travertine
Sign in to savethumb|upright=1.6|Travertine terraces at Mammoth Hot Springs, [[Yellowstone National Park, in 2016]]
AI overview
Travertine is a type of limestone that forms when mineral-rich hot water deposits layers of rock, creating distinctive terraced formations like those found at Yellowstone's Mammoth Hot Springs. It matters because these formations are geologically significant natural features that reveal information about hot spring activity and mineral processes.
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Article
11 sectionsContents
- Etymology
- Definition
- Landforms
- Geochemistry
- Occurrence
- Uses
- Supply
- See also
- References
- Sources
- External links
thumb|upright=1.6|Travertine terraces at Mammoth Hot Springs, [[Yellowstone National Park, in 2016]]
Travertine ( ) is a form of fresh water limestone deposited around mineral springs, especially hot springs. It often has a fibrous or concentric appearance and exists in white, tan, cream-colored, and rusty varieties. It is formed by a process of rapid precipitation of calcium carbonate, often at the mouth of a hot spring or in a limestone cave. In the latter, it can form stalactites, stalagmites, and other speleothems.