Calcareous Sinter - Waldegg, Austria - Places of Geologic Significance on Waymarking.com

At this location nice example of calcareous sinter can be found. It is located in Waldegg an der Piesting in Austria. At the east side of Kressenberg there is a small stream with source at about 60 meters height. As the stream flows downhill it developed calcareous sinter that has some 30-40 cm in height and length of about 60 meters. Because of its natural value it is proclaimed as natural monument back in 1952.

Calcareous sinter is a freshwater calcium carbonate deposit, also known as calc-sinter. Deposits are characterised by low porosity and well-developed lamination. Calcareous sinter is characterised by laminations of prismatic crystals growing perpendicular to the substrate. Those laminations are separated by thin layers of microcrystalline carbonate.

Calcareous sinter is formed from alkaline waters that are supersaturated with calcite. On emergence, waters degas CO2 due to the lower atmospheric partial pressure of carbon dioxide, resulting in an increase in pH. Since carbonate solubility decreases with increased pH, precipitation is induced. Supersaturation may be enhanced by factors leading to a reduction in partial pressure of carbon dioxide, for example increased air-water interactions at waterfalls or photosynthesis may be important.

Some geologists prefer to calcareous sinter categorize as tufa, and use term sinter only for siliceous sinter. Tufa is a variety of limestone formed when carbonate minerals precipitate out of ambient temperature water.

Source: Wikipedia

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