Folia are a rare formation found near or just below a water line, which may not be evident as the water table may have long since dropped below the level of the cave. Found on celings and walls, they resemble inverted rimstone dams. They are thought to form primarily near the top of the water table, and are associated with a declining water level. Like shelfstone, they probably form from precipitates on water surfaces that accrete to walls. As the water lowers, more calcite is deposited underneath, forming a flat surface. Another theory suggests that carbon dioxide is trapped in the ribs and promotes calcite deposition inside. The examples below are from Nevada, Cuba, and Mexico.


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The Virtual Cave Created: June 19, 1995
Last Updated: March 8, 2020
Author: Dave Bunnell