Pool Speleothem Gallery

Webulite and Pool Meringue
All photos by Kenneth Ingham
Webulite: Thin, discontinous web-like calcite films that connect adjacent pool fingers. Webulite is typically less than 1 mm (1/8") thick. (Davis et al. 1990; Hill and Forti, 1997) Pool meringue: Feature found on sides or bottom of pools with small (<1 cm) peaks reminiscent of the peaks on a meringue pie (Rust et al. 2004). We are lumping a number of similar features together. Pool meringue usually coats earlier pool spar but may occur alone. Some pool meringue has rounded tops, others resemble threads or corn flakes. The more ridged forms are similar to coniform stromatolites described by Jones et al. (2002).
	Webulite extending between and connection pool fingers. The pool spar in front of the wedulite is coated in pool meringue.
	Transition between webulite and meringue coating the vertical side of a pool.
	Pool meringue, probably coating a knobby pool spar but the spar is completely concealed.
	Chenille spar with small rounded extensions (red arrows). These may be an early form of webulite or meringue.

Webulite and Pool Meringue
All photos by Kenneth Ingham

Webulite: Thin, discontinous web-like calcite films that connect adjacent pool fingers. Webulite is typically less than 1 mm (1/8") thick. (Davis et al. 1990; Hill and Forti, 1997)

Pool meringue: Feature found on sides or bottom of pools with small (<1 cm) peaks reminiscent of the peaks on a meringue pie (Rust et al. 2004). We are lumping a number of similar features together. Pool meringue usually coats earlier pool spar but may occur alone. Some pool meringue has rounded tops, others resemble threads or corn flakes. The more ridged forms are similar to coniform stromatolites described by Jones et al. (2002).

Webulite extending between and connection pool fingers. The pool spar in front of the wedulite is coated in pool meringue.

Transition between webulite and meringue coating the vertical side of a pool.

Pool meringue, probably coating a knobby pool spar but the spar is completely concealed.

Chenille spar with small rounded extensions (red arrows). These may be an early form of webulite or meringue.

Shelfstone
All photos by Kenneth Ingham
Shelfstone: "Shelfstone is a flat deposit attached as a ledge or eave-like projection to the edge of a cave pool or to other spelothems submerged in a cave pool" (Hill and Forti, 1997, p. 97). Shelfstone is one of the best indicators of a former pool level as is only grows along the water-air interface. Lily pads: A smaller isolated area of shelfstone in the middle of a pool, looks like a lily pad in a pond. Also forms at pool level. Hill and Forti (1997) restrict lily pad to features in pools still filled with water and call dry pool examples "coke tables". We prefer to use lily pads for the feature regardless of current pool level. Similar to calcite lilypads described from a hot spring by Renaut et al. (1999).
	Shelfstone growing out to nearly cover the pool. Brown pool spar covers the bottom of the pool (and likely the underside of the shelfstone). Note scalloped edge and smooth top surface.
	Another example of shelfstone with thick pool spar on bottom.
	Another example of shelfstone nearly meeting to cover surface of pool. Penny Boston for scale.
	Shelfstone growing from sides of pool not visible has nearly covered pool. For some reason shelfstone on this edge broke off (pieces on pool bottom) instead.
	Pool crust and shelfstone. The shelfstone actually broke while the pool was still active and was coated by pool spar (there are also some modern clean breaks).
	Pool spar and small lily pad. These pads can extend into and become shelfstone.
	Scalloped edges of shelfstone (black arrows) in a shallow pool. Chenille spar (white arrow) is growing off down off shelfstone (see below for close-ups)

Shelfstone
All photos by Kenneth Ingham

Shelfstone: "Shelfstone is a flat deposit attached as a ledge or eave-like projection to the edge of a cave pool or to other spelothems submerged in a cave pool" (Hill and Forti, 1997, p. 97). Shelfstone is one of the best indicators of a former pool level as is only grows along the water-air interface.

Lily pads: A smaller isolated area of shelfstone in the middle of a pool, looks like a lily pad in a pond. Also forms at pool level. Hill and Forti (1997) restrict lily pad to features in pools still filled with water and call dry pool examples "coke tables". We prefer to use lily pads for the feature regardless of current pool level. Similar to calcite lilypads described from a hot spring by Renaut et al. (1999).

Shelfstone growing out to nearly cover the pool. Brown pool spar covers the bottom of the pool (and likely the underside of the shelfstone). Note scalloped edge and smooth top surface.

Another example of shelfstone with thick pool spar on bottom.

Another example of shelfstone nearly meeting to cover surface of pool.

Penny Boston for scale.

Shelfstone growing from sides of pool not visible has nearly covered pool. For some reason shelfstone on this edge broke off (pieces on pool bottom) instead.

Pool crust and shelfstone. The shelfstone actually broke while the pool was still active and was coated by pool spar (there are also some modern clean breaks).

Pool spar and small lily pad. These pads can extend into and become shelfstone.

Scalloped edges of shelfstone (black arrows) in a shallow pool. Chenille spar (white arrow) is growing off down off shelfstone (see below for close-ups)

Pool Spar and Knobs
All photos by Kenneth Ingham

Pool Spar: "Spar...is, any euhedral to subhedral crystal...where the crystal faces are easily discernible. ...pool spar forms in cave pools within the vadose zone" (Hill and Forti, 1997, p. 101).

In our experience, pool spar typically forms as individual knobs of radiating calcite crystals. The knobs vary from <1cm to >3 cm; individual crystals are usually <1mm but can be larger. The contrast between the knobby, crystalline appearance of the pool spar and the smooth or wrinkled surface of flowstone is a good indicator of past pool levels.

Pool spar growing into the center of a cave passage. Note sharp knobs of crust.

Close up of unusually sharp crystal terminations on pool spar knobs.

Pool spar showing the former water line of this pool. Note the smooth flowstone under the tape measure as compared to the knobby appearance of the pool crust.

Pool spar and shelfstone. The shelfstone actually broke while the pool was still active and was coated by pool spar (there are also some modern clean breaks).

Close up of above showing gap between shelfstone and spar hanging from it. This may be more chenille spar than simple pool spar (see above.)

Pool spar with the water line visible in very top of photo (at color change). Also shelfstone pieces, some coated in pool spar, and bat bones (just below center)

Pool spar coating the base of older flowstone. This shows the former water level nicely.

References:

Davis, D. G., Palmer, M. V., and Palmer, A. N., 1990, Extraordinary subaqueous speleothems in Lechuguilla Cave, New Mexico: National Speleological Society Bulletin, v. 52, p. 70-86.

Hill, C. A., and Forti, P., 1997, Cave Minerals of the World, 2nd Edition: Huntsville, Alabama, National Speleological Society, 463 p.

Jones, B., Renaut, R. W., Rosen, M. R., and Ansdell, K. M., 2002, Coniform stromatolites from geothermal systems, North Island, New Zealand: Palaios, v. 17, p. 84-103.

Renaut, R. W., Jones, B., and Le Turdu, C., 1999, Calcite lilypads and ledges at Lorusio Hot Springs, Kenya Rift Valley: travertine precipitation at the air-water interface: Canadian Journal of Earth Science, v. 36, p. 649-666.

Rust, G.L., Brehm, A. and Melim, L.A., 2004, Pool meringue: A new speleothem found in Carlsbad Cavern, New Mexico: Geological Society of America Abstracts with programs, Vol. 36, No. 3, p. 9


A WIU Department of Geology document URL:http://www.wiu.edu/users/migeol/index.htm Based on a design by Val Dupy, last updated January 2004 by L. Melim

A WIU Department of Geology document

URL:http://www.wiu.edu/users/migeol/index.htm
Based on a design by Val Dupy, last updated January 2004 by L. Melim