Small-scale Terraces and Isolated Rimstone Pools on Stalagmites in Caves Exhibit Striking Similarity to Large-scale Terrace Landscapes at Hot Springs
We report on sinter terrace forms on the centimetre scale observed on the top and at the base of a stalagmite in Škocjanske jame (Škocjan caves). These exhibit connected rimstone dams, forming a net-like pattern with active water pools inside. The form is similar to those seen at the large travertin...
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Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
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Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts
2009-06-01
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Series: | Acta Carsologica |
Online Access: | https://ojs.zrc-sazu.si/carsologica/article/view/133 |
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author | Wolfgang Dreybrodt Franci Gabrovšek |
author_facet | Wolfgang Dreybrodt Franci Gabrovšek |
author_sort | Wolfgang Dreybrodt |
collection | DOAJ |
description | We report on sinter terrace forms on the centimetre scale observed on the top and at the base of a stalagmite in Škocjanske jame (Škocjan caves). These exhibit connected rimstone dams, forming a net-like pattern with active water pools inside. The form is similar to those seen at the large travertine terraces, which form by precipitation of calcite from spring waters highly supersaturated with respect to calcite. In contrast to these patterns we have also found isolated sinter basins with dimensions of a few centimeter on stalagmite-like structures in the cave Dimnice, Slovenia. Similar basins a few meters wide are a tourist attraction in Pamukkale, Denizli, Turkey. The observed features have grown from supersaturated solutions of calcium carbonate in laminar flow. Large-scale landscapes originate under conditions of turbulent flow. Some ideas are presented why, in spite of the clear difference in flow, the shapes are similar on all scales. |
first_indexed | 2024-04-10T16:48:26Z |
format | Article |
id | doaj.art-28d9ec2c192b439ab94b1e395af8ac04 |
institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
issn | 0583-6050 1580-2612 |
language | English |
last_indexed | 2024-04-10T16:48:26Z |
publishDate | 2009-06-01 |
publisher | Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts |
record_format | Article |
series | Acta Carsologica |
spelling | doaj.art-28d9ec2c192b439ab94b1e395af8ac042023-02-07T17:46:16ZengSlovenian Academy of Sciences and ArtsActa Carsologica0583-60501580-26122009-06-0138110.3986/ac.v38i1.133120Small-scale Terraces and Isolated Rimstone Pools on Stalagmites in Caves Exhibit Striking Similarity to Large-scale Terrace Landscapes at Hot SpringsWolfgang Dreybrodt0Franci Gabrovšek1Karst Processes Research Group, Institute of Experimental Physics, University of Bremen, 28359 Bremen Karst Research Institute SRC SASA, Titov trg 2, SI-6230 PostojnaKarst Research Institute SRC SASA, Titov trg 2, SI-6230 PostojnaWe report on sinter terrace forms on the centimetre scale observed on the top and at the base of a stalagmite in Škocjanske jame (Škocjan caves). These exhibit connected rimstone dams, forming a net-like pattern with active water pools inside. The form is similar to those seen at the large travertine terraces, which form by precipitation of calcite from spring waters highly supersaturated with respect to calcite. In contrast to these patterns we have also found isolated sinter basins with dimensions of a few centimeter on stalagmite-like structures in the cave Dimnice, Slovenia. Similar basins a few meters wide are a tourist attraction in Pamukkale, Denizli, Turkey. The observed features have grown from supersaturated solutions of calcium carbonate in laminar flow. Large-scale landscapes originate under conditions of turbulent flow. Some ideas are presented why, in spite of the clear difference in flow, the shapes are similar on all scales.https://ojs.zrc-sazu.si/carsologica/article/view/133 |
spellingShingle | Wolfgang Dreybrodt Franci Gabrovšek Small-scale Terraces and Isolated Rimstone Pools on Stalagmites in Caves Exhibit Striking Similarity to Large-scale Terrace Landscapes at Hot Springs Acta Carsologica |
title | Small-scale Terraces and Isolated Rimstone Pools on Stalagmites in Caves Exhibit Striking Similarity to Large-scale Terrace Landscapes at Hot Springs |
title_full | Small-scale Terraces and Isolated Rimstone Pools on Stalagmites in Caves Exhibit Striking Similarity to Large-scale Terrace Landscapes at Hot Springs |
title_fullStr | Small-scale Terraces and Isolated Rimstone Pools on Stalagmites in Caves Exhibit Striking Similarity to Large-scale Terrace Landscapes at Hot Springs |
title_full_unstemmed | Small-scale Terraces and Isolated Rimstone Pools on Stalagmites in Caves Exhibit Striking Similarity to Large-scale Terrace Landscapes at Hot Springs |
title_short | Small-scale Terraces and Isolated Rimstone Pools on Stalagmites in Caves Exhibit Striking Similarity to Large-scale Terrace Landscapes at Hot Springs |
title_sort | small scale terraces and isolated rimstone pools on stalagmites in caves exhibit striking similarity to large scale terrace landscapes at hot springs |
url | https://ojs.zrc-sazu.si/carsologica/article/view/133 |
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