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TRAVERTINE
TRAVERTINE TECHNICAL DATA
Travertine is a rather dense, banded limestone, sometimes moderately porous, that is formed either by evaporation about springs, as is tufa, or in caves, as stalactites, stalagmites, or dripstone. Where travertine or tufa (calcareous sinter) is deposited by hot springs, it may be the result of the loss of carbon dioxide from the waters as pressure is released upon emerging at the surface; the release of carbon dioxide lowers the solubility of calcium carbonate and it precipitates. High rates of evaporation in hot-spring pools also lead to supersaturation which helps form travertine. Travertine formed in caves is simply the result of complete evaporation of waters containing mainly calcium carbonate.
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