calthemite

Meaning

Noun

• Any secondary calcareous deposit, created by the action of water outside the natural cave environment. They are typically found on man made structures and mimic the shapes and forms of cave speleothems, such as stalactites, stalagmites, flowstone etc.

Origin

• From Latin calx + Latin < Ancient Greek θέμα, (also Mediaeval Latin thema, "deposit") and the Latin -īta < Ancient Greek -ίτης – used as a suffix indicating a rock or mineral.