Friday Rock Blogging: Hypertufa

hypertufaMost geologists are familiar with tufa, which is a type of calcium carbonate. Tufa is precipitated from calcium-rich water in low-energy environments (lakes, ocean-bottom sediments, etc.) - and if you're anywhere near California, it's worth driving up to Mono Lake to check out the fabulous tufa towers.

Hypertufa is similar to tufa, but it's precipitated from high-energy environments, like mountain streams and rocky intertidal zones. In such a turbulent depositional setting, grains of sand and silt, along with miscellaneous bits of debris, are often mixed in with the carbonate deposits.

[Update, April 2: Why yes, this was an April Fool. No, it wasn't a tremendously funny one. Hush, you. Anyway, hypertufa is a popular type of fake rock made from peat, perlite, and Portland cement.]

yami · 8:06 · 1 Apr 2020

2 Comments to 'Friday Rock Blogging: Hypertufa'

  1. I must be a geal geo-geek, because I thought hypertufa was a hilarious April Fools prank!

    Sabine · April 4th, 2020 · 08:32 · #
  2. Oh good, I’m glad someone appreciated it :)

    yami · April 4th, 2020 · 08:35 · #

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