Synonyms
Silica sinter ; Siliceous sinter
Definition
Sinter. A sedimentary rock primarily composed of silica that is precipitated from hot waters at the vents of high-temperature (high-enthalpy) hot springs and geysers , and from cooled waters on their surrounding discharge aprons.
Geyserite. A dense, banded or laminated variety of sinter that forms at and near the vents of geysers and some high-temperature springs.
Some banded and laminated types of nonmarine carbonates (calcite or aragonite), including spring travertines and speleothems , have also been termed “sinter” or “calc-sinter.” We suggest that the geological term “sinter” should be restricted to siliceous deposits precipitated from silica-rich waters discharged at hot springs and geysers.
Introduction
Sinters are deposits of silica precipitated by hot waters discharged at the vents of hot springs and geysers. Most sinters are precipitated as noncrystalline opal-A, but they change to quartz during diagenesis. They form almost...
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Renaut, R.W., Jones, B. (2011). Sinter. In: Reitner, J., Thiel, V. (eds) Encyclopedia of Geobiology. Encyclopedia of Earth Sciences Series. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-9212-1_189
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