Science & Tech

travertine

geology
verifiedCite
While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.
Select Citation Style
Feedback
Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login).
Thank you for your feedback

Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

Print
verifiedCite
While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.
Select Citation Style
Feedback
Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login).
Thank you for your feedback

Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

travertine
travertine
Related Topics:
limestone

travertine, dense, banded rock composed of calcite (calcium carbonate, CaCO3). Formed by the evaporation of river and spring waters, it is a variety of limestone that has a light colour and takes a good polish; it is often used for walls and interior decorations in public buildings. Travertine deposits along the Aniene River, near Rome, are several metres thick. In the United States the Mammoth Hot Springs in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, are actively depositing travertine. It also occurs in limestone caves in the form of stalactites and stalagmites, as, for example, in Carlsbad Caverns, New Mexico.

This article was most recently revised and updated by Amy Tikkanen.