tufa

[ too-fuh, tyoo- ]

noun

, Geology.

1. Also called calcareous tufa, calc-tufa, a porous limestone formed from calcium carbonate deposited by springs or the like. Compare travertine.
2. (not in technical use) tuff 2 .

tufa

/ tjuːˈfeɪʃəs; ˈtjuːfə /

noun

1. a soft porous rock consisting of calcium carbonate deposited from springs rich in lime Also calledcalc-tufa

tufa

/ to̅o̅′fə /

1. A soft, friable, and porous sedimentary rock consisting of calcium carbonate and formed by the evaporation of water, especially at the mouth of a hot spring or on a drying lakebed. It is similar to, but harder than, travertine.

Derived Forms

• tufaceous, adjective

Other Words From

• tu·fa·ceous [too-, fey, -sh, uh, s, tyoo-], adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of tufa¹

1760–70; < Italian tufo < Latin tōfus

Word History and Origins

Origin of tufa¹

C18: from Italian tufo , from Late Latin tōfus

Example Sentences

As the saline lake retreated, rock formations called tufa, which had formed underwater, were left exposed along the shorelines.

From Los Angeles Times

Mono is a million years old, one of North America’s oldest lakes, a sci-fi landscape of calcium carbonate tufa towers, more than twice as salty as the sea itself, and eerie-looking empty or full.

From Los Angeles Times

The lake and its surroundings were protected as parkland in large part to preserve the lake’s tufa towers — knobby limestone spires that rise high above the water’s surface and make for a wonderfully Seussian sight.

From New York Times

“Several horses died at South Tufa over the winter and their scavenged carcasses were draped between tufa towers and along the lakeshore.”

From Los Angeles Times

But today, just to stand beside the small tufa niche where a Jewish child was laid to rest 2,000 years ago feels like a kind of prayer.

From New York Times