Small to large indentations in vertical to steeply sloping granular rock
Tafoni at Salt Point State Park, Sonoma County, California.
Tafoni (singular: tafone) are cavities that develop in granular rock.
Although various definitions[example needed] can be found[by whom?] in the scientific literature, tafoni are commonly defined as small (less than 1 cm (0.39 in)) to large (greater than 1 meter (3.3 ft)) cavity features that develop in either natural or manmade, vertical to steeply sloping, exposures of granular rock (i.e., granite, sandstone) with smooth concave walls, and often round rims and openings. Recognized subcategories of tafoni include honeycomb, stonelace, alveolar (less than 2 cm (0.79 in)), sidewall, basal, nested, and relic tafoni. It is also commonly synonymous with nido d’ape roccioso in Italian.[1]
The etymology of the word tafoni is unclear. Tafoni may come from the Greek word taphos, tomb, or it may stem from a Corsican or Sicilian word for holes, taffoni, or from tafonare meaning to perforate. The earliest known publication of the term tafoni was in 1882.[1][2]
^ abParadise, T.R., 2013. Tafoni and other rock basins. In: Shroder, J. (Editor in Chief), Pope, G.A., (Ed.), Treatise on Geomorphology. Academic Press, San Diego, CA, vol. 4, Weathering and Soils Geomorphology, pp.111–126.
^Hans Henrik Reusch (1882) Notes sur la géologie de la Corse (Notes on the geology of Corsica), Bulletin de la Société géologique de France, 3rd series, 11 : 53-67 ; see p. 65. From p. 65: "Le peuple appelle ces cavités, quand elles sont petites, des tafoni ; quand elles sont grandes, des grotte." (People call these cavities, when they're small, tafoni ; when they're large, caves.)
Tafoni (singular: tafone) are cavities that develop in granular rock. Although various definitions[example needed] can be found[by whom?] in the scientific...
stonelace, fretting, or miniature tafoni weathering. The size at which honeycombs are differentiated from tafoni varies greatly in the scientific literature...
weathering – Form of cavernous weathering and subcategory of tafoni "U.S. NPS article: Tafoni". 15 February 2020. Retrieved 12 October 2023. F.J.P.M. Kwaad...
Due to the large amounts of sandstone, small cave-like features called tafoni can be found along the shore of Salt Point. This park is named for the formation...
and along coasts. Salt weathering is likely important in the formation of tafoni, a class of cavernous rock weathering structures. Living organisms may contribute...
Alluvial fans compose most of the alluvial sediments. Aeolian systems include tafoni, natural bridges, and sand dunes. Sand dunes include barkhans, climbing...
Honeycomb weathering – Form of cavernous weathering and subcategory of tafoni Inselberg – Isolated, steep rock hill on relatively flat terrain Karst –...
large blocks of granite together with boulders and landslips, and includes tafoni and depressions. It ranges in depth from 6 m (20 ft) to 25 m (82 ft). Fish...
phenomenon turn into the existence of beaches, risks, natural arcs, and tafoni. There is a large diversity of habitats, including slopes, forests, and...
formation, Hole-in-the-Rock, is a major landmark, thanks to the openings (tafoni) eroded in the formation over time. There is some evidence that the Hohokam—a...
including wind caves, mushroom rocks, and the honeycomb weathering called tafoni, are now attributed to differential weathering, rainwash, deflation rather...
gained independence.[citation needed] Gatbawi is a natural Sandstone and Tafoni formation found on the shore of Mokpo's east harbor, near the mouth of the Yeongsan...
observed; these include inselbergs, flared slopes, domes, nubbins, tors, tafonis, and gnammas. Most of Sierra de Lihuel Calel is made up ignimbrite, a volcanic...
except for the growing vegetation below. Under Ulsanbawi, it shows some of tafoni and tor by small-scale weathering. It is a head temple of the Jogye Order...
Geological Institute. 800 pp. ISBN 0-922152-89-6 Paradise, T. R., 2013 'Tafoni and Other Rock Basins' in Treatise on Geomorphology, V.4, 111-126 doi:10...
Chuckanut Creek and Fragrance Lake Outlet. The bay is home to interesting tafoni formations found in the area. Chuckanut Village, located near Mud Bay along...
is a Phoenix landmark located in Papgo Park. It is a series of openings (tafoni) eroded in a small hill composed of bare red arkosic conglomeritic sandstone...
Geology, 93, 59-73 Campbell, S.W. 1999. Chemical weathering associated with tafoni at Papago Park, Central Arizona. Earth Surface Process and Landforms, 24...
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