speleothem

From Ancient Greek σπήλαιον (spḗlaion, “cave”) + θέμα (théma, “what is laid down”).

• IPA^(key): /ˈspiː.li.əˌθɛm/

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speleothem (plural speleothems)

1. (geology) Any secondary mineral, deposited in a natural cave by the action of water.
   • 2021 January 13, Becky Ferreira, “Pig Painting May Be World’s Oldest Cave Art Yet, Archaeologists Say”, in The New York Times‎, →ISSN:

     But it is possible that the painting itself might be thousands of years older because the technique only assesses the age of a mineral deposit, speleothem, that formed on the cave walls.

• cave formation

• speleothem on Wikipedia.Wikipedia