flowstone

flowstone
/floh"stohn'/, n. Petrol.
a layered deposit of calcium carbonate, CaCO3, left by thin sheets of flowing water, as in a cave. Cf. dripstone.
[1920-25, Amer.; FLOW + STONE]

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      mineral deposit found in “solution” caves in limestone. Flowing films of water that move along floors or down positive-sloping walls build up layers of calcium carbonate (calcite), gypsum, or other cave minerals. These minerals are dissolved in the water and are deposited when the water loses its dissolved carbon dioxide and therefore its carrying ability. Flowstone is usually white or translucent but may be stained various colours by minerals dissolved in the water.

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Universalium. 2010.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • flowstone — [flō′stōn΄] n. any mineral deposit, esp. of calcium carbonate, formed in a cave by flowing water: cf. DRIPSTONE, TRAVERTINE …   English World dictionary

  • Flowstone — Flowstones are composed of sheetlike deposits of calcite formed where water flows down the walls or along the floors of a cave. They are typically found in solution , or limestone caves, where they are the most common speleothem. However, they… …   Wikipedia

  • flowstone — noun Date: 1925 calcite deposited by a thin sheet of flowing water usually along the walls or floor of a cave …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • flowstone — noun A layered deposit of calcite formed by water flowing down the walls, and along the floor of a cave …   Wiktionary

  • flowstone —    Deposits of calcium carbonate, gypsum, and other mineral matter which have accumulated on the walls or floors of caves at places where water trickles or flows over the rock [10]. Layered deposits of calcium carbonate precipitated on rocks from …   Lexicon of Cave and Karst Terminology

  • flowstone — noun Geology rock deposited as a thin sheet by precipitation from flowing water …   English new terms dictionary

  • flowstone — flow•stone [[t]ˈfloʊˌstoʊn[/t]] n. gel pet a layered deposit of calcium carbonate, CaCO3, left by thin sheets of flowing water, as in a cave • Etymology: 1920–25 …   From formal English to slang

  • flowstone — n. rock deposited in a thin sheet by a flow of water …   Useful english dictionary

  • terraced flowstone —    Shallow rimstone pools on outward sloping walls [10].    See also rimstone barrage; rimstone barrier; rimstone dam; constructive waterfall …   Lexicon of Cave and Karst Terminology

  • Show cave — Flowstone suspended from the ceiling of Gunns Plains Cave, Tasmania, Australia Show caves also called tourist caves, public caves, and in the United States, commercial caves are caves that are managed by a government or commercial organization… …   Wikipedia

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