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speleothem
Sep. 21st, 2021 07:34 amspeleothem (SPAI-li-uh-them) - n., any mineral formation deposited in a natural cave by the action of water.
The collective term for stalactites (those that stick tight to the ceiling) and stalagmites (the mighty ones on the floor), as well as all the other cave formations such as flowstone and drapes. Coined from Ancient Greek roots spḗlaion, cave + théma, something laid down. Some speleothems, with the six most common types labeled:
Thanks, WikiMedia!
And because my queue is now over 50 entries long, I've been waiting a while to run this.
---L.
The collective term for stalactites (those that stick tight to the ceiling) and stalagmites (the mighty ones on the floor), as well as all the other cave formations such as flowstone and drapes. Coined from Ancient Greek roots spḗlaion, cave + théma, something laid down. Some speleothems, with the six most common types labeled:
Thanks, WikiMedia!
And because my queue is now over 50 entries long, I've been waiting a while to run this.
---L.
