sinter

1. A rock or deposit formed by precipitation from natural water, often from a hot or cold spring. Calcareous sinter is calcium carbonate and is also known as tufa, travertine, and onyx marble. Siliceous sinter is silica and is also known as geyserite and fiorite [20]. 2. A mineral precipitate deposited by a mineral spring, either hot or cold. Siliceous sinter, consisting of silica, may be called geyserite and fluorite; calcareous sinter, consisting of calcium carbonate, may be called tufa, travertine, and onyx marble [10]. Synonyms: (French.) concretion; (German.) Sinter, Kalktuff, Travertin; (Greek.) asvestolithikos toffos; (Italian.) concrezione; (Russian.) otlozhenija istocnikov; (Spanish.) concrecion; (Turkish.) kaynak tufu; (Yugoslavian.) travertin, sedra, bigar, lehnjak. Related to travertine.