FLOWSTONE
Flowstone is a variety of speleothem
formed by mineral precipitation from water flowing over a broad area (sheet
flow). It's usually travertine (composed of calcium carbonate).
Flowstone can be seen on the floors and walls of caves. It also frequently
covers stalagmites and columns. Flowstone almost always has a subaerial
origin. The physical form of flowstone closely resembles frozen
waterfalls, and frequently has a ribbed & wavy surface pattern.
All the flowstones shown
below are composed of travertine.
Flowstone, Queen’s Chamber, King’s
Palace Trail, Carlsbad Caverns.
Flowstone covering a stalagmite,
Queen’s Chamber, King’s Palace Trail, Carlsbad Caverns.
Flowstone, Green Lake Room, King’s
Palace Trail, Carlsbad Caverns.
Flowstone covering a stalagmite,
Queen’s Chamber, King’s Palace Trail, Carlsbad Caverns.
Bashful Elephant (upper right) - eroded
flowstone, passage between the King's Palace & the Green Lake Room,
Carlsbad Caverns.
Flowstone, northwestern portion of
the Big Room, Carlsbad Caverns.
Flowstone, northwestern portion of
the Big Room, Carlsbad Caverns.
Flowstone, northwestern portion of
the Big Room, Carlsbad Caverns.
Flowstone, King’s Palace Trail,
Carlsbad Caverns.