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Internal water pulses from the straw (into the drop) and air movement around the suspended solution drop, can cause the rafts to spin swiftly around the drop surface. If there is almost no air movement around the suspended drop, then after approximately 12 minutes or more, the micro rafts may join up
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of calcite rafts show interconnected calcite crystals formed around holes on the raft surface. The holes may be caused by air bubbles or other foreign matter on the water surface. Micrographs of calcite rafts show lace-like structure. The surface tension of the water keeps the interconnected calcite
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concerns when "leopard spots" approximately 5 to 10 cm. in diameter appeared on the water surface under a newly constructed aluminum reservoir cover. The floating material had not been observed when the reservoir (13 million gallons) was open to the atmosphere. The concern raised was that a
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Water analyses found that the water in the reservoir was saturated with respect to calcium carbonate but no calcite crystals were formed in the bulk solution. X-ray diffraction analysis showed that the floating solid material was greater than 97 percent calcite. Scanning electron micrographs
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and concentrations of calcium and carbonate ions far above the saturation concentration for calcium carbonate. Calcite crystals precipitate in this highly localized environment and attach to one another to form what appear to be rafts of a white material.
381:
McGuire, M.J., Blute, N.K., Hamilton, C., and
Brabander, D.J. (2005). “Why Are There Leopard Spots Floating on My Covered Reservoir.” presented at the Fall Conference, California Nevada Section, American Water Works Association, Reno, NV, October
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systems. Limestone caves provide a favorable environment due to little air movement and water containing significant concentrations of calcium and carbonate ions. Evidence of calcite rafts has been found in limestone caves all over the world.
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solution drips are typically about 0.5 mm in size when visible to the naked eye, and appear on the drip's surface after it has been suspended for greater than ≈5 minutes. The chemical reaction which creates the rafts, involves
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While the floating material was not toxic, it was recommended that movement of the water surface be induced so that quiescent conditions would be avoided which would eliminate the primary condition for calcite raft formation.
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217:
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Smith, G.K., (2016). “Calcite Straw
Stalactites Growing From Concrete Structures”, Cave and Karst Science, Vol.43, No.1, P.4-10, (April 2016), British Cave Research Association, ISSN 1356-191X.
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Taylor, P.M., Drysdale, R.N. and
Carthew, K.D. (2004). “The formation and environmental significance of calcite rafts in tropical tufa-depositing rivers of northern Australia.”
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and form a latticework, which covers the entire drop surface. If the solution drop hangs too long on the straw (≈ >30 minutes), it may completely calcify over and block the
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34:. The crystals grow, attach to one other and appear to be floating rafts of a white, opaque material. The floating materials have been referred to as
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396:
McGuire, M.J., Blute, N.K., Hamilton, C., and
Brabander, D.J. (2006). “Formation of Floating Calcite Rafts in a Drinking Water Reservoir.”
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BSE-SEM image at 89 times magnification showing topsides of the calcite rafts (flat surfaces) and bottom crystals growing underneath
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450:
Ver Steeg, K, (1932). "An unusual occurrence of stalactites and stalagmites". The Ohio
Journal of Science, Vol.32(2), 69–83.
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confirmed that the shape of the crystalline material was rhombohedral, which is consistent with calcite crystal formation.
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crystals form on the surface of quiescent bodies of water, even when the bulk water is not supersaturated with respect to
350:
van
Hengstum, P.J., et al. (2011). “Sea Level Controls Sedimentation and Environments in Coastal Caves and Sinkholes.”
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potentially toxic metallic precipitate was forming on the water surface from condensate dripping from the metal cover.
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506:
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Taylor, P.M. and
Chafetz, H.S. (2004). “Floating Rafts of Calcite Crystals in Cave Pools, Central Texas, USA.”
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Juhasz, E., Korpas, L. and Balog, A. (1995). “200-Million Years of Karst
History, Dachsein Limeson, Hungary.”
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81:
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Davis, Donald G. (2000). “Extraordinary
Features of Lechuguilla Cave, Guadalupe Mountains, New Mexico.”
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Allison, V C, (1923). "The growth of stalagmites and stalactites". Journal of
Geology, Vol.31, 106–125.
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solution drops suspended beneath concrete structures. These secondary deposits which form outside the
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65:. Under quiescent conditions, calcite crystals can form on a water surface when calcium carbonate
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conditions do not exist in the bulk water. Water evaporates from the surface and
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Hill, C A, and Forti, P, (1997). Cave Minerals of the World, 2nd editions.
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Lattice work or calcite rafts on a calthemite (soda) straw stalactite drop
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degasses from the surface layer to create a thin layer of water with high
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Detail of calcite rafts on the surface of water in Carpinteria Reservoir
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Diagram of dripstone cave structures (calcite rafts labelled Y)
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American Water Works Association, Denver Colorado, November 6.
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Calcite rafts on the surface of water in Carpinteria Reservoir
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A short video clip of rafts spinning around a solution drop
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The micro rafts which form on the surface of hyperalkaline
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Micro calcite rafts have been observed on (soda) straw
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398:Proceedings Water Quality Technology Conference.
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105:One example of calcite raft formation in a
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97:Calcite rafts are most commonly formed in
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109:-fed river system has been reported.
85:crystals, which individually have a
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526:Glossary of caving and speleology
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46:Calcium carbonate is known to
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339:Jour. Cave and Karst Studies.
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82:Scanning electron micrographs
968:List of UK caving fatalities
475:Kartchner Caverns State Park
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150:environment, are known as
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944:Cave of Forgotten Dreams
154:. They are derived from
113:Drinking water reservoir
937:Diving into the Unknown
138:Concrete leachate drops
119:Carpinteria, California
983:Tham Luang cave rescue
978:Riesending cave rescue
470:Karstbase—Calcite raft
326:Jour. Sedimentary Res.
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951:The Underground Eiger
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466:Accessed 2012-06-23.
38:or "leopard spots".
973:Alpazat cave rescue
618:Types and formation
312:51:5 October. 1089.
900:Cave-dwelling Jews
647:Estavelle/Inversac
162:created in caves.
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782:(Cave formations)
545:Cave conservation
237:Kartchner Caverns
235:Calcite rafts in
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748:Underground
667:Karst spring
657:Glacier cave
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1017:Speleothems
774:Speleothems
687:Exploration
587:Troglofauna
555:Cave survey
533:Main topics
354:286: 35–50.
206:straw tip.
160:speleothems
152:calthemites
144:stalactites
48:precipitate
1011:Categories
910:Kome Caves
874:Stalagnate
869:Stalagmite
864:Stalactite
854:Soda straw
844:Shelfstone
804:Cave pearl
779:Speleogens
744:Talus cave
677:Ley tunnel
604:Speleology
582:Stygofauna
293:References
204:calthemite
192:stalactite
188:stalagmite
1022:Limestone
961:Incidents
888:Dwellings
829:Helictite
824:Frostwork
819:Flowstone
789:Anthodite
762:Waterfall
734:Suffosion
719:Show cave
704:Salt cave
672:Lava cave
620:processes
570:Equipment
239:, Arizona
196:flowstone
121:, raised
60:carbonate
42:Chemistry
996:Category
849:Snottite
839:Rimstone
834:Moonmilk
724:Sinkhole
709:Sea cave
694:Pit cave
662:Ice cave
167:leachate
156:concrete
920:Yaodong
794:Boxwork
637:Cave-in
210:Gallery
56:calcium
52:calcite
28:Calcite
729:Spring
642:Cenote
565:Diving
560:Caving
518:topics
382:10–14.
107:spring
757:River
699:Ponor
652:Foiba
594:Karst
577:Fauna
182:(CaCO
777:and
752:Lake
739:Sump
682:Mine
516:Cave
148:cave
63:ions
58:and
879:Vug
194:or
174:(CO
50:as
1013::
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372:^
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190:,
75:pH
508:e
501:t
494:v
184:3
176:2
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