Shelfstone is a ledge or projection extending from the edge of a cave pool or attached to a speleothem dipped in a cave pool. It is almost always formed from calcite, when material precipitated on top of a cave pool (such as rafts) attach to the side, and depostion continues to add growth laterally and underneath. As such, they are indicators of past pool levels. Shelfstone may be quite thick when a pool has stayed at the same level for a long time (as in the upper and lower photos), or thin and delicate (as in the middle photo).

very large shelfstone

large thick shelfstone

lace-thin shelfstone

tiers of shelfstone

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	Created: June 19, 1995 Last Updated: May 4, 2005 Author: Dave Bunnell