Bulletin of the National Speleological Society - ISSN 0146-9517
Volume 21 Part 1: 15-20 - January 1959

A publication of the National Speleological Society

Holocrystalline Speleothems
William R. Halliday

Abstract

Dripstone speleothems which display characteristics of a single crystal have been found in several caves in Texas and California. Two forms, externally holocrystalline and internally holocrystalline, exist. The former are generally tubular in form; the latter are sometimes solid lacking an open central canal. The internally holocrystalline forms fracture obliquely across the stalactite on a single face. Internally holocrystalline speleothems possible are formed by internal flow and recrystallization.

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