page_title: Tufa
section_title: Speleothems
hierarchical_section_title: Tufa / Classification and features / Other deposits / Speleothems
caption_attribution_description: English: Tufa pinnacles, formed underwater 10,000 to 100,000 years ago, Located ten miles south of Trona, California. April, 2015 by Lisa McElroy
context_page_description: Tufa is a variety of limestone formed when carbonate minerals precipitate out of ambient temperature water. Geothermally heated hot springs sometimes produce similar carbonate deposits, which are known as travertine. Tufa is sometimes referred to as travertine. It should not be confused with hot spring travertine. Tufa, which is calcareous, should not be confused with tuff, a porous volcanic rock with a similar etymology that is sometimes also called "tufa".
context_section_description: Calcareous speleothems may be regarded as a form of calcareous sinter. They lack any significant macrophyte component due to the absence of light, and for this reason they are often morphologically closer to travertine or calcareous sinter.
caption: Tufa at Trona Pinnacles, California
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