speleothem
nounUS /ˈspiːliəˌθɛm/ · UK /ˈspiːlioʊˌθɛm/
Etymology From Ancient Greek σπήλαιον (spḗlaion, “cave”) + θέμα (théma, “what is laid down”).
1
Geography, Geology, Natural sciences Any secondary mineral, deposited in a natural cave by the action of water. Includes formations such as stalactites, stalagmites, flowstones, and helictites.
- But it is possible that the painting itself might be thousands of years older because the technique only assesses the age of a mineral deposit, speleothem, that formed on the cave walls.2021 January 13, Becky Ferreira, “Pig Painting May Be World’s Oldest Cave Art Yet, Archaeologists Say”, in The New York Times, →ISSN:
- Synonyms
- cave formation
- Derived terms
- speleothemic
- Hyponyms
- cave pearl, flowstone, rimstone, stalactite, stalagmite