Calthemite
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Calthemite is a secondary deposit, derived from concrete, lime, mortar or other calcareous material outside the cave environment. Calthemites grow on or under man-made structures and mimic the shapes
Calthemite straw stalactite growing from the concrete ceiling of an undercover car-park
Calthemite straw stalactites, the rightmost example demonstrating bending due to the direction of air currents during its formation
Calthemite flowstone on outside of concrete water tank
Calthemite straw stalactites can grow up to 2 mm per day in favourable conditions. This one is growing in an undercover concrete car-park.
Speleothem
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A speleothem is a geological formation made by mineral deposits that accumulate over time in natural caves. They can take a variety of forms, depending on their depositional history and environment. C
Calthemite
…or other calcareous material outside the cave environment. Calthemites grow on or under man-made structures and mimic the shapes and forms of cave speleothems, such as stalactites, stalagmites, flowstone etc. Calthemite is derived from the Latin calx (genitive calcis) "lime" + Latin < Greek théma, "deposit…
Cave labeled with the six most common types of speleothems: flowstone, columns, drapery, stalagmites, stalactites and straws
Rimstone with odd color, in Bristol Caverns, TN
Scallops in Mammoth Cave
Various formations in the Hall of the Mountain Kings, Ogof Craig a Ffynnon, South Wales, Great Britain