Tufa, a freshwater limestone: carboniferous geology and contemporary processes

Thomas, L (2004) Tufa, a freshwater limestone: carboniferous geology and contemporary processes. In: Ussher Society Annual Conference, January 2004.

Abstract

Tufa (or travertine) is a sedimentary CaCO3 deposit precipitated from calcite-saturated water. Both active and inactive deposits are recognised as having great scientific value for their diverse biota, geomorphology and fossil assemblages. Actively depositing tufa springs in Great Britain are now thought to be in decline as a result of environmental stress and the EU Directive 92/43/EEC, Annex 1 specifies tufa springs as a priority habitat for conservation. A number of tufa springs rising in a Carboniferous Limestone catchment of the Mells Valley, Somerset have been identified by the Environment Agency as “vulnerable” and this study has been designed to investigate contemporary hydro-environmental processes which lead to tufa deposition in these springs. The results of this study will be used to determine an augmentation and monitoring scheme to be put in place should any derogation of the tufa springs occur. A comparative system analysis has been made between one of these springs and a non-depositing spring in a similar, adjacent catchment. Both springs have been anthropogenically modified at different points in their stream channels. Preliminary results indicate chemical, biological and environmental differences which could have implications for the deposition or non-deposition of tufa within the streams.

Item Type: Conference or Workshop Item (Other)
Note:

This paper/poster was presented at The Ussher Society's Annual Conference in 2004. Other papers presented at the conference were published in The Ussher Society's journal Geoscience in South-West England, Volume 11, Part 1, 2004, ISSN 0566-3954. (See http://www.ussher.org.uk/journal/00s/2004/Ussher_Society_Journal_toc_2004.htm) The abstract for Thomas' paper/poster only can be found at http://www.ussher.org.uk/journal/00s/2004/documents/2004_other_papers_abstracts.pdf)

Divisions: School of Sciences
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Date Deposited: 02 Sep 2014 16:29
Last Modified: 15 Aug 2021 09:38
URI / Page ID: https://researchspace.bathspa.ac.uk/id/eprint/4526
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