calthemite

English

Calthemite straw stalactite growing from the concrete ceiling of an undercover car-park

Etymology

From Latin calx (“lime”) + Latin < Ancient Greek θέμα (théma, “what is laid down”), (also Mediaeval Latin thema, "deposit") and the Latin -īta < Ancient Greek -ίτης (-ítēs) – used as a suffix indicating a rock or mineral.

Noun

calthemite (plural calthemites)

1. (geology) Any secondary calcareous deposit, created by the action of water outside the natural cave environment. They are typically found on man made structures and mimic the shapes and forms of cave speleothems, such as stalactites, stalagmites, flowstone etc.

Further reading

• Smith, G.K. (2016), "Calcite straw stalactites growing from concrete structures", Cave and Karst Science 43(1), pp 4-10