Frostwork

frostwork
Frostwork in Jewel Cave, South Dakota.
Architectural "frost-work" in carved stone, on the Diana Fountain, London, c. 1690

In geology, frostwork is a type of speleothem (cave formation) with acicular ("needle-like") growths almost always composed of aragonite (a polymorph of calcite) or calcite replaced aragonite.[1] It is a variety of anthodite. Frostwork can also be made of opal or gypsum.[2] In some caves frostwork may grow on top of cave popcorn or boxwork.

In architecture frost-work or frostwork refers to a style of rustication carved with a vertically-oriented pattern evoking hanging pond-weed or algae, or icicles. It is mainly found in garden architecture, where water is to flow over or near the surface.[3] Other decorative arts may use the term for other decorative patterns imitating frost or ice.

  1. ^ Hill, C. and Forti, P. (1997), Cave Minerals of the World, National Speleological Society, 2nd Edition.
  2. ^ KellerLynn, K. (2009). Wind Cave National Park Geologic Resources Inventory Report (PDF). Denver: National Park Service.
  3. ^ Looking at buildings, "Rustication"