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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Main Authors: Wolfgang Dreybrodt, Franci Gabrovšek
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts 2009-06-01
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.
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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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AT francigabrovsek smallscaleterracesandisolatedrimstonepoolsonstalagmitesincavesexhibitstrikingsimilaritytolargescaleterracelandscapesathotsprings