Calcite (Inventory)

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==Flowstone==
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Most speleothems in Guadalupe caves are composed of '''calcite''' or [[Aragonite (Inventory)|aragonite]], CaCO<sub>3</sub>. These two carbonate minerals form the majority of all speleothems and a wide variety of speleothem types, most of which appear in the calcite section of the inventory form.
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{{:Calcite (Inventory)/Flowstone}}
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==Stalactite==
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===deflected===
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===soda straw===
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[[File:Soda_straws.jpg|thumb|Soda straws]]
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{{clear}}
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==Stalagmite==
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==References==
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*New Mexico Bureau of Mines & Mineral Resources Bulletin 117; Geology of Carlsbad Cavern and other caves in the Guadalupe Mountains, New Mexico and Texas; PART II: MINERALOGY; CARBONATES http://www.nps.gov/history/history/online_books/geology/publications/state/nm/1987-117/sec1-2.htm
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==Column==
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==Fields and subsections==
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*[[Calcite (Inventory)/Flowstone|Flowstone]]
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==Popcorn==
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*[[Calcite (Inventory)/Stalactite|Stalactite]]
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[[File:Button popcorn.JPG|thumb|Button popcorn]]
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*[[Calcite (Inventory)/Stalagmite|Stalagmite]]
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{{clear}}
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*[[Calcite (Inventory)/Column|Column]]
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*[[Calcite (Inventory)/Popcorn|Popcorn]]
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==Bell Canopy==
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*[[Calcite (Inventory)/Bell Canopy|Bell Canopy]]
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*[[Calcite (Inventory)/Boxwork|Boxwork]]
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==Boxwork==
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*[[Calcite (Inventory)/Calcite Coating|Calcite Coating]]
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[[File:Boxwork.JPG|thumb|Boxwork. Other formations visible include popcorn and dogtooth spar.]]
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*[[Calcite (Inventory)/Calcite Crust|Calcite Crust]]
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The '''Boxwork''' inventory field should be used to list stations which exhibit boxwork. Boxwork is not technically a speleothem but a speleogen. That is, it is not a formation but a residual of dissolution. Boxwork forms when cracks in the bedrock are filled with a mineral which is harder to dissolve than the bedrock itself. When the bedrock dissolves, it leaves the mineral which used to fill the cracks exposed. It often appears on the ceiling but may be present anywhere bedrock is exposed. It may be obscured by secondary formations. Boxwork can appear as small examples or large areas. It often takes on polygonal shapes (usually rectangular) but may be almost any shape. It need not project far from the rock to be considered boxwork. Often it is a different color than the bedrock (usually darker).
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*[[Calcite (Inventory)/Coral Pipes|Coral Pipes]]
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*[[Calcite (Inventory)/Coral Stalagmite|Coral Stalagmite]]
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Although the field appears in the calcite section of the ''CCNP Cave Inventory Form'', any boxwork no matter its specific mineral content (which may be difficult to identify anyway and is often not calcite) should be listed.
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*[[Calcite (Inventory)/Conulite|Conulite]]
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{{clear}}
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*[[Calcite (Inventory)/Drapery|Drapery]]
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*[[Calcite (Inventory)/Drip Pit Lining|Drip Pit Lining]]
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==Calcite Coating==
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*[[Calcite (Inventory)/Folia|Folia]]
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[[File:Sponge.jpg|thumb|Calcite coating on bedrock. The arrow identifies a [[Sponge (Inventory)|sponge]].]]
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*[[Calcite (Inventory)/Helictite|Helictite]]
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A '''calcite coating''' is a thin layer of calcite usually over bedrock or breakdown. It is much thinner than a calcite crust.
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*[[Calcite (Inventory)/Mammillary|Mammillary]]
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*[[Calcite (Inventory)/Pearl|Pearl]]
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It is sometimes difficult to differentiate between a calcite coating, an aragonite coating, a [[Gypsum (Inventory)#Coating|gypsum coating]], and even [[Hydromagnesite (Inventory)#Moonmilk|moonmilk]].
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*[[Calcite (Inventory)/Pool Finger|Pool Finger]]
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*[[Calcite (Inventory)/Raft|Raft]]
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Calcite tends to have square-ish crystals.  Gypsum sometimes makes starbursts.  Aragonite and moonmilk are both bright white. Aragonite coatings are not an inventory item on the ''CCNP Cave Inventory Form'' and should be inventoried as a calcite coating, so there is no need to distinguish between these two.
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*[[Calcite (Inventory)/Raft Cone|Raft Cone]]
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*[[Calcite (Inventory)/Rim|Rim]]
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Sometimes it is difficult to positively differentiate between different coatings in the field without destructive testing.
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*[[Calcite (Inventory)/Rimstone Dam|Rimstone Dam]]
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*[[Calcite (Inventory)/Shelfstone|Shelfstone]]
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===See also===
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*[[Calcite (Inventory)/Spar|Spar]]
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*[[Gypsum (Inventory)#Coating|Gypsum Coating]]
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*[[Calcite (Inventory)/Shield|Shield]]
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*[[Hydromagnesite (Inventory)#Moonmilk|Moonmilk]]
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*[[Calcite (Inventory)/Splash Ring|Splash Ring]]
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{{clear}}
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*[[Calcite (Inventory)/Tray|Tray]]
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==Calcite Crust==
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==Coral Pipes==
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==Coral Stalagmite==
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==Conulite==
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==Drapery==
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==Drip Pit Lining==
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==Folia==
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==Helictite==
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===antler===
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===beaded===
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===snake dancer===
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===subaqueous===
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===other===
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==Mammillary==
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==Pearl==
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[[File:Cave Pearls.jpg|thumb|Typical nest of cave pearls]]
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'''Cave pearls''' are small balls of calcite or aragonite that usually form on the floor in shallow pools or depressions. They are formed from constant, steady dripping action causing agitation of a small seed crystal building up layers of calcite. They can occur singularly in depressions in the bedrock but are usually found in nests. Some of the pearls may become cemented into the floor. Cave pearls need not always be round. Sometimes they can have a cylindrical shape. The size varies from very small but rarely gets much larger than a golf ball or small egg. Most are pea to marble sized. Nests of pearls can easily be obscured by mud or silt. Great care should be taken not to disturb them during a survey.
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Cave pearls are not to be confused with [[Bedrock (Inventory)#Pisolites|pisolites]].
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===See also===
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*[[Bedrock (Inventory)#Pisolites|Pisolites]]
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===References===
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*Palmer, Arthur N. (2007) ''Cave Geology'' CAVE BOOKS, Dayton, OH p 280 ISBN-13: [[Special:Booksources/978-0-939748-66-2|978-0-939748-66-2]], ISBN-10: [[Special:Booksources/0-939748-66-5|0-939748-66-5]]
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{{clear}}
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==Pool Finger==
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==Raft==
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==Raft Cone==
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==Rim==
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==Rimstone Dam==
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==Shelfstone==
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==Spar==
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===dogtooth===
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[[File:Dogtooth Spar.jpg|thumb|Dogtooth spar]]
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The '''dogtooth''' field should be used to list stations which exhibit dogtooth spar crystals.
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Dogtooth spar is a crystaline speleothem usually of calcite. The shape is [[scalenohedral]] -- triangular faces. The size can vary from barely discernable to quite large. The color can vary too. Often only one end of the scalenohedron may be visible giving each crystal a pyramid-like shape. Sometimes, both ends of the crystal can be seen forming a kind of faceted football shape. They can occur singularly or in clusters. They can often be found lining the insides of [[vug]]s or cavities and cracks but can also occur on the ceiling or walls directly. Since they formed when the cave was [[phreatic]], they can be obscured by other formations such as flowstone, popcorn, crusts or staining. When looking for dogtooth spar, take the time to look into cracks and vugs in the walls, floor and ceiling. And don't forget to examine breakdown -- it may possess a vug containing dogtooth spar. Often when dogtooth spar is found, it can be found at nearby stations, too.
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====Gallery====
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<gallery>
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File:Dogtooth spar obscured.jpg|Larger dogtooth spar crystals partially obscured by flowstone, popcorn and staining
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</gallery>
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{{clear}}
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===nailhead===
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[[File:Nailhead.JPG|thumb|Nailhead spar]]
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The '''nailhead''' field should be used to list stations which exhibit nailhead spar.
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Nailhead spar typically is "flatter" or more "cubic" than dogtooth spar. The shape is a [[rhombohedron]] where each facet is a rhombus. Except for the shape of each crystal (which is really just one of the two primary crystaline shapes of calcite) it has characteristics very similar to dogtooth spar and can be found in similar locations.
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They can occur singularly; but are usually found in clusters. They can be found lining the insides of [[vug]]s or cavities and cracks but can also occur on the ceiling or walls directly. They formed when the cave was [[phreatic]] and can be obscured by other formations such as flowstone, popcorn, crusts or staining. When looking for nailhead spar, take the time to look into cracks and vugs in the walls, floor and ceiling. And don't forget to examine breakdown -- it may possess a vug containing nailhead spar.
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{{clear}}
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===chenille/pool===
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The '''chenille/pool''' field should be used to list stations which have pool spar crystals.
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Pool spar are well-defined crystals that grew under water. Chenille spar are a subset of pool spar with small spar crystals coating the pool or shelfstone that are almost velvety.
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The pool may be dry or still filled with water.
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====External links====
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*[http://www.caverntours.com/KIDSPAGE_Form_PoolSpar.html Pool Spar webpage Black Chasm CA]
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*[http://www.goodearthgraphics.com/virtcave/poolspar/poolspar.html Pool spar webpage at the Virtual cave]
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==Shield==
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[[File:Shield.JPG|thumb|Shield.]]
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{{clear}}
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==Splash Ring==
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[[File:PJ SplashRing3.jpg|thumb|Splash Ring.]]
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{{clear}}
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==Tray==
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{{Cave inventory}}
{{Cave inventory}}
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[[Category:Needs description]]
 

Current revision as of 03:41, 11 March 2013

Most speleothems in Guadalupe caves are composed of calcite or aragonite, CaCO3. These two carbonate minerals form the majority of all speleothems and a wide variety of speleothem types, most of which appear in the calcite section of the inventory form.

References

Fields and subsections


Calcite (Inventory) is a part of the cave inventory project.
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