SHELFSTONE
Shelfstones are planar- to
subplanar-topped projections of speleothem formed at & just below the
waterline of cave pools. They are almost always composed of
travertine. Shelfstone only forms if the water level in a cave pool is
stationary for long intervals of time, or varies only slightly through time.
All shelfstones shown below
are composed of travertine.
Green Lake - cave pool with standing
water. Shelfstone is not well developed along the pool margins.
Green Lake Room, King’s Palace Trail, Carlsbad Caverns.
Dry cave pool with moderately developed
shelfstone along the foreground margin. The shelfstone formed when the
pool was full of standing water. Northwestern portion of the Big Room,
Carlsbad Caverns.
Shelfstone rimming dry cave pool, near
Breast of Venus, Big Room, Carlsbad Caverns.
Shelfstone rimming dry cave pool, near
Breast of Venus, Big Room, Carlsbad Caverns.
Shelfstone rimming dry cave pool, near
Breast of Venus, Big Room, Carlsbad Caverns.
Shelfstone rimming partially drained
cave pool. This pool still has standing water (dark green area at
bottom), but the shelfstone formed when the pool was full. Near Breast of
Venus, Big Room, Carlsbad Caverns.
Shelfstone rimming dry cave pool, near
Top of the Cross, Big Room, Carlsbad Caverns.