Bolt's Farm was heavily mined for speleothem (calcium carbonate from stalagmites, stalactites and flowstones) in the...
visitors since its discovery in 1878. The cavern system is adorned with speleothems such as columns, mud flows, stalactites, stalagmites, flowstone, and...
happen as well. A speleothem is a geological formation by mineral deposits that accumulate over time in natural caves. Speleothems most commonly form...
A soda straw (or simply straw) is a speleothem in the form of a hollow mineral cylindrical tube. They are also known as tubular stalactites. Soda straws...
with the late Holocene being called the Meghalayan stage/age, since a speleothem in Mawmluh cave indicating a dramatic worldwide climate event around 2250...
cave. In the latter, it can form stalactites, stalagmites, and other speleothems. It is frequently used in Italy and elsewhere as a building material...
A cave pearl is a small, usually spherical, speleothem (cave formation) found in limestone caves. Cave pearls are formed by a concretion of calcium salts...
et al. (1995). "The Hekla 3 volcanic eruption recorded in a Scottish speleothem?". The Holocene. 5 (3): 336–342. Bibcode:1995Holoc...5..336B. doi:10...
the ceiling of a cave is a stalactite. The most common stalagmites are speleothems, which usually form in limestone caves. Stalagmite formation occurs only...
elevation of about 705 m (2,313 ft), distinctly exhibit a variety of speleothems ranging in size and irregularly shaped stalactites and stalagmites. The...
an architectural feature for handling rain water Dripstone, a type of speleothem (cave formation) that includes for example stalactites Dripstone, a type...
"Climate Dynamics During the Penultimate Glacial Period Recorded in a Speleothem from Kanaan Cave, Lebanon (central Levant)" (PDF). Quaternary Research...
this may often be covered in breakdown from the ceiling. A variety of speleothems may be found in lava tubes including a variety of stalactite forms generally...
growth of speleothems, as higher temperatures increase carbon dioxide production rates within the overlying soil. The color of the speleothems is determined...
important to the formation of stalactites, stalagmites, columns, and other speleothems within caves, and for that matter, in the formation of the caves themselves...
(groundwater) in caves is also sometimes described as travertine. This produces speleothems, such as stalagmites and stalactites. Coquina is a poorly consolidated...
tenth the rainfall around 125 kya. Speleothems are detected only in Even-Sid-2. In the southern Negev Desert speleothems did not grow between 185–140 kya...
or under, man-made structures and mimic the shapes and forms of cave speleothems, such as stalactites, stalagmites, flowstone etc. Calthemite is derived...
223–227 (9 October 2014). "using uranium-series dating of coralloid speleothems directly associated with 12 human hand stencils and two figurative animal...
common type of speleothem. The individual nodules of cave popcorn range in size from 5 to 20 mm and may be decorated by other speleothems, especially aragonite...
between 25 and 27 °C, with a humidity higher than 95%. All sorts of speleothems, where numerous endemic troglobionts are living, can be found along the...
wells were noted by John Rutty on Howth Head, among other locations. Speleothem Stalactite Stalagmite Rutty, John (1757) A Methodical Synopsis of Mineral...
found in "solution caves", in limestone, where they are the most common speleothem. However, they may form in any type of cave where water enters that has...
circulates water particles that condense on cave walls and formations such as speleothems. This condensing water has been found to contribute to cave wall erosion...
evolution of the Grand Canyon revealed by U-Pb dating of water table-type speleothems". Science. 319 (5868): 1377–1380. Bibcode:2008Sci...319.1377P. doi:10...
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