speleothem

From Ancient Greek σπήλαιον (spḗlaion, “cave”) + θέμα (théma, “what is laid down”).

• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈspiːliəˌθɛm/
• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈspiːlioʊˌθɛm/

• Audio (US):

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• Hyphenation: spe‧le‧o‧them

speleothem (plural speleothems)

1. (geology) Any secondary mineral, deposited in a natural cave by the action of water. Includes formations such as stalactites, stalagmites, flowstones, and helictites.
   • 2021 January 13, Becky Ferreira, “Pig Painting May Be World’s Oldest Cave Art Yet, Archaeologists Say”, in The New York Times‎^[1], →ISSN:

     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.

• cave formation

• speleothemic

• speleothem on Wikipedia.Wikipedia