#tafoni

[geologyin-blog]

Tafoni Sandstone: Formation, Characteristics, Examples

Tafoni sandstone refers to ordinary sandstone sculpted by tafoni —networks of rounded hollows, pits, or cavernous cavities that create a h

Tafoni sandstone refers to ordinary sandstone sculpted by tafoni—networks of rounded hollows, pits, or cavernous cavities that create a honeycomb, alveolar, or “Swiss-cheese” appearance.

[ownencyclopedia]

☀ tafoni rock / tafoni weathering

Tafoni are cavities that develop in granular rock .

Although there are various definitions in the scientific literature, tafoni are commonly defined as small (less than 1 cm (0.39 in)) to large (greater than 1 meter (3.3 ft)) cavity features that develop in either natural or manmade, vertical to steeply sloping, exposures of granular rock (i.e., granite, sandstone) with smooth concave walls, and often round rims and openings. Recognized subcategories of tafoni include honeycomb, stonelace, alveolar (less than 2 cm (0.79 in)), sidewall, basal, nested, and relic tafoni .

[llucerophotography]

Sandstone Formations

Red Hills Desert Garden in St. George, Utah. Photos by Lorien Lucero.

[fatchance]

Tafoni.

[hotshoeagain]

What I saw today: Tafoni

Kinda creepy looking “lace” erosion in sandstone, near the bottom of a famous outcrop. The larger holes are roughly fist-sized, the smallest “threads” are about a centimeter wide but stand away from the background much more than a cm. 

Looking up to the overhanging rocks -- look at those “cannonballs” apparently suspended from the parent rock above them. The holes are much larger, in general, than the lace Tafoni at the base in the other view. 

About 1.2 mile / 2km walk from the nearest road; nice safe trail. 

[drrockclub]

Planar view of the honeycomb weathering (tafoni) feature in medium-grain sandstone.

South coast NSW, Australia.

[earthstory]

Tafoni Basalt This is a lovely rock from Rapa Nui (aka Easter island). Like many of the rocks on that hotspot-produced island, this rock is a basalt, a lava flow erupted from an oceanic volcano. You can also clearly see how the outermost layer of the rock is being gradually popped off – this honeycomb like texture is called “Tafoni” by geoscientists.

There is no single, exact mechanism that produces this type of weathering every single time. In most cases, it is found associated with salts and water, but wind erosion and maybe even bacteria can play a role. The most general idea is that it is associated with wetting and drying of the rock surface; a little sea spray brings in some salt, as the water dries out that salt is left behind, and as salt crystals grow they gradually put more pressure on the grains that surround them, eventually causing the grains to be shoved out of the way. -JBB Image credit: https://flic.kr/p/2jqxVH3 Reference: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/esp.2112

[nolonelyroads]

Sandstone Tafoni, Buckhorn Wash, UT. . . . . . . #utah #sandstone #tafoni #modernoutdoors #natgeolandscape #natgeoadventure #natgeoyourshot  #natgeotravelpic #Yourshotphotographer #negativemag #OurPlanetDaily #lonelyplanet #mylpguide #usinterior #Utahspots #utahunique #youtah #utahisrad #Utahgram #visitutah #werutah #wowutah #naturalutah #utahillustrated (at Grub Box) https://www.instagram.com/p/CF5_iLKDqD3/?igshid=13z2fjgr39kx5